Patent Publication Number: US-2016235425-A1

Title: Surgical Instrument

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a surgical instrument with various functions. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE ART 
     WO2014/103096 discloses a surgical instrument. 
     OBJECT 
     An object of the invention is to provide a surgical instrument with various functions. 
     Especially, the invention is to provide a surgical instrument, such as a forceps, that has enough grip power and can grip surgical string. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a surgical instrument that can grip surgical strings and living tissues without damaging them. 
     MEANS FOR SOLVING THE OBJECT 
     Any of the above objects are solved by the invention claimed. 
     The first aspect of the invention relates to a surgical instrument which comprises a first working sections  11   a  and a second working section  11   b.  The first and the second working sections  11   a,    11   b  are pivotally connected such that they can be opened or closed. Because the example of the surgical instrument is a forceps, a skilled person would understand the features of the invention. 
     The first working section  11   a  comprises a first cutting section  13   a  and a first gripping section  17   a.  The first gripping section  17   a  comprises a first gripping surface  15   a.    
     The second working section  11   b  comprises a second cutting section  13   b  and a second gripping section  17   b.  The second gripping section  17   b  comprises a second gripping surface  15   b.    
     The first cutting section  13   a  and the second cutting section  13   b  are configured to cut a first object. 
     The first gripping surface  15   a  comprises a first flat peripheral area  19   a  and a first plurality of protrusions  21   a,    23   a  inside the first flat peripheral area  19   a.    
     The second gripping surface  15   b  comprises a second flat peripheral area  19   b  and a second plurality of protrusions  21   b,    23   b  inside the second flat peripheral area  19   b.    
     The first gripping surface  15   a  and the second gripping surface  15   b  are configured to be at the end portion of the first and the second working sections  11   a,    11   b,  respectively. The first gripping surface  15   a  and the second gripping surface  15   b  are configured to grip a second object when the first and the second working sections  11   a,    11   b  are closed. 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention is that the first and the second working sections  11   a,    11   b  further comprise a first and a second detaching section  20   a,    20   b , respectively. The first and the second detaching section  20   a,    20   b  are configured to detaching living tissue when the first and the second working sections  11   a,    11   b  are opening. 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention is that the first plurality of protrusions  21   a ,  23   a  and the second plurality of protrusions  21   b,    23   b  are configured to grip living tissue. 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention is that the width of the first flat peripheral area  19   a  and the second flat peripheral area  19   b  is 0.1 mm to 3 mm. A preferred embodiment of the invention is that each of the first plurality of protrusions  21   a,    23   a  and the second plurality of protrusions  21   b,    23   b  has the width of 0.1 mm to 0.6 mm. 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention is that the first plurality of protrusions  21   a ,  23   a  have three line-shaped grooves  25   a,    27   a,    29   a  arranged in parallel or the second plurality of protrusions  21   b,    23   b  have three line-shaped grooves  25   b,    27   b,    29   b  arranged in parallel. 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention is that the surgical instrument is a forceps. 
     TECHNICAL EFFECT 
     Because the surgical instrument has flat peripheral areas and a plurality of protrusions inside the flat peripheral areas, it can grip surgical strings and living tissues without damaging them. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF EXPLANATION OF FIGURES 
         FIGS. 1 a  and 1 b    show a surgical instrument of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows an enlarged part of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 3 a , 3 b , 3 c , 3 d    show an edge portion of the surgical instrument. 
         FIG. 4  depicts the portion of the first gripping section and the second gripping section. 
         FIG. 5  depicts variation of gripping section. 
         FIG. 6  depicts the design figure to manufacture a forceps. 
         FIG. 7A  depicts the front view of the manufactured forceps with length of 183 mm. 
         FIG. 7B  depicts the side view of the forceps of  FIG. 7A . 
         FIG. 7C  depicts the enlarged image of the end section of the forceps depicted in 
         FIG. 7A  which includes the gripping sections of the manufactured forceps. 
         FIG. 8A  depicts the front view of the manufactured forceps with length of 235 mm. 
         FIG. 8B  depicts the side view of the forceps of  FIG. 8A . 
         FIG. 9  is a picture of the gripping sections of the manufactured forceps. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     The invention is explained with reference of figures.  FIGS. 1 a  and 1 b    show a surgical instrument of the invention.  FIG. 2  shows an enlarged part of  FIG. 1 .  FIGS. 3 a , 3 b , 3 c , 3 d    show an edge portion of the surgical instrument. 
     The first aspect of the invention relates to a surgical instrument  1  which comprises a first working sections  11   a  and a second working section  11   b.  The first and the second working sections  11   a ,  11   b  may be two blades with handles  41   a,    41   b.  The first and the second working sections  11   a,    11   b  are pivotally connected through a transverse pin  43  such that they can be opened or closed. Because the example of the surgical instrument is a forceps, a skilled person would understand the features of the invention and how it is used.  FIG. 1 b    shows a side view of the surgical instrument. As shown in the figure, the surgical instrument may be curved. 
     The first working section  11   a  comprises a first cutting section  13   a  and a first gripping section  17   a.  The length of the first gripping section  17   a  may be from 1 mm to 5 mm, preferably from 1 mm to 4 mm, more preferably from 1.5 mm to 3 mm, and the length may be from 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm. The first gripping section  17   a  comprises a first gripping surface  15   a.  The second working section  11   b  comprises a second cutting section  13   b  and a second gripping section  17   b.  The second gripping section  17   b  comprises a second gripping surface  15   b.  The length of the second gripping section  17   b  may be from 1 mm to 5 mm, preferably from 1 mm to 4 mm, more preferably from 1.5 mm to 3 mm, and the length may be from 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm. 
