DE102007055417B4 - Surgical forceps - Google Patents

Abstract

Surgical tweezers with a two resiliently against each other depressible industries comprehensive handle part, each of which carries a tweezer tip, each tweezer tip is part of a Aufsteckelementes which Aufsteckelement each on one of the two branches attachable and thus can be fixed to this industry, and wherein the Aufsteckelementen and are provided on the branches alignment members that direct the Aufsteckelemente and the industries when attaching the Aufsteckelemente on the industries in a defined position relative to the industries, characterized in that the alignment of the sectors (4, 5) and the Aufsteckelementen (6, 7) projecting orientation tongues (10, 23), each having a guide surface (12, 24) that the guide surfaces (12, 24) when inserting the Aufsteckelementes (6, 7) on the industry (4, 5) abut each other and thereby the slip-on element (6, 7) relative to the sector (4, 5) in the desired defined position le nken and that at least one of the orientation tongues (23) is resilient, so that the ...

Description

The invention relates to a surgical tweezers with a two resiliently against each other depressible industries comprehensive grip part, each of which carries a tweezer tip, each tweezers tip is part of a Aufsteckelementes which Aufsteckelement each plugged onto one of the two industries and thus can be fixed to this industry, and Alignment members are provided on the slip-on elements and on the branches, which guide the slip-on elements and the branches when placing the slip-on elements onto the branches in a defined position relative to the branches.

Surgical tweezers of this type are used in medical operations in a variety of ways, partly as pure gripping tools, partly also for coagulating arranged between the forceps tips tissue, in these cases, the tweezer tips are connected to a single pole or two poles with an electrical voltage source.

It is customary to form the sectors of the tweezers in one piece, so that in particular in the medical field, the production cost is relatively high, in particular, this prevents in many cases, surgical tweezers form as disposable parts.

In the DE 32 45 570 A1 a bipolar coagulation instrument is described in which electrode tips can be plugged by means of a holding device on the instrument.

From the US 5,334,215 A is such tweezers with Aufsteckelementen known to guide the Aufsteckelemente to the industries are on the branches of a projecting tongue and on the Aufsteckelementen a corresponding, this receiving channel provided.

Based on this prior art, the invention has the object, a generic, surgical tweezers in such a way that the manufacturing cost can be reduced and that also the mutual orientation is facilitated.

This object is achieved in a surgical tweezers of the type described above according to the invention that the alignment of the branches and the Aufsteckelementen projecting orientation tongues, each having a guide surface that the guide surfaces abut each other when attaching the Aufsteckelementes to the industry and thereby the slip-on steer relative to the industry in the desired defined position and that at least one of the orientation tongues is resilient, so that the guide surfaces are pressed elastically against each other.

In this way, the sectors of the surgical forceps are divided into the actual industries that are part of the handle part, and in the Aufsteckelemente that Orientationsrichtig on the industries are pluggable. It is therefore possible to replace the Aufsteckelemente in a simple manner, so that the same handle part can be used repeatedly, even if the tweezer tips are re-selected for each application, so if the Aufsteckelemente are designed as disposable parts.

The attachment of the Aufsteckelemente is facilitated by the alignment, which ensure that the Aufsteckelemente when plugging on the industries in the correct orientation to the industries and maintain this orientation in the plugged state.

It is particularly advantageous if, in order to form a plug connection between the branches and the slip-on elements, one of the two parts has a plug-in sleeve and the other has a bearing pin which can be pushed into the latter and is in contact therewith. In this way, you get between the receptacle and the journal a very stable compound that can also absorb bending moments well and is the simplest way to produce.

It is also advantageous if locking means are provided which secure the slip-on and the industry against axial displacement when the slip-on is attached to the industry.

In particular, the locking means may comprise a latching projection and a latching recess which elastically lock together when attaching the Aufsteckelementes to the industry. The locking means are thus automatically effective when the slip-on is attached to the industry.

In a particular embodiment, it is provided that the plug-in sleeve has a window into which a latching projection is inserted on the bearing journal when the plug-on element is attached to the branch.

The socket may be surrounded by a stabilizing sleeve in the region of the window, so that the socket retains the necessary strength despite the window.

It is advantageous if the bearing journal has a diametrical opening in the region of the latching projection and thereby elastic in two mutually bendable, adjacent arms is divided. The arms can be elastically bent against each other when the male member is pushed, and thereby the locking projections on the arms are pushed so far radially inward that the socket can slide over them until the locking projections elastically rebound and engage in the window of the socket.

