Patent Publication Number: US-2013247333-A1

Title: Instrument handle, a device having the instrument handle, and a method of manufacturing the instrument handle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/685,658, filed on _______, entitled “Non-Slip Tri-Medics© Gator Grip Medical Non-Slip Holder,” which is expressly incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto. 
     The present application is related to U.S. Design Patent Application Serial No. _______, for “A Medical Device,” bearing Attorney Docket No. [11507/9], filed on the even date herewith, which is expressly incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a handle for scissors, forceps, needle holders and other medical instruments, a device having the handle, and a method of manufacturing the handle for medical instruments. 
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     Handles for medical instruments such as scissors, forceps, and needle holders are conventionally formed by forging or by machining, such as, for example knurled handles. However, such manufacturing processes limit the possibilities for surface patterns or grip structures formed on the handles of the medical instruments. Consequently, the limited possibilities for surface patterns or grip structures on handles of medical instruments limit the potential for a secure grip and precise control of the medical instruments when used in medical procedures. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,527,331; 6,592,603; and 7,497,867 describe the use of materials, manufacture and cutting efficiencies for improved scissors or forceps devices over conventional self-opening or automatic return scissors or forceps devices. 
     SUMMARY 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a handle for medical instruments, a device having the handle, and a method of manufacturing the handle for medical instruments. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a handle for a device includes a blank extending substantially along a longitudinal axis of the device between a distal end and a proximal end of the device, and protrusions situated on at least a portion of the blank, the protrusions being situated over approximately 180 degrees of a cross-section of the blank, the cross-section being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     The handle may be formed from a flat blank. The handle may be formed by at least one of injection molding and machining. The protrusions may extend radially away from the longitudinal axis, and may end in a flat gripping end. The protrusions may be evenly spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis, and the protrusions may be spaced apart from each other over the approximately 180 degrees of the cross-section of the blank. The handle may include apertures in the blank between the protrusions, and may include a locking element configured to maintain the handle in a closed position. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a device includes a first component formed of a blank extending substantially along a longitudinal axis of the device between a distal end and a proximal end of the device, a second component formed of a blank extending substantially along the longitudinal axis of the device between the distal end and the proximal end of the device, the first component and the second component pivotally coupled together, and protrusions situated on at least a portion of the blanks of the first and second components, the protrusions being situated over approximately 180 degrees of a cross-section of each blank, the cross-section being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     In a closed position, the protrusions may be situated over approximately 360 degrees of the cross-section of blanks of the first and second components taken together, thereby forming a substantially round handle in cross-section. The device may include locking elements associated with each of the first and second components, the locking elements configured to maintain the handle in a closed position. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method of making a handle for a device, the device including a blank extending substantially along a longitudinal axis of the device between a distal end and a proximal end of the device, includes forming protrusions on at least a portion of the blank, the protrusions being formed over approximately 180 degrees of a cross-section of the blank, the cross-section being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     The handle may be formed from a flat blank. The handle may be formed by at least one of injection molding and machining. The protrusions may extend radially away from the longitudinal axis, and may end in a flat gripping end. The protrusions may be evenly spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis, and the protrusions may be spaced apart from each other over the approximately 180 degrees of the cross-section of the blank. Apertures may be formed in the blank between the protrusions, and a locking element may be formed on the blank, the locking element configured to maintain the handle in a closed position. 
     Other features and aspects of example embodiments of the present invention are described in more detail below with reference to the appended Figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a medical instrument, in a closed position, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a left side view of the instrument shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a right side view of the instrument shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a bottom view of the instrument shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a top view of the instrument shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a front view of the instrument shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a rear view of the instrument shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of a medical instrument, in an open position, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a left side view of the instrument shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a right side view of the instrument shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a bottom view of the instrument shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a top view of the instrument shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a front view of the instrument shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a rear view of the instrument shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a medical instrument  1 , in a closed position, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 2 to 7  illustrate left side, right side, bottom, top, front, and rear views of the instrument  1  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of a medical instrument  1 , in an open position, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 9 to 14  illustrate left side, right side, bottom, top, front, and rear views of the instrument  1  shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     The instrument  1  includes two handles  5  that extend substantially along a longitudinal axis of the instrument  1  between a distal end  2  and a proximal end  3  of the instrument  1 . Although the Figures illustrate a particular embodiment of spring-like elements  4  at the proximal end  3 , alternative embodiments may include at the proximal end  3  other shapes, designs and/or configurations of springs, connectors, and/or instrument ends. In addition, although the Figures illustrate a particular embodiment of forceps at the distal end  2 , alternative embodiments may include at the distal end  2  other shapes, designs and/or configurations of forceps, scissors, needle holders, cutting blades, grasping arms, and/or other medical manipulators. Further, the handles  5  may be pivotally joined at or near the distal end  2 , or between the distal end  2  and the handles  5 . 