     The first cutting section  13   a  and the second cutting section  13   b  are configured to cut a first object. The first cutting section  13   a  and the second cutting section  13   b  may have blades and both blades are configured to slide each other when a user closes the first and the second working sections  11   a,    11   b  by means of handles  41   a,    41   b.  When an object is put between the first cutting section  13   a  and the second cutting section  13   b , the object is cut by means of the blades. Examples of the object are surgical string and tissues, which may be patients&#39;. 
     As shown in the  FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b   , the first gripping surface  15   a  comprises a first flat peripheral area  19   a  and a first plurality of protrusions  21   a,    23   a  inside the first flat peripheral area  19   a.  The length of the first gripping surface  15   a  may be 1 mm to 3 mm, preferably it is 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm. As shown in  FIG. 3 b   , the first gripping surface  15   a  is at the thin portion of the first working section  11   a,  which is at the end portion of the first working section  11   a.    
     The first flat peripheral area  19   a  surrounds the part in which the first plurality of protrusions  21   a,    23   a  exist and is made to be flat. A preferred embodiment of the invention is that the width of the first flat peripheral area  19   a  and the second flat peripheral area  19   b  is 0.1 mm to 3 mm. The width of the first flat peripheral area may be calculated as the distance from the edge portion of the protrusions  21   a,    23   a  or line-shaped grooves  25   a,    27   a,    29   a  to the edge of the first gripping surface  15   a.    
     The second gripping surface  15   b  is similar to the first gripping surface and it comprises a second flat peripheral area  19   b  and a second plurality of protrusions  21   b ,  23   b.  The second plurality of protrusions  21   b,    23   b  are inside the second flat peripheral area  19   b.    
     The first gripping surface  15   a  and the second gripping surface  15   b  are configured to be at the end portion of the first and the second working sections  11   a,    11   b,  respectively. The first gripping surface  15   a  and the second gripping surface  15   b  are configured to grip a second object when the first and the second working sections  11   a,    11   b  are closed. The second object may be surgical string or tissues. 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention is that the first and the second working sections  11   a,    11   b  further comprise a first and a second detaching section  20   a,    20   b , respectively. The first and the second detaching section  20   a,    20   b  are configured to detaching living tissue when the first and the second working sections  11   a,    11   b  are opening. 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention is that the first plurality of protrusions  21   a ,  23   a  and the second plurality of protrusions  21   b,    23   b  are configured to grip living tissue. Further it is preferred that the first plurality of protrusions  21   a,    23   a  and the second plurality of protrusions  21   b,    23   b  are configured to grip surgical string. The height of the protrusions  21   a,    23   a,    21   b,    23   b  is, e.g., 0.05 to 0.1 mm. Preferred example of the height is 0.06 to 0.08 mm. It is then possible to grip surgical string without adding damage to it. 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention is that each of the first plurality of protrusions  21   a,    23   a  and the second plurality of protrusions  21   b,    23   b  has the width of 0.1 mm to 0.6 mm. Preferred example of the width is 0.2 to 0.5 mm. The width may be calculated from the top portion of one protrusion to the top portion of the neighbouring protrusion. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 a , 3 d   , a preferred embodiment of the invention is that the first plurality of protrusions  21   a,    23   a  have three line-shaped grooves  25   a,    27   a,    29   a  arranged in parallel. Other preferred embodiment of the invention is that the second plurality of protrusions  21   b,    23   b  have three line-shaped grooves  25   b,    27   b,    29   b  arranged in parallel. The depth of grooves is 0.05 to 0.1 mm. Preferred example of the depth is 0.06 to 0.08 mm. 
       FIG. 4  depicts the portion of the first gripping section and the second gripping section. It is preferred that the top angle of protrusion is from 100 to 150 degrees and preferably from 120 to 140 degrees. The top angle is depicted in the  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 5  depicts variation of gripping section. The direction of grooves and protrusions may be in a direction of the first and the second working sections  11   a,    11   b . The direction may be in a tilt direction. The protrusions may be at lattice points. 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention is that the surgical instrument is a forceps. 
     Because of the above explained feature, even though the first and second gripping sections  17   a,    17   b  are small the surgical instrument has high grip strength and sufficient to grip objects. 
     How to use the surgical instrument  1  is explained. A user inserts fingers into handles  41   a,    41   b.  When the user opens the handles  41   a,    41   b,  the first working sections  11   a  and the second working section  11   b  pivotally slide to open them. 
     When the user tries to detach living tissue, the user inserts the edge portion of the surgical instrument  1  and moves it with opening the first working sections  11   a  and the second working section  11   b.  When the user ties to grip living tissue or surgical elements, such as surgical string, the user puts the object between the protrusions or the flat peripheral areas. Then the user makes the first working sections  11   a  and the second working section  11   b  pivotally and slightly be closed to grip the object. 
     Working Example 1 
       FIG. 6  depicts the design figure to manufacture a forceps. Based on the design figure, forceps are manufactured using stainless steel.  FIGS. 7A to 7C, 8A and 8B  are pictures of the manufactured forceps.  FIG. 7A  depicts the front view of the manufactured forceps with length of 183 mm.  FIG. 7B  depicts the side view of the forceps.  FIG. 7C  depicts the enlarged image of the end section of the forceps depicted in  FIG. 7A  which includes the gripping sections of the manufactured forceps.  FIG. 8A  depicts the front view of the manufactured forceps with length of 235 mm.  FIG. 8B  depicts the side view of the forceps.  FIG. 9  is a picture of the gripping sections of the manufactured forceps.