In a plug-in connection comprising a plug-in sleeve and a bearing journal, the orientation tongues may preferably be located in the interior of the plug-in sleeve when the plug-on element is attached to the branch. This protects the alignment tabs inside the receptacle against any deformation or damage.

One of the two orientation tongues may be an extension of the bearing journal.

It is advantageous if the guide surfaces are inclined relative to the Aufsteckrichtung the Aufsteckelemente, so that by this inclination the guide surfaces are pressed against each other in progressive plugging with an increasing spring force, this inclination allows orientation of the two parts to each other when plugging.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tweezer tip is formed as a ceramic component with at least one electrically insulating region of a ceramic material and at least one region of an electrically conductive ceramic material, which receives its electrical conductivity by embedding electrically conductive particles. In this way, both the electrically conductive regions and the electrically insulating regions of the tweezer tip are made uniformly of ceramic material, i. H. they have similar mechanical and chemical properties, for example a very high compressive strength, a high resistance to chemicals or a low adhesion to adjacent tissue.

Electrosurgical instruments in which the active electrode surfaces are made of an electrically conductive ceramic material, for example, from WO 97/47249 A1 known. The difficulties encountered with conventional tweezer tips as a result of the meeting of very different materials in the electrically conductive and in the electrically non-conductive regions can be overcome by the combination of an electrically insulating ceramic material and an electrically conductive ceramic material.

It is particularly advantageous if the electrically insulating and the electrically conductive regions form monolithic sintered bodies. In this case, the tweezer tip is to be regarded as a single body made of ceramic material which receives electrical conductivity only partially by additives, the other properties are similar or largely identical over the entire volume of the tool due to the uniform ceramic nature of the material, the risk of separation in the boundary region between electrically conductive and electrically insulating areas does not exist.

The ceramic material used may be, for example, Al ₂ O ₃ , and it is. Conveniently, if the electrically conductive ceramic material contains conductive particles TiN, possibly carbon filaments could be embedded in the ceramic material.

It is favorable if the proportion of the electrically conductive particles in the electrically conductive ceramic material is between 30 and 70 percent by volume. By the proportion of conductive particles, the electrical resistance can be adjusted to the desired size, it is only essential that the electrically conductive particles are homogeneously distributed in the non-conductive ceramic material, so that electrical bridges between the electrically conductive particles arise, the electrical conductivity cause.

The size of the non-conductive ceramic particles and the conductive particles in the electrically conductive ceramic material may be between 1 and 100 μm, preferably between 3 and 50 μm. Between nonconductive ceramic particles and the electrically conductive particles, voids may be arranged in the electrically conductive ceramic material, the size of which is preferably between 0.1 and 10 μm, in particular between 0.5 and 5 μm.

The following description of preferred embodiments of the invention is used in conjunction with the drawings for further explanation. Show it:

1 a perspective view of a surgical forceps with a handle comprising two branches and two attached to the industries Aufsteckelementen;

2 : an enlarged view of the area A in 1 wherein an attachment is shown in exploded view;

3 a side view of the two Aufsteckelemente, wherein one of the two Aufsteckelemente along line 3-3 in 2 is cut;

3a FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken in the area C in FIG 3 ;

4 an enlarged detail view of the area B according to 1 wherein an attachment element and a sector are shown in exploded view;

5 : A side view of the surgical forceps in area B according to 1 , where an industry along line 5-5 in 4 is cut;

5a : an enlarged detail view of the area D in 5 ;

6 : A perspective view of the rear end of the handle element of the surgical forceps of 1 with a line 6-6 in 1 cut connector and

7 a holding device with two inserted into this Aufsteckelementen.

