Abstract:
A surgical instrument for gripping and applying tension to and closing separated skin edges as needed to suture a wound.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to surgical instruments, and particularly to those used for veterinary surgical procedures. 
     In performing surgery, it is sometimes necessary to remove extensive areas of skin as, for example, in the case of tumor excision. When closing the wound, it is necessary to apply tension to draw the edges of skin into proper apposition for suturing. 
     The present invention provides an instrument for applying tension to skin in such cases. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a handheld instrument for applying tension to separated skin edges when needed to suture a wound. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a skin contractor comprises a handheld and manipulated instrument with general appearance of the letter A. The instrument includes elongated arms joined along a pivot axis at their top ends, and with finger loops formed at the lower end of each arm. A rachet and pawl mechanism interconnects each of the arms so that the arms are held in fixed position with respect to each other. The upper portion of the arms have inner, confronting surfaces lined with inwardly projecting pins for engaging spaced edges of skin on opposite sides of a wound. The instrument, in open position, engages the spaced edges of skin along the confronting pins. By closing the instrument, the skin edges are tensioned and drawn together for suturing. The ratchet and pawl mechanism holds the instrument arms and skin edges in fixed position with respect to each other so that the surgeon can unhand the instrument and perform the necessary suturing. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a surgical instrument for tensioning skin in the vicinity of a wound. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a handheld and manipulated instrument for engaging a substantial length of skin on both sides of a wound for drawing the skin edges together for suturing. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a skin contractor with pivoted arms and skin piercing pins for enabling a surgeon to draw the skin over a wound for suturing. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide skin contractor which draws skin over a wound and holds the skin in fixed position thereby enabling a surgeon to unhand the instrument and continue with the surgical procedure. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a skin contactor fitted with a set of confronting pins enabling a surgeon to draw skin over a wound with minimum harm to the skin in the vicinity of the wound. 
     Other and further objects of the invention will occur to one skilled in the art with an understanding of the following detailed description of the invention or upon employment of the invention in practice. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustrating the construction and operation of the invention and is shown in the accompanying drawing in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an instrument of the invention, illustrating the instrument in open position. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of an instrument of the invention, illustrating the instrument in closed position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawing, a preferred embodiment of skin contractor according to the invention comprises an instrument 10 having elongate arms 12, 14 of similar construction with a thin upper portions 12a, 14a and heavier lower portions 12b, 14b. The arms are joined at their top ends 12c, 14c by a rivet 16 or similar fastener defining a pivot axis. Short lengths 12d, 14d of the terminal portions of the elongate arms are directed at an angle toward each other for the purpose of spacing the inner surfaces 12e, 14e of the elongate arms thereby allowing them to be aligned nearly parallel to each other when the instrument is in closed position as shown in FIG. 2. The spacing of the inner surfaces of the upper portions of the arms is also facilitated by the presence of shoulders 12f, 14f at the junction of upper and lower arm portions. 
     Each arm has a finger loop 12g, 14g formed integral at its lower end for holding the instrument and manipulating the pivoted arms with thumb and forefinger. 
     The upper portions of the arms have inner, confronting surfaces 12e, 14e lined with inwardly projecting sharp pins 18 for piercing and engaging spaced edges of skin on opposite sides of a wound. As illustrated in the drawing, the pins are aligned in point-to-point relationship for holding skin edges in place while being sutured. If desired the pins may be offset with the pins of one arm coming to rest in the space between adjacent pins of the other arm when the instrument is closed. 
     A ratchet and pawl mechanism 20 interconnects each of the arms so that the arms may be held in fixed position with respect to each other. A ratchet arm 22 in the form of an arc of a circle of radius r is affixed to one instrument arm (preferably the arm fitted with the thumb loop 12g) is provided with ratchet teeth 24 along its lower surface 22a, and extends through a slot 28 in the lower portion of the other arm 14. The outer end 22b of the ratchet arm terminates in a retaining ledge 22c for limiting outward pivotal movement of one instrument arm with respect to the other. A pawl 30 having a section of ratchet teeth 30a is pivotally attached to a slot 31 in arm 14 by a rivet 32. Preferably, the pawl cooperates with a leaf spring 34 affixed to arm 14 for biasing the pawl in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 1) for normal engagement with the ratchet arm. The pawl has an actuating handle 30b positioned adjacent the finger loop 14g for ease of finger manipulation for disengaging the pawl mechanism. 
     The instrument, in open position (FIG. 1), engages the spaced edges of skin S by means of the confronting pins. By closing the instrument (FIG. 2), the skin edges are tensioned and drawn together for suturing. The ratchet and pawl mechanism holds the instrument arms in fixed position with respect to each other so that the surgeon can unhand the instrument and perform the necessary suturing while the instrument arms hold the skin edges securely in proper apposition.