Abstract:
A surgical assisting instrument and device having an elongated rectangular u-shaped body with fasteners extending outward therefrom. These fasteners can be of any number and mounted on the top or sides of the body. The body is affixed vertically on the long handle of a tenaculum or other similar elongated handles of surgical clasping instruments. This permits such surgical clasping devices to be anchored or braced onto a fixed surgical device to provide the surgeon with auxiliary clasping and holding assistance.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application contains subject matter of my provisional application Ser. No. 60/286,750 filed Apr. 26, 2001, entitled Attachable Surgical Accessory Instrument. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of Invention 
   The invention relates to surgical devices and more specifically to clasping and other similar instruments with elongated handles for use in attachment to rigid and supporting adjunct instrumentation. Such attachment allows for fewer hands and affords, a clamping or holding when required in connection with a surgical procedure. 
   2. Related Art 
   During the development of the vaginal speculum of the type which is the subject of my U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,668 and my present pending application No . . . it was realized that tenaculums and other instruments that are inserted into the opening enlarged by the speculum require means to positively affix them to the speculum. There are numerous surgical procedures that require two or more instruments to be used. For example grasping, retracting, sewing, etc. tissues during surgical procedures. Examining vaginal and other cavities may require two or more long handled instruments to be used in conjunction with the desired speculums, which have in their structures a frame that can be used for attachment of the elongated handles of the instruments. This lessens the necessity of additional assistants during procedures. During a surgical procedure, the surgeon often requires sources of lighting, a suctioning catheter with handle irrigation tubes with attachments. Accordingly, it is highly desirable that these multiple instruments be attached to a readily accessible device so that these instruments can be available for use at a moment&#39;s notice. In addition the use of multiple instruments that can be readily available and selectively configured for a specific use will allow the surgeon convenience and less cost in doing the surgery. Such a device will also provide the surgeon more freedom and comfort so that instrument will not require additional personnel to assist or even allow instruments that might fall from the area of surgery. This device will also help the surgeon by keeping the instruments available for immediate use while minimizing any obstruction of view and manipulation of the surgical site. Such a device will also have locking capabilities and may be made for permanent use and/or disposable handling for simplicity of use. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       FIG. 1  depicts a series of four views of the invention, a surgical instrument attachment device with  FIG. 1   a  being a side perspective view,  FIG. 1   b  being a top view,  FIG. 1   c  being a side view of the side shown in  FIG. 1   a  and  FIG. 1   d  is a bottom view; 
       FIG. 2  shows a series of four perspective views taken by rotating the within attachment device above a longitudinally with  FIG. 2   a  showing the left side and top,  FIG. 2   b  showing the lower surface of the top and both sides,  FIG. 2   c  showing the left side and top, and  FIG. 2   d  showing the top and right side; 
       FIG. 3  shows a pair of perspective views with instruments.  FIG. 3   a  depicts a right bottom view and  FIG. 3   b  shows a similar attachment device but is a generally reverse or mirror image to that of  FIG. 3   a;    
       FIG. 4  is a pair of perspective views with  FIG. 4   a  showing a top and right side with length adjusting (projecting) provision and  FIG. 4   b  showing a similar attachment device but is a generally reverse or mirror image to that of  FIG. 4   a.    
       FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the within attachment device. 
       FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the within attachment device; and 
       FIG. 7  shows the within attachment device in use and attached to a speculum type of medical instrument. 
   

   The applications of the within invention are many. For example, a common surgical procedure requires tension to be maintained on tissues being surgitized, such as, a dilation and curettage (D&amp;C) of the uterus procedure when the cervix portion of the uterus is held under tension. To accomplish this with the present invention, the cervix is grasped and clamped by the prongs of the tenaculum and pulled forward. To maintain the clamping and tension, the within attachment device is secured to the tenaculum and are locked together into the aperture of the yoke portion of the vaginal instrument maintaining the clamped position while executing the D&amp;C procedure. 
   Neurosurgeons while performing spinal surgery may require tenaculums to hold layers of tissues with grasping, clamping and maintaining tension for retraction and keeping exposure of the operative site available. Thoracic surgeons while doing lung and cardiovascular surgeries will find similar advantages. General surgeons, vascular surgeons, urologists and gynecologists (includes obstetrical procedures) will find benefits when utilizing the within attachment device while performing procedures in the abdominal cavity, such as, for example, appendectomies, nephrectomies, colectomies, cesarean section (delivering babies surgically), aneurysmectomies, etc. Orthopedic surgeons could use the within attachment device with spinal procedures hip surgeries which both require grasping, clamping and tension actions when performing surgery in deep structured areas. 