The surgical tweezers shown in the drawing 1 includes a handle part 2 with two juxtaposed, mirror-image formed on a connector 3 stored industries 4 . 5 and with two equally trained, on the branches 4 . 5 attached plug-on elements 6 . 7 ,

The industries 4 . 5 consist of a resilient material, such as steel, the connector 3 can be a plastic part, in which the two branches 4 . 5 are cast at a distance from each other so that they are set at their rear end parallel to each other and at a distance to each other. In this area, the two industries 4 . 5 with metallic pins 8th . 9 Be provided to the rear of the connector 3 protrude and can be plugged into the electrical connection sockets, not shown in the drawing. At her the connector 3 facing away from the branches bear a circular cylindrical bearing pin 10 which is at a radially inward jumping step 11 the branches 4 . 5 starts and at his stage 11 opposite end of a guide surface 12 which results from being on one side of the journal 10 one to the middle of the journal 10 reaching level 13 in the journal 10 is arranged. The guide surface 12 is thus located substantially in the center plane of the cylindrical journal 10 and is to the free end of the journal 10 towards this midplane in an investment area 14 inclined, the inclination is on the order of 6 ° to 10 ° ( 3 ).

In its middle section is the journal 10 from a diametrically penetrating longitudinal slot 15 in two parallel arms 16 . 17 divided, these arms 16 . 17 can be elastically bent radially inwards. In the area of the longitudinal slot 15 carries the journal 10 a radially outward annular bead 18 passing on two opposite sides through the longitudinal slot 15 shared.

The journal 10 is with the industry 4 . 5 formed in one piece and, like these, preferably made of a metal which is elastically deformable, for example made of steel.

The two attachment elements 6 . 7 are identical, only one of the two will be explained in more detail below. The slip-on element has a metallic, elongated core 19 on, with a tweezers tip at its free end 20 forms with an inside barrel surface 21 , This tweezers tip 20 with the barrel surface 21 Can be integral with the core 19 be formed or as a separate component by soldering or the like to the core 19 connected is.

The tweezers tip 20 is surrounded by an insulating body 22 , which may be made of plastic or ceramic, for example, and the barrel surface 21 leaves free. The tweezers tip 20 can be designed in particular as a ceramic component. There is the barrel area 21 for example, an electrically conductive ceramic material, while the insulating body 22 consists of an electrically insulating ceramic material. The electrically conductive ceramic material may consist, for example, of Al ₂ O ₃ , conductive particles of TiN are added to this ceramic material, and carbon filaments could possibly also be embedded in the ceramic material. The proportion of the electrically conductive particles in the electrically conductive ceramic material may be between 30% by volume and 70% by volume. By the proportion of conductive particles, the electrical resistance can be adjusted to the desired size, it is only essential that the electrically conductive particles are homogeneously distributed in the non-conductive ceramic material, so that electrical bridges between the electrically conductive particles arise, the electrical conductivity cause.

The electrically insulating ceramic material may also be Al ₂ O ₃ .

The core 19 can in the barrel area 21 be embedded and, for example, with the barrel surface 21 be connected by soldering.

The jaw member may be made by preforming it by two-component injection of electrically insulating ceramic material and electrically conductive ceramic material, on the other hand. Subsequently, the jaw part is monolithically solidified by a sintering process, so that the jaw part as a one-piece ceramic part on the core 19 is determined. In this way arise through the insulator 22 on the one hand and by the electrically conductive ceramic material of the barrel surface 21 on the other hand immediately adjacent to each other in the one-piece ceramic part areas that are electrically insulating or electrically conductive. These areas are connected without gaps by the sintering process and are both made of ceramic material.

At his tweezers tip 20 opposite side carries the core 19 an elongated tongue 23 , the off-center from the core 19 outlet and on its inner side at the free end of a guide surface 24 carries, in relation to the longitudinal direction of the Aufsteckelementes 6 slightly tilted, for example, the inclination lies between 0 ° and 2 ° ( 3 ).

At the core 19 is an elongated receptacle 25 attached and permanently connected to the core, for example by soldering. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer diameter of the receptacle 25 equal to the outer diameter of the core 19 , in the attachment area is the diameter of the core 19 in addition to the wall thickness of the socket 25 reset.

The socket 25 is longer than the tongue 23 so that the tongue 23 completely inside the socket 25 is included. The wall of the socket 25 is at one point through two diametrically opposed windows 26 broken through, the wall of the socket 25 forms in the window area 26 only relatively narrow bars 27 out. To increase the stability of the socket 25 in the window area 26 is a stabilization sleeve over this area 28 pushed, which preferably consists of metal and close to the outside of the socket 25 is applied.

The whole core 19 and the subsequent socket 25 Finally, from an insulating sleeve 29 Surrounded by the insulating body 22 to the end of the socket 25 extends, and in the same way are the branches 4 . 5 from an insulating coating 30 covered, stretching to the step 11 extends. On the insulating sleeve 29 is at the end of the socket 25 an insulating piece of pipe 31 attached, which over the end of the socket 25 survives and which when sliding on the on the stage 11 the industry 4 . 5 adjacent region of the isolated coating 30 creates a tight, insulating connection.

