Abstract:
The bifurcated forceps is a tweezers-like instrument having two elongate, flattened arms joined at their mutual proximal ends, and each arm extends to a distal end having two laterally separated tines extending therefrom. The mutually facing surfaces of the corresponding tines of each arm are provided with serrations or teeth along the majority of their lengths, the facing serrations meshing with one another. The bifurcated forceps may have laterally straight arms, or laterally curved arms. Reusable forceps may be formed of surgical steel, and disposable forceps may be formed of a suitable plastic. The laterally separated tines enable the bifurcated forceps to grip a portion of tissue or other matter simultaneously at two separate points, thereby holding a greater span of the tissue clear of the underlying structure to facilitate surgical procedures and the like.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation of my prior application Ser. No. 13/633,783, filed Oct. 2, 2012 now pending. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to surgical implements, and particularly to bifurcated forceps in which each of the jaws has two parallel, laterally separated tines for gripping a sheet of material (anatomic tissue, etc.) simultaneously at two spaced apart locations. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The medical profession requires a number of specialized instruments for various medical procedures. It is often necessary to retract or otherwise displace some tissue structure (e.g., skin, subcutaneous structure, blood vein or artery, etc.) in order to access some underlying organ or other structure of concern. Some form of gripping device, e.g., forceps or tweezers, is customarily used for such purpose. 
     The problem with conventional forceps and tweezers is that they have only two mutually opposed jaws, which each comprise a single element. Hence, the tissue structure can only be gripped at one point between the two jaws. As most bodily tissues are relatively soft and flaccid, particularly when the patient is anesthetized, the tissue tends to withdraw back toward its original position or location. The underlying structure is therefore exposed only in a relatively narrow area beneath the point gripped by the conventional forceps, which may not provide the surgeon with sufficient line of sight to observe as required and/or sufficient room to perform the procedure. Accordingly, two sets of conventional forceps or tweezers are commonly used. An assistant (operating room nurse, etc.) holds the second set in response to the directions from the surgeon. Clearly, this is not only a labor intensive procedure, but it also often results in interfering with the line of sight and the work of the surgeon, even though it is necessary to open up the sightline and operating path for the surgeon. 
     Thus, a bifurcated forceps solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The bifurcated forceps has two mutually opposed jaws, each jaw having two laterally spaced tines. Corresponding tines of each jaw are aligned with one another to grip an article therebetween when the forceps are closed. The spaced apart tines result in the article being gripped simultaneously at two spaced apart locations, thus spreading the article more widely for better access to the underlying tissue or other structure. 
     The tines preferably include a plurality of teeth or serrations thereon to preclude or reduce slippage of any tissue gripped therebetween. The forceps are preferably in the form of two resilient arms formed of flat material. The proximal ends of the forceps are permanently joined to one another, and their distal ends normally are spread until resiliently closed by the operator. Corrosion-resistant surgical grade steel, i.e., “stainless” steel, may be used for reusable forceps, and plastic is the material of choice for disposable forceps. The spacing between the tines of each jaw may be adjusted as desired, and the flat arms may include lateral offsets. 
     These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a detailed perspective view of bifurcated forceps according to the present invention, illustrating its various features. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial side elevation view of the jaw portion of the bifurcated forceps of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the meshing or interlocking of the mutually facing teeth or serrations of the two mutually opposed jaw tines. 
         FIG. 3  is an environmental perspective view of the bifurcated forceps of  FIG. 1 , showing their use in a surgical procedure. 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed perspective view of a second embodiment of bifurcated forceps according to the present invention, having laterally offset distal arms and jaws. 
         FIG. 5  is a detailed perspective view of a third embodiment of bifurcated forceps according to the present invention, having a narrower spacing between the two laterally spaced tines of each jaw than is the case with the first embodiment bifurcated forceps. 
     
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The bifurcated forceps has two mutually opposed jaws, each of the jaws having two laterally separated gripping tines extending therefrom. This configuration provides for the simultaneous gripping of tissue at two laterally separated points, thereby facilitating surgical operations and procedures and reducing or obviating the need for an assistant to manipulate a second pair of forceps. 
       FIG. 1  of the drawings provides an illustration of a first embodiment  10  of the bifurcated forceps,  FIG. 2  illustrates details of the two opposed tines and their interlocking teeth or serrations, and  FIG. 3  provides an environmental perspective view of the forceps  10  in use. The bifurcated forceps  10  comprises mutually opposed first and second anus  12   a  and  12   b , which are mirror images of one another. Each of the arms  12   a ,  12   b  is formed of an elongate, wide, relatively thin, flexible sheet of material having a flat proximal end portion  14   a  and  14   b , the two proximal end portions  14   a ,  14   b  being permanently joined to one another along the entire lengths of the proximal portions, e.g., by welding where a reusable forceps is formed of surgical steel or bonding where a disposable material, such as plastic, is used to form the bifurcated forceps  10 . The arms  12   a ,  12   b  may be squeezed or flexed towards each other, and resiliently return to their original position when released. 