     The distal end  2  may be made of a material that resiliently flexes during use, for example, 300 series spring steel. The distal end  2  may be made from flexibly resilient, medical grade materials having any or all the features described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,527,331; 6,592,603; and 7,497,867, which are expressly incorporated herein in their entireties by reference thereto. Alternatively, the distal end  2  may be made of flexible steel, 400 series steel, flexible carbon, flexible plastic, and/or flexible coating materials. 
     The proximal end  3  may be made of a material that resiliently flexes during use, for example, 300 series spring steel. The proximal end  3  may be made from flexibly resilient, medical grade materials having any or all the features described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,527,331; 6,592,603; and 7,497,867, which are expressly incorporated herein in their entireties by reference thereto. Alternatively, the proximal end  3  may be made of flexible steel, 400 series steel, flexible carbon, flexible plastic, and/or flexible coating materials. 
     Each handle  5  is formed from a blank  10 . The blank  10  may be a substantially flat blank. Along at least a portion of the length of the blank  10 , the handle  5  includes protrusions  15 . The protrusions  15  may extend substantially radially away from the longitudinal axis of the instrument  1 . The protrusions  15  may be formed such that, when taking a cross-section of the blank  10  perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the instrument  1 , the protrusions  15  cover approximately 180 degrees of the cross-section of the blank  10 . That is, the protrusions  15  cover approximately half of an outer surface of the blank  10 , i.e., the portion of the outer surface that would come in contact with a user&#39;s hand and/or fingers. 
     The protrusions  15  may end in a flat gripping end  17  that facilitates a secure grip and tactile feedback for the user. Alternatively, other shapes, designs and/or configurations of the gripping end  17  may be used such as, for example, rounded, pointed, smooth, rough, and/or others. 
     The protrusions  15  may be spaced apart, e.g., evenly spaced apart, from each other along the longitudinal axis of the instrument  1 . In addition, the protrusions  15  may be spaced apart, e.g., evenly spaced apart, from each other over the approximately 180 degrees of the cross-section of the blank  10 . Further, the protrusions  15  may be separated from each other by apertures  20  in the blank  10 . 
     The handle  5  may be formed by injection molding, machining, and/or other forming processes. For example, the protrusions  15  may be formed by stamping, raising, punching, pressing, and/or flat-pressing the blank  10 . In addition, the apertures  20  may be formed separately from, or as a consequence of, the operations for forming the protrusions  15 . 
     The blank  10  may be made of a material that resiliently flexes during use, for example, 300 series spring steel. The blank  10  may be made from flexibly resilient, medical grade materials having any or all the features described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,527,331; 6,592,603; and 7,497,867, which are expressly incorporated herein in their entireties by reference thereto. Alternatively, the blank  10  may be made of flexible steel,  400  series steel, flexible carbon, flexible plastic, and/or flexible coating materials. 
     Further, each handle  5  may include a locking element  25  that engages with a corresponding locking element  25  of a corresponding, pivotally connected handle  5 . The locking elements  25  may be configured to lock the instrument  1  in a closed position when the handles  5  are pushed toward each other such that the locking elements  25  engage with each other. In order to unlock the instrument  1 , the handles  5  may be pushed further toward each other, thereby disengaging the locking elements  25  from each other so that the instrument  1  returns to an open position. In particular, upon movement of the handles  5  toward each other, one locking element  25  may include a detent or groove in which the corresponding locking element  25  is held, against the opening force of the springs  4 , thereby locking the instrument  1  in a closed position. Upon further movement of the handles  5  toward each other, the corresponding locking element  25  may become disengaged from the detent or groove of the one locking element  25  so that the instrument  1  may return to an open position under the opening force of the springs  4 . 
     When in a closed position, the handles  5  may form a substantially round cross-section. That is, in the closed position, the protrusions  15  may be situated over approximately 360 degrees of the cross-section of the blanks  10  of the handles  5  taken together, thereby forming a substantially round cross-section. 