Each attachment element 6 . 7 can be with the help of the socket 25 on a journal 10 an industry 4 . 5 slide on, this is the journal 10 with its outer wall close to the inner wall of the socket 25 at. When pushed, the guide surface also lays down 24 the tongue 23 to the appropriate guide surface 12 of the journal 10 on, and thereby are the Aufsteckelemente when sliding 6 . 7 relative to the branches 4 . 5 guided and directed in a defined angular position, the two guide surfaces 12 . 24 lie flat against each other and thus define exactly the angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the socket 25 between attachment element and industry. This contributes to the tongue 23 is resilient and with an increasing upon sliding of the inclined guide surfaces increasing force the guide surfaces against each other. The Aufschiebebewegung is limited by the fact that the socket 25 at the stage 11 strikes. In this defined end position, the two parts of the annular bead snap 18 in the windows 26 and thus form an axial lock, which prevents a slip-on 6 . 7 inadvertently from an industry 4 . 5 can be deducted. However, it is possible to remove it if the removal takes place with a force exceeding a certain value.

The user can therefore the slip-on 6 . 7 in a simple way to the industry 4 . 5 slide on, while the slip-on is by the guide surfaces 24 and 12 twisted into the desired angular position, without the user must pay particular attention to it, and by the stop forming a step 11 and the socket 25 the immersion depth is limited. In the end position automatically takes a lock against axial displacement, so that the tweezers is then ready for use.

When pushing on the plug-in element 6 . 7 on the branches 4 . 5 covers the insulating pipe section 31 the gap between the insulating coating 30 on the one hand and the insulating sleeve 29 the Aufsteckelemente other hand, so as to ensure that the tweezers over their entire length with the exception of the barrel surfaces is electrically isolated.

The attachment of the Aufsteckelemente 6 . 7 can be done by hand for each individual attachment element. However, the slip-on elements can possibly be dimensioned relatively small so that the handling can be made more difficult.

In order to simplify the Aufsteckvorgang in this case, a holding device 32 used as in 7 is shown. This holding device 32 comprises a substantially plate-shaped lower part 33 and two up from this base 33 protruding, through a V-shaped gap 34 separate grip elements 35 . 36 , In the plate-shaped lower part 33 are parallel to each other two longitudinal channels 37 . 38 arranged, both to the side over a longitudinal slot 39 . 40 are open. The entire holding device consists of a deformable material, such as a plastic material, so that the longitudinal slots 39 . 40 expandable by the two handle elements 35 . 36 be bent against each other.

The longitudinal channels 37 . 38 form a receptacle for two holding tubes 41 . 42 , which at their ends in each case a radially projecting flange 43 wear, who used in holding tubes 41 . 42 on the front sides of the holding device 32 rests and the holding tubes therefore in the longitudinal channels 37 . 38 stored immovably in the longitudinal direction.

In every holding tube 41 . 42 is in each case a slip-on element 6 . 7 inserted, thereby the slip-on elements 6 in the holding tubes 41 held in frictional engagement, so that the two attachment elements 6 . 7 in the holding device 32 are mounted at a distance from each other and parallel to each other, with a mutual distance, the distance between the two branches 4 . 5 the tweezers 1 matches if the industries 4 . 5 not bent against each other. It is therefore easily possible, the two industries 4 . 5 so to the ends of the slip-on elements 6 . 7 to push in that both Aufsteckelemente 6 . 7 at the same time on the branches 4 . 5 can be deferred.

After locking the slip-on elements 6 . 7 with the branches 4 . 5 can the Aufsteckelemente 6 . 7 by a pull on the handle part 2 from the holding device 32 pulled out, the tweezers is then ready for use.

When plugging in an orientation of the Aufsteckelemente inevitably 6 . 7 relative to the branches 4 . 5 made, on the one hand by the leadership of the journal 10 inside the socket 25 and on the other by the plant of the guide surfaces 24 and 12 the tongue 23 or the journal 10 ,

The holding tubes 41 can then again with plug-on elements 6 . 7 be fitted, which are simply inserted into the holding tubes, so that the holding device then for a re-fitting of a handle element and the branches held thereon 4 . 5 is available.

