Abstract: A specialty surgical instrument for engaging, spreading and removing tissue surrounding an exposed cystic duct and artery in an endo cholecystectomy dissection procedure is provided by this invention. An ergonomically superior scissors action handle extends perpendicular to a cylindrical body for receiving the thumb and two fingers of a surgeon for better control in manipulating a coaxial rod inside the body to operate double action forceps jaws of special design for the dissection of the cystic duct and artery from liver bed tissue, with the feel of the surgeon as if the balance of the instrument and its jaws are an extension of the surgeon's fingers. The jaws have a shape and roughened exterior finish for frictionally engaging tissue in the vicinity of the cystic duct and adjacent artery and spreading it during the dissection procedure. The interior of the jaws are serrated and mated in mutual contact surfaces in closed position to frictionally grasp tissue and bladder for removal.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved surgical instrument, namely sponger-dissector forceps particularly adapted for laparoscopic intra-abdominal surgery such as gall bladder removal. Thus, sponges are retained locked in place without manual force upon the distal end of a substantially cylindrical hand held assembly by means of an internally mounted ratchet mechanism. In one embodiment sponges are retained by a 7 shaped distal end on a reciprocating 2 mm diameter rod disposed in a 10 mm diameter cylindrical housing member. The ratchet locks the reciprocating rod in place against movement in the distal direction, and thus holds sponges clamped in place at the distal end. The ratchet lock is releasable by a catch release button. The rod is manually reciprocated to engage and clamp a sponge by a finger operated slide member. The sponge is thus firmly held in position for blunt manipulation including direct hemostasis pressure on small blood vessels or for sponging to keep the surgical region dry.