     During use of the instrument  1  by a user, the protrusions  15  may facilitate more secure gripping and more precise control of the instrument  1 . The protrusions  15  may provide greater tactile feedback to a user such that the user is aware of the position and/or orientation of the instrument  1  without having to resort to visual confirmation. Moreover, when the instrument  1  is maintained in a closed position by locking elements  25 , the substantially round cross-section of the handles  5  having protrusions  15  may provide the user with the ability to rotate and/or otherwise manipulate the instrument  1  with ease while ensuring greater control over such movement, including more precise control over fine movements that may be necessary during medical procedures. 
     A medical instrument  1  may include a first component formed of a blank  10 . extending substantially along a longitudinal axis of the instrument  1  between a distal end  2  and a proximal end  3  of the instrument  1 , and a second component formed of a blank  10  extending substantially along the longitudinal axis of the instrument  1  between the distal end  2  and the proximal end  3  of the instrument  1 . The first and second components may be pivotally coupled together to form a medical instrument  1 , such as for example, scissors, forceps, needle holders and other medical instruments. Protrusions  15  may be situated on at least a portion of the handles  5  of the blanks  10  of the first and second components, the protrusions  15  being situated over approximately 180 degrees of a cross-section of each blank  10 , the cross-section being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     A method of making a handle  5  for an instrument  1  having a blank  10  extending substantially along a longitudinal axis of the instrument  1  between a distal end  2  and a proximal end  3  of the instrument  1  includes forming protrusions  15  on at least a portion of the blank  10 . 
     Each handle  5  is formed from a blank  10 . The blank  10  may be a substantially flat blank. Along at least a portion of the length of the blank  10 , the protrusions  15  are formed on the handle  5 . The protrusions  15  may extend substantially radially away from the longitudinal axis of the instrument  1 . The protrusions  15  may be formed such that, when taking a cross-section of the blank  10  perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the instrument  1 , the protrusions  15  cover approximately 180 degrees of the cross-section of the blank  10 . That is, the protrusions  15  cover approximately half of an outer surface of the blank  10 , i.e., the portion of the outer surface that would come in contact with a user&#39;s hand and/or fingers. 
     The protrusions  15  may end in a flat gripping end  17  that facilitates a secure grip and tactile feedback for the user. Alternatively, other shapes, designs and/or configurations of the gripping end  17  may be used such as, for example, rounded, pointed, smooth, rough, and/or others. 
     The protrusions  15  may be spaced apart, e.g., evenly spaced apart, from each other along the longitudinal axis of the instrument  1 . In addition, the protrusions  15  may be spaced apart, e.g., evenly spaced apart, from each other over the approximately 180 degrees of the cross-section of the blank  10 . Further, apertures  20  may be formed in the blank  10  between the protrusions  15 . 
     The handle  5  may be formed by injection molding, machining, and/or other forming processes. For example, the protrusions  15  may be formed by stamping, raising, punching, pressing, and/or flat-pressing the blank  10 . In addition, the apertures  20  may be formed separately from, or as a consequence of, the operations for forming the protrusions  15 . 
     Further, a locking element  25  may be formed on each handle  5  that engages with a corresponding locking element  25  of a corresponding, pivotally connected handle  5 . The locking elements  25  may be configured to lock the instrument  1  in a closed position when the handles  5  are pushed toward each other such that the locking elements  25  engage with each other. In order to unlock the instrument  1 , the handles  5  may be pushed further toward each other, thereby disengaging the locking elements  25  from each other so that the instrument  1  returns to an open position. 
     When in a closed position, the handles  5  may form a substantially round cross-section. That is, in the closed position, the protrusions  15  may be situated over approximately 360 degrees of the cross-section of the blanks  10  of the handles  5  taken together, thereby forming a substantially round cross-section. 
     During use of the instrument  1  by a user, the protrusions  15  may facilitate more secure gripping and more precise control of the instrument  1 . The protrusions  15  may provide greater tactile feedback to a user such that the user is aware of the position and/or orientation of the instrument  1  without having to resort to visual confirmation. Moreover, when the instrument  1  is maintained in a closed position by locking elements  25 , the substantially round cross-section of the handles  5  having protrusions  15  may provide the user with the ability to rotate and/or otherwise manipulate the instrument  1  with ease while ensuring greater control over such movement, including more precise control over fine movements that may be necessary during medical procedures. 
     In addition to the above described exemplary embodiments, other useful devices may also be manufactured according to the exemplary method of the present invention. Further, although the above described embodiments have been shown with a particular shape, size, and other features, the above embodiments are described by way of example only. 
     It is apparent that many modifications and variations of this invention as hereinabove set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope hereof. The specific embodiments described are given by way of example only, and the invention is limited only by the terms of the appended claims.