Actuating handle for a surgical instrument

Abstract

A handle (5) for actuating surgical components (45), primarily used in cardiovascular or arthroscopic surgery is a single-piece handle, including an outer portion (10) and an inner portion (15). The inner portion is substantially within the outer portion, and includes an actuating component (50), and a guiding component (55) connected to the actuating component. The actuating component includes a finger grip (65), and a spring force component (70) which biases the finger grip and the guiding component to extend towards a distal tip (35) of the neck (30). A stress limiting component (110) limits stress at a critical point of the spring force component by limiting movement of the spring force component at that point during actuation of the actuating component. The guiding component is adapted for movement along a longitudinal axis of the handle, in response to actuation and release of the actuating component, allowing a surgical component connected to a distal tip (80) of the guiding component to function.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates generally to surgical instruments, and more particularly to an actuating handle for actuating a surgical component such as a blade, clamp, punch, needle, shear, etc., and methods of using same.[0002] The contents of each of the U.S. patents and other references, if any, cited in this Background Of Invention section, are hereby incorporated herein by reference.[0003] In surgery, incisions or openings are often needed to provide access for surgical or diagnostic instruments, implantation of bioprosthetic devices, attachment points for autologous or xenographic tissues, or for other reasons. Typically, instruments used for creating such openings include a handle and / or actuating component constructed of many mechanical parts, thus increasing the complexity of manufacture, assembly, use, and maintenance and, in some cases, decreasing the durability and reliability of the instrument.[0004] Examples of such surgical instruments with multiple-part handl...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] The single-piece construction of the handle decreases the complexity of manufacture and maintenance. The ergonomic finger grip contributes to a secure and comfortable grip, and allows for controlled actuation of the actuating component with only a single hand. The handle may be manufactured in various dimensions as necessary for a particular function, but a single handle is adapted to receive a variety of surgical components.

Problems solved by technology

The single-piece construction of the handle decreases the complexity of manufacture and maintenance.

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