   While the present invention is susceptible of various additional modifications and alternative constructions, illustrative embodiments are shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood however, that it is not to be intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative construction falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a surgical attachment device,  10 L, carrying out the principles of the instant invention are illustrated in four views. This surgical attachment device  10 L, has in  FIG. 1   a , a proportionately positioned series of hook projections,  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  and  25  on the top front side of the body of the attachment device, which serves to attach the device,  10 L, to compatible surgical instruments as shown in  FIG. 7 . In other applications for these hooks to properly function, it has been found that the hooks must have variable heights that will allow attachment to the cooperating member and ensure proper alignment, clearance and solid locking. The apertures  12  and  13  in  FIG. 1   b  allows the construction of the stabilizing rails  14 ,  15 ,  16  and  17  within the housing of device  10 L, so as to permit only non rotational movements as it rests on the handles of other instruments. The flanged portion  26 , and the lip edge,  28  of the attachment device,  10 L allows it to engage and lock onto the ringed handle portion  31  of tenaculums and other similar devices as shown in  FIG. 7 . The bottom view of  FIG. 1   d  shows the edge of the housings&#39; inner side wall,  11 . The outer housing wall&#39;s edge,  18 , is shown in  FIG. 1   c  and  FIG. 1   d.    
   In  FIG. 2 , a series of four perspective views illustrates the rotation of the left handle side attachment device as shown in  FIG. 3   b . In  FIG. 2   a  the outer wall  18  also shows the flanging of the rear portion wall  28  that braces against the finger rings of the tenaculum or other instrumentation as seen in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 2   b  reveals the cut out  27 , the inner rear of device  10 L that locks onto the left ring handle of the tenaculum  31  while the right ring handle  32  would serve the right device,  10 R. In  FIG. 2   c  the flanged edge  28  of the rear portion for engaging the ringed handle is more clearly depicted. In the outer wall of device  10 L, a cut out  29  is provided to allow this side of the device clearance from the outer wall,  33 . In  FIG. 2   d  the cut out  19  at the front inner side of device  10 L keeps the handles closing freely without obstruction. The cut out  20  in sidewall  11  allows the attachment device  10 L to engage the inner ring handle  31  without obstruction to the closing of the ratchet or saw-toothed portions  34  and  35  of the tenaculum to lock the right and left handles. 
     FIG. 3  shows the right and left or mirror image  10 R of the device,  10 L.  FIG. 3   b  shows the inner side  36  of the top portion of device  10 L and the inner portion of the top,  30  in the  FIG. 3   a  of right attachment device  10 R. The attachment device  10 R, a right mirror image of device  10 L shows respective inner wall  50 , an outer wall  48  and a flanged portion  49 . 
     FIG. 4   a , is a left-sided device, but in two sections  39  and  41  of a device resembling  10 L when integrated and locked into position. This occurs when screw  42 , is rotated clockwise into any of the plural mating apertures,  44 . This allows a variance of length in the bodies depending on the length of the handle portions of tenaculums or other like instruments that are used. When elements  39  and  41  or mirror images  38  and  40  are connected, they will acquire the construction of attachment device,  10 L and  10 R respectively. 
   In  FIG. 5  the attachment device  10 L is shown in a front view with its respective constructions  11 ,  18 ,  21 ,  28 ,  36  appropriate to this device as previously discussed. 
   In  FIG. 6  the rear view of attachment device  10 L and the respective components,  11 ,  18 ,  25 ,  28  and  36  are shown. 
   In  FIG. 7  the within attachment device  10 R is shown in an operative position resting on the right handle of a tenaculum  46  and positioned against the finger ring portion  32 . The hook projection  22 R is advanced into the aperture  47  of the right side of the yoke, ( 37  on left side of yoke respectively), for locking purposes. The tenaculum  46  is of the type shown in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,668 although any surgical instrument provided with apertures that cooperate with the within attachment device could be utilized. 
   The within attachment devices  10 R constructions  38 ,  40  and  10 L constructions  39 ,  41 , (when locked together) may be constructed of rigid material such as plastic, e.g. polycarbonate; polypropylene; metal or a combination thereof. The hooks  21  thru  25  may be of varying sizes and arrangements so as to accommodate other applications as required in surgical procedures. It is pointed out that while the within embodiment of the present invention is described as utilizing hooks that cooperate with apertures to secure the attachment device to a surgical instrument, it would be well within the spirit and scope of the present invention to utilize equivalent attachment means. The applicability of the within attachment devices to surgical instruments that apply tension or locking affords an excellent service for the surgeon and a cost-effective result for the procedure as described earlier.