     Each of the arms  12   a ,  12   b  further includes an intermediate portion  16   a ,  16   b  that extends from its respective proximal portion  14   a ,  14   b . The two intermediate portions  16   a ,  16   b  spread or diverge from one another from their juncture with their proximal portions  14   a ,  14   b  to their junctures with the respective distal portions  18   a ,  18   b  of the arms that extend from the intermediate portions  16   a ,  16   b . Each of the two intermediate portions  16   a ,  16   b  includes a textured grip area  20  disposed thereon, one of the grip areas  20  being shown on the arm  12   a  in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . The opposite grip area is not visible in the drawings, but it will be understood that both of the intermediate areas  16   a  and  16   b  include such textured grip areas  20  due to their mirror image configurations. 
     The two distal portions  18   a ,  18   b  of the bifurcated forceps  10  are spaced apart from and parallel to one another when the forceps  10  is in its relaxed, uncompressed state. A closure limit stop, respectively  22   a  and  22   b , extends inwardly from each distal portion  18   a  and  18   b , adjacent its juncture with the corresponding intermediate portion  16   a ,  16   b  of the forceps  10 . The two inwardly disposed, mutually facing closure limit stops  22   a ,  22   b  contact one another when the intermediate portions  16   a ,  16   b  of the forceps  10  are squeezed toward one another to limit the force that may be applied by the tines on tissue during use. 
     Each distal portion  18   a ,  18   b  has two mutually laterally opposed sides or edges. The first distal portion  18   a  has edges or sides  24   a  and  26   a , and the opposite second distal portion  18   b  has edges or sides  24   b  and  26   b . The two opposite sides  24   a  and  26   a  of the first distal portion  18   a  define a slot  28   a  therebetween opposite the juncture of the distal portion  18   a  with the intermediate portion  16   a . The opposite sides  24   b ,  26   b  define a corresponding slot  28   b  therebetween. It will be seen that the corresponding sides or edges  24   a ,  24   b  are directly opposite one another, and the corresponding sides or edges  26   a ,  26   b  are also directly opposite one another. 
     First and second angular extensions, respectively  30   a  and  32   a , extend laterally outward and distally from the end of the first distal portion  18   a  of the arm  12   a , extending from points adjacent the slot  28   a . Corresponding angular extensions  30   b  and  32   b  extend laterally outward and distally from the end of the second distal portion  18   b , from points adjacent the slot  28   b . The angular extensions  30   a ,  32   a ,  30   b ,  32   b  are substantially linear, and extend at an obtuse angle from the corresponding sides  24   a ,  26   a ,  24   b ,  26   b  of the arms  12   a ,  12   b . An elongate tine extends from the distal end of each of the extensions  30   a ,  32   a . A first tine  34   a  extends from the first side extension  30   a , a second tine  36   a  extends from the second side extension  32   a , a corresponding first tine  34   b  extends from the first side extension  30   b , and a corresponding second tine  36   b  extends from the second side extension  32   b . The two tines  34   a  and  36   a  of the first distal portion  18   a  are spaced apart from and parallel to one another, and the two tines  34   b ,  36   b  of the second distal portion  18   b  are likewise spaced apart from and parallel to one another. The tines  34   a ,  36   a ,  34   b ,  36   b  extend substantially parallel to the sides  24   a ,  26   a ,  24   b ,  26   b  of the arms  12   a ,  12   b.    
     The mutually facing gripping surfaces of the corresponding tines, i.e., first tines  34   a  and  34   b  and second tines  36   a  and  36   b , each have a plurality of serrations or teeth  38  disposed thereon along the majority of their lengths.  FIG. 2  provides a detailed view of these serrations or teeth  38 . It will be seen in  FIG. 2  that the teeth or serrations  38  are oriented laterally across the width of each of the tines  34   a - 34   b  and  36   a - 36   b , i.e., their crests and their troughs extend laterally across the tines  34   a - 34   b  and  36   a - 36   b . This configuration greatly reduces the possibility that tissue or other material gripped between opposing tines  34   a ,  34   b  and  36   a ,  36   b  will retract or slip longitudinally along the length of the tines  34   a - 34   b  and  36   a - 36   b . It will also be seen that the mutually opposed teeth or serrations  38  of each of the tines, e.g., tines  36   a ,  36   b  as shown in  FIG. 2 , mesh or interlock with one another, with the crests of the serrations  38  of the tine  36   a  being directly opposite and facing the valleys or troughs of the opposite serrations  38  of the tine  36   b , and vice versa. This configuration increases the contact area of the opposed serrations  38 , and thus the contact area upon any material gripped therebetween. 
