Abstract:
Forceps of the tips that are commonly used in surgical procedures having pressure limiting means that is effective after the tissue or material is firmly grasped by the platforms or tips, thus causing pressure being applied and competent damage to the tissue or material being handled by the forceps.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM  
       [0001]     This invention was first filed as a U.S. provisional Application No. 60/699,574 on Jul. 15, 2005. The filing date and priority of this first filing is expressly claimed pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e). 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to forceps used in a surgical procedure relating to tissue and grafts having a construction which limits or reduces the pressure on the surgeon&#39;s hand while doing said procedure but maintaining a secure grasp with minimal pressure.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     In the surgical field, it is known that a problem exists in the handling of tissues and grafts with conventional forceps. When using currently available forceps the closing force is transmitted directly and proportionally to the tips of the forceps. As a consequence the surgeon needs to be aware of the pressure exerted on the tissue during manipulation. Too little pressure will result in slippage, and too much force applied to the forceps could result in tearing, puncturing, abrasion or scoring which is the primary reason for tissue breakdown and limited survivorship of surgical procedures, such as bypass and bowel resections.  
         [0004]     When a surgeon uses a forceps it is generally held in the surgeon&#39;s non-dominant hand since the surgeon is normally concentrating and directing attention on what the dominant hand is doing so that it is clear that it is entirely possible to place an extra 20-30 grams of excess pressure on the very fragile tissue by means of the forceps. This excess pressure is transmitted directly to the tissue, thus causing significant trauma. This trauma causes the anatomic site to heal more slowly and break down over time, thus causing the ultimate failure of the surgery.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention has been developed in order to overcome the propensity of surgeons to inadvertently apply excess pressure on forceps during surgical procedures resulting in tissue damage. In this regard the forceps are provided with means for limiting or reducing the pressure exerted on tissue by an arrangement of stress relief that is built into the instrument. Thus, the pressure exerted on the forceps is automatically limited or reduced by means of a flexible resilient arms attached to the main forceps construction that is made of relatively strong and inflexible stainless steel, or any other surgical quality material.  
         [0006]     Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, additional stress relief is obtained by means of the flexible interlocking sleeves at the distal end of the forceps. It should be noted, however, that the present forceps instrument will provide stress relief with the flexible arm or arms alone connected between the main body and the gripping platforms of the forceps.  
         [0007]     The above and other features of the present invention will be apparent by reference to the following description of my invention together with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the pressure limiting forceps constructed in accordance with the teachings of my invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 1A  is an enlarged partial perspective view of the forward end of the pressure limiting forceps shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the pressure limiting forceps in its natural inactive state.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is another side elevational view of the pressure limiting forceps in an active state with the platforms of the forceps commencing to grasp tissue.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a further side elevational view of the forceps showing the handle of the forceps being further squeezed by the user&#39;s hands so that the tissue is firmly grasped at it&#39;s maximal pressure and  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the pressure limiting forceps of the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0014]     Forceps are presently used by health professionals, such as surgeons, in connection with procedures involving tissue manipulation. In order to ensure the proper amount of pressure is applied and controlled the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 1-3  of the drawings, has been devised in which the pressure limiting forceps is shown generally by the numeral  10 . The main body of the forceps includes a handle that is provided with two parts  12   a  and  12   b  respectively which are pivotally connected at the forward end of the forceps by means of pivot  14 . The handles  12   a  and  12   b  are provided with slip resistant grasping surfaces  13   a  and  13   b . The distal end of the forceps has flexible interlocking bands  16  and  18  each being attached at to the handles  12   a  and  12   b  by securing means  20  and  22 . The other ends of the flexible bands  16  and  18  are male-female connected by means of projection  18   a  of band  18  free sliding in opening  16   a  of the band  16 .  
         [0015]     As seen in  FIG. 1A , the forward end of the forceps in front of the pivot  14  have stops  24  and  26  made of strong and inflexible material. The gripping platforms or tips  28  and  30  are also fabricated of strong and inflexible material, such as stainless steel or any other surgical quality material. Furthermore, it is preferable to provide the gripping platforms  28  and  30  with a slip resistant surface, such as carbide interdigitating serrated tips  32 .  
         [0016]     Connected to the main body of the forceps are resilient arms  34  and  36  that are attached to the inside of stops  24  and  26 . The arms  34  and  36  are constructed of highly flexible material with a high modulus of elasticity and low deformation probability.  
         [0017]     Referring now to  FIGS. 2-4 , when a surgeon is using the pressure limiting forceps in his or her non-dominant hand during a surgical procedure while the dominant hand has a surgical instrument for carrying out the particular procedure, extreme care must be exercised on the amount of pressure exerted on the forceps grasping delicate tissue. With the present forceps in which the handle parts  12   a  and  12   b  are squeezed toward one another the tissue is grasped, as seen in  FIG. 3 . As seen in  FIG. 4 , further pressure is applied to the handles  12   a  and  12   b  when the handles are being squeezed closer together, and the gripping platforms  28  and  30  apply more pressure on the firmly grasped tissue continuously to a point just prior to complete forceps closure. At this point the stops  24  and  26  become effective through the connected ends of resilient arms  34  and  36 .  
         [0018]     When a stop arrangement is effected as seen as  FIG. 4  the platforms of the forceps, which are firmly holding the tissue presented from further closure since arms  34  and  36  flex to relieve the excess pressure. In this case, the long axis of each of the arms  34  and  36  flex to the said point of complete forceps closure and continues to flex up to and including complete closure. When the platforms  28  and  30  are completely closed any additional pressure applied to the forceps results in stress relief by means of the flexible resilient arms  34  and  36 , as well as by the flexible interlocking bands  16  and  18 . Thus, the present arrangement results in a net pressure release on the tissue T. Excess pressure on the forceps is thus relieved on both the front and distal ends of the forceps.  
         [0019]     Although the present described forceps is shown handling tissue in a surgical procedure, it should be apparent that the forceps can be used also wherever delicate material in any discipline must be handled to avoid tearing, puncturing or marring of the delicate or fragile material.  
         [0020]     While the present invention has been disclosed and described with reference to a single embodiment, it will be apparent that changes and modifications may be made therein, and it is intended in the following claims to cover each variation and modification as falls within the true spirit and scope of the invention.