US3013560A - Circumcision clamp - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 19, 1961 R. COHEN CIRCUMCISION CLAMP Filed Sept. 7, 1960 INVENTOR. COHEN ROBERT ATTORNEYS United. States Patent 3,013,560 CIRCUMCISION CLAMP Robert Cohen, 2415 Niles St., Bakersfield, Calif. Filed Sept. 7, 1960, Ser. No. 54,523 2 Claims. (Cl. 128-346) The present invention relates to surgical instruments generally, and in particular to an instrument for use while performing the operation known as circumcision.

Various surgical instruments have been proposed in the past, and some are in use at present, which are employed in the operation of circumcision. Not all of such instruments that have been proposed or that are in use have found acceptance in the medical or surgical profession. A chief objection to the instruments in use is that they are cumbersome and unwieldly. Some of the instruments in use do not prevent hemorrhage after the operation and other means must be employed to stop the bleeding of the severed prepuce.

An object of the present invention is to provide a surgical instrument for use while. performing the operation known as circumcision which has means for stopping the flow of blood after the operation and for holding the skin while the proper blood clot forms.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a surgical instrument for use while performing the operation of circumcision which is simple in structure, one which may be handled by one hand while the other hand handles the tissue severing blade, and one which is highly effective in action.

These and other objects and advantages will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in consideration with the annexed drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of the surgical instrument according to the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the forward end of the instrument, showing the jaws in separated or open condition,

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view of the forward end of the instrument, showing it in use with the tissue lifting element of the instrument engaging the prepuce prior to severing of the latter,

FIGURE 4 is a view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG- URE 3, on an enlarged scale, and

FIGURE 5 is a view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG- URE 4.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the reference numeral designates generally the surgical instrument of the present invention and which comprises a pair of handle members 12 and 14 pivotally connected intermediate their ends for movement toward and away from each other.

Jaws 16 and 18 are formed from the portions of the handle members 12 and 14 forwardly of the pivotal connection of the handle member 12 to the handle member 14. The confronting faces of the jaws 16 and 18 are serrated, as at 20 and 22 in FIGURE 4.

The serrations 20 and 22 extend along the confronting faces of the jaws 16 and 18, respectively, except for the interruption of a recess 24 in the jaw 16 and another recess 26 in the jaw 18. The recesses 24 and 26 are in registry with each other when the jaws are closed and the handle members 12 and 14 are moved toward each other.

3,013,560 Patented Dec. 19, 1961 The present invention provides a supporting means, indicated generally by the reference numeral 28, including a tissue lifting element 30 and a penis depressing member 32 arranged in vertical spaced relation with respect to the lifting element 30. The supporting means is in the form of a rod 34 connecting the element 30 and the member 32 together and also extending from the element 30 to the one handle member 14 to which it is secured by welding or other means.

The tissue lifting element 30 comprises a pair of prongs 36 and 38 adapted to engage and lift the prepuce, as at 40 in FIGURE 5. The penis depressing member 32 is of a size to engage the free end of the penis 42 within the prepuce 40, as in FIGURE 5. The depressing member 32 is provided with a 'pair of slots 44 for the escape of body fluid, if found necessary.

Means is provided and carried on the handle members 12 and 14 for locking the handle members 12 and 14 together when they have been moved toward each other. This means consists in interengaging hook elements 46 and 48 extending toward each other from the handle members 12 and 14 on the ends of the latter remote from the jaws 16 and 18.

In use, the instrument 10 is employed as shown in FIGURES 3 and 5 to grippingly engage between the serrated faces of the jaws 16 and 18, the prepuce 40 and to draw the same outwardly of the penis 42 with the prongs 36 and 38 of the tissue lifting element 30 engaged on the inner wall of the prepuce.

After the handle members 12 and 14 have been locked, as in FIGURE 1, a surgical knife is employed to sever the extended end portion of the prepuce 40.

i It is an important feature of the present invention that the serrations 20 and 22 on the jaws 16 and 18 grip the skin in the manner of a hemostat and hold the same until clotting occurs after the skin has been cut. The jaws 16 and 18 are narrow, as shown in FIGURE 4, and permit the blood to clot without danger of forming any necrotic material in the severed end portion of the skin.

Should the infant urinate while the operation is being performed, the urine will escape from under the depressing member 32 without dislodging the same from its position on the head of the penis 42.

What is claimed is:

1. In a surgical instrument, a pair of elongated handle members pivotally connected together intermediate their ends for movement toward and away from each other, the

portions of said handle members forwardly of the pivoted connection serving as jaws, the confronting faces of said jaws having serrations extending therealong, there being a recess in the serrations of each jaw intermediate the ends thereof, said recesses being in registry with each other when said hande members have been moved toward each other, a supporting means embodying a tissue lifting element and a penis depressing member arranged in vertical spaced relation with respect to said lifting element positioned so that the lifting element is above said jaws and the depressing member is beneath said jaws, and means dependingly supporting said lifting element and said depressing member from one of said handle members, said supporting means being received between and engaged by said recesses when said handle members have been moved toward each other. I

2. In a surgical instrument, a pair of elongated handle members pivotally connected together intermediate their ends for movement toward and away from each other, the portions of said handle members forwardly of the pivoted connection serving as jaws, the confronting faces of said jaws having serrations extending therealong, there being a recess in the serrations of each jaw intermediate the ends thereof, said recesses being in registry with each other when said handle members have been moved toward each other, a supporting means embodying a tissue lifting element and a penis depressing member arranged in vertical spaced relation with respect to said lifting element positioned so that the lifting element is above said jaws and the depressing member is beneath said jaws, and means embodying a rod dependingly supporting said lifting element and said depressing member from one of said handle members, said rod being received between and engaged by said recesses when said handle members have been moved toward each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Livoti Sept. 14, 1954

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