       FIG. 4  of the drawings provides a perspective view of a second embodiment of the bifurcated forceps, designated as bifurcated forceps or forceps  110 . The forceps  110  incorporate most of the structure and features of the forceps  10  of  FIGS. 1 through 3 , i.e., mutually opposed first and second arms  12   a  and  12   b  having flat proximal end portions  14   a ,  14   b  permanently joined and immovably affixed to one another, intermediate portions  16   a ,  16   b  extending and diverging from their respective proximal portions  12   a ,  12   b , textured grip areas  20  disposed on the arms  12   a ,  12   b , and mutually parallel distal portions  118   a ,  118   b  extending from their respective intermediate portions  16   a ,  16   b.    
     The distal portions  118   a  and  118   b  differ from the corresponding distal portions  18   a  and  18   b  of the forceps  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 3 , in that each of the distal portions  118   a  and  118   b  has a lateral bend or curvature, respectively  40   a  and  40   b , therein. The bends  40   a  and  40   b  are coplanar with the widths of their respective distal arm portions  118   a  and  118   b  and the planes defined by their respective edges  24   a ,  26   a  and tines  34   a ,  36   a  (for the first distal arm portion  118   a ) and edges  24   b ,  26   b  and tines  34   b ,  36   b  (for the second distal arm portion  118   b ). The bends  40   a  and  40   b  may be on the order of 90°, generally as shown in  FIG. 4 , or any other desired offset angle. 
     Each of the distal portions  118   a ,  118   b  may include a closure limit stop extending inwardly therefrom, stop  22   b  being visible in  FIG. 4 . The tine extension ends of the distal portions  118   a ,  118   b  define respective slots  28   a  and  28   b  therebetween and include first and second angular extensions  30   a ,  32   a  for the first distal portion  118   a  and extensions  30   b ,  32   b  for the second distal portion  118   b , similar to the tine extension ends  30   a - 32   a  and  30   b - 32   b  of the forceps  10  of  FIGS. 1-3 . Tines  34   a  and  36   a  extend from the first and second extensions  30   a  and  32   a  of the first distal portion  118   a , and tines  34   b  and  36   b  extend from the first and second extensions  30   b  and  32   b  of the second distal portion  118   b , similar to the configuration of the forceps  10 . The mutually facing gripping surfaces of the corresponding tines have a plurality of laterally oriented and meshing or interlocking serrations or teeth  38  disposed thereon along the majority of their lengths, as provided for the forceps  10  and shown in detail in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment, designated as bifurcated forceps or forceps  210 . The forceps  210  is quite similar to the forceps  10  of  FIGS. 1-3 , having mutually opposed first and second arms  12   a  and  12   b  having flat proximal end portions  14   a  and  14   b  permanently joined and immovably affixed to one another, intermediate portions  16   a  and  16   b  extending and diverging from their respective proximal portions  12   a ,  12   b , textured grip areas  20 , and mutually parallel distal portions  18   a  and  18   b  extending from their respective intermediate portions  16   a ,  16   b.    
     Each of the distal portions  18   a ,  18   b  may include a closure limit stop extending inwardly therefrom, stop  22   b  being visible in  FIG. 5 . The tine extension ends of the distal portions  18   a ,  18   b  define respective slots  28   a  and  28   b  therebetween and include first and second angular extensions  230   a ,  232   a  of the first distal portion  18   a  and extensions  230   b ,  232   b  of the second distal portion  18   b , as in the tine extension ends of the forceps  10  of  FIGS. 1-3 . Tines  34   a  and  36   a  extend from the first and second extensions  230   a  and  232   a  of the first distal portion  18   a , and tines  34   b  and  36   b  extend from the first and second extensions  230   b  and  232   b  of the second distal portion  18   b , similar to the configuration of the forceps  10 . The mutually facing gripping surfaces of the corresponding tines  34   a - 36   a ,  34   b - 36   b  have a plurality of laterally oriented and meshing or interlocking serrations or teeth  38  disposed thereon along the majority of their lengths, as provided for the forceps  10  shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     However, it will be seen that the angular extensions  230   a ,  232   a ,  230   b , and  232   b  are somewhat shorter than their counterpart extensions of the embodiments  10  and  110  of  FIGS. 1 through 4 . This results in the lateral spacing between corresponding tines  34   a ,  36   a  and  34   b ,  36   b  being somewhat narrower for the embodiment  210  of  FIG. 5  than for the embodiments  10  and  110  of  FIGS. 1 through 4 . This is the only substantial difference between the forceps  210  of  FIG. 5  and the forceps  10  and  110  of  FIGS. 1 through 4 . It will be seen that the lateral spacing between corresponding tines may be made to any practicable width. Accordingly, the bifurcated forceps greatly facilitate the elevation of tissue to facilitate access to the underlying anatomical tissue during medical operations and procedures. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.