Claims (19)

Surgical tweezers with a two resiliently against each other depressible industries comprehensive handle part, each of which carries a tweezer tip, each tweezer tip is part of a Aufsteckelementes which Aufsteckelement each on one of the two branches attachable and thus can be fixed to this industry, and wherein the Aufsteckelementen and are provided on the branches alignment members that direct the Aufsteckelemente and the industries when attaching the Aufsteckelemente on the industries in a defined position relative to the industries, characterized in that the alignment members of the industries ( 4 . 5 ) and the slip-on elements ( 6 . 7 ) above orientations ( 10 . 23 ), each having a guide surface ( 12 . 24 ), that the guide surfaces ( 12 . 24 ) when attaching the Aufsteckelementes ( 6 . 7 ) on the industry ( 4 . 5 ) abut each other and thereby the slip-on ( 6 . 7 ) relative to the industry ( 4 . 5 ) in the desired defined position and that at least one of the orientation tongues ( 23 ) is resilient, so that the guide surfaces ( 12 . 24 ) are pressed elastically against each other. Tweezers according to claim 1, characterized in that to form a plug connection between the branches ( 4 . 5 ) and the slip-on elements ( 6 . 7 ) one of the two parts of a socket ( 25 ) and the other one in this insertable, bearing against the inner wall bearing pin ( 10 ) having. Tweezers according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that locking means ( 26 . 18 ) are provided, which the slip-on ( 6 . 7 ) and the industry ( 4 . 5 ) against axial displacement when the slip-on element ( 6 . 7 ) on the industry ( 4 . 5 ) is attached. Tweezers according to claim 3, characterized in that the locking means a latching projection ( 18 ) and a latch return ( 26 ), which when plugging the Aufsteckelementes ( 6 . 7 ) on the industry ( 4 . 5 ) elastically lock together. Tweezers according to claim 2 and claim 4, characterized in that the socket ( 25 ) a window ( 26 ), in which a latching projection ( 18 ) on the journal ( 10 ), when the slip-on element ( 6 . 7 ) on the industry ( 4 . 5 ) is attached. Tweezers according to claim 5, characterized in that the socket ( 25 ) in the area of the window ( 26 ) of a stabilization sleeve ( 28 ) is surrounded. Tweezers according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the bearing journal ( 10 ) in the region of the latching projection ( 18 ) a diametrical opening ( 15 ) and thereby in two elastically against each other bendable, adjacent arms ( 16 . 17 ) is divided. Tweezers according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the orientation tongues ( 23 ) in a plug connection which has a plug-in sleeve ( 25 ) and a journal ( 10 ), inside the socket ( 25 ) are located, when the slip-on element ( 6 . 7 ) on the industry ( 4 . 5 ) is attached. Tweezers according to claim 8, characterized in that one of the two orientation tongues an extension of the journal ( 10 ). Tweezers according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the guide surfaces ( 12 . 24 ) relative to the mounting direction of the Aufsteckelemente ( 6 . 7 ) is inclined. Tweezers according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each tweezer tip is formed as a ceramic component with at least one electrically insulating region ( 22 ) of a ceramic material and having at least one area ( 21 ) of an electrically conductive ceramic material, which receives its electrical conductivity by embedding electrically conductive particles. Tweezers according to claim 11, characterized in that the electrically insulating regions ( 22 ) and the electrically conductive areas ( 21 ) form monolithic sintered bodies. Tweezers according to one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that the electrically conductive ceramic material contains TiN as conductive particles. Tweezers according to claim 13, characterized in that the proportion of the electrically conductive particles in the electrically conductive ceramic material is between 30 percent by volume and 70 percent by volume. Tweezers according to one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that the size of the non-conductive ceramic particles and the conductive particles in the electrically conductive ceramic material is between 1 micron and 100 microns. Tweezers according to claim 15, characterized in that the size of the non-conductive ceramic particles and the conductive particles in the electrically conductive ceramic material is between 3 microns and 50 microns. Tweezers according to one of claims 11 to 16, characterized in that vacancies are arranged between non-conductive ceramic particles and electrically conductive particles in the electrically conductive ceramic material. Tweezers according to Claim 17, characterized in that the size of the vacancies is between 0.1 μm and 10 μm. Tweezers according to claim 18, characterized in that the size of the voids is between 0.5 microns and 6 microns.

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