Abstract: A disposable vasectomy instrument is provided having a body portion and an insertable module. The body portion includes a jaw portion having a lower fixed jaw and an upper movable jaw into which the module is inserted. The module includes a cutting block having two spaced apart blades and a pair of ligature clips disposed on either side of the blades. The movable jaw is controlled by the operator to simultaneously move the blades forward and close the ligature clips. The physician isolates the vas deferense, engages it within the ligature clips and adjacent the blades. The movable jaw is operated, cutting out a segment of the vas deferens and closing the ligature clips on each severed end of the vas deferens. A separate module is provided for each vas deferens of the patient.

Abstract: An improved instrument for obtaining tissue samples for biopsies is adapted to permit accurate samples to be taken with one-hand. The instrument includes a housing which fits into the palm of the physician's hand and has a guide tube projecting from the forward end which the physician guides to a point from which a sample is required. A spring-loaded cannula is telescoped within the guide tube and a notched sampling stylet is telescoped within the cannula. The tips of the cannula and stylet project slightly from the distal end of the guide tube. An arming slide is provided which is moved forward by the physician's thumb, advancing the stylet into the tissue and cocking the spring-loaded cannula. The physician's thumb then operates a spring release trigger causing the cannula to snap forward, cutting the tissue sample in the stylet notch. The instrument is then withdrawn from the tissue.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for performing a vasectomy includes a hemostat-type instrument having a pair of jaws in which the jaws include grooves for spaced-apart ligating clips, a cutting block in one jaw having a pair of spaced-apart cutting blades and a receiver surface in the other jaw for receiving the cutting edges of the blades when the instrument is in a closed jaw position. A jig is provided which holds a pair of open ligating clips and a disposable cutting block. In use, the physician loads the jaws of the instrument by inserting into the jig and then isolates a vas deferens, placing it within the open jaws. The physician then closes the handles of the instrument causing the ligating clips to clamp the vas in two places and the blades to excise a segment of the vas between the two ligating clips.

Abstract: An improved biopsy needle suitable for obtaining a core sample from a prostate gland. A handle which may be held in the palm of the physician's hand is provided with a forward extending guide tube. A cannula with a sharpened distal end is slidably disposed within the guide tube and is movable by a thumb tab from a retracted position within the guide tube to an extended position in which the cutting edge extends from the guide tube. A sampling stylet having a sharpened distal end and a sample-collecting slot therein is telescopically disposed within the cannula and projects from the rear of the handle. A knob at the proximal end of the stylet permits movement from a retracted position in which the pointed tip of the stylet projects slightly from the distal end of the guide tube to an extended position in which the pointed distal end extends from the guide tube distal end.