Abstract: A clamp having a first leg and a second leg where the first and second legs have a first end and a second end. A biasing means is secured to the second ends of the first and second legs. The biasing means holds the first ends of the first and second legs in a spaced apart relationship. A locking means having a rotatable locking flange is positioned on the first end of the first leg. A projection is positioned on the first end of the second leg. The projection is disposed to be in alignment with the locking means when the first end of the second leg is advanced to a position adjacent the first end of the first leg. The rotatable locking flange is rotatable to engage the projection to secure the second leg in a position adjacent the first leg.

Abstract: A scalpel blade storage device, including a cover having a first lever arm and a second lever arm defined therein and further including a base. The base has a face defining a blade pocket therein having a distal portion adapted to receive a blade portion of a surgical scalpel blade and a proximal portion adapted to receive a shank portion of a surgical scalpel blade. The base is disposed adjacent to the cover, with the face in which the blade pocket is defined facing said cover. A plurality of arms is fixed to one of the base and the cover. The arms envelop at least a portion of the other of the base and the cover to retain the base and the cover in a sliding relationship. The cover is movable between a first closed position in which the blade pocket is completely covered by the cover, and a second open position in which the blade pocket is at least partially uncovered.

Abstract: An apparatus including a serrated cone for interoperation with a loader. The cone includes a conical ramp portion, a cylindrical base portion, and at least one fin slot. The ramp portion defines a cone ramp surface and has a large diameter end and a small diameter end. The base portion extends longitudinally from the large diameter end of the ramp portion and has a radially outer surface. The fin slot is defined in the cone ramp surface and the radially outer surface of the base portion. The loader includes a plunger and a glider. The plunger has a fin for urging the elastomeric band along the ramp portion. The glider has a surface for engaging the elastomeric band and urging the elastomeric band over the base portion. The glider is moveably related to the plunger.

Abstract: A trocar assembly for use in minimally invasive surgery including a housing having an opening formed therethrough and adapted to receive a selected surgical instrument therein. Positioned within the housing is a split seal having a slit extending therethrough. The split seal maintains a seal through the opening of the housing when a surgical instrument is not inserted through the bore of the sleeve. Also positioned within the housing is a seal assembly having a plurality of sealing structures effective to maintain a seal between the housing and a surgical instrument inserted through the bore of the sleeve, such that the plurality of seals accommodate and seal against surgical instruments having different diameters.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for cauterization having a handle, shaft portion, and a tool. The tool is fixed to a shaft portion comprising a tube and an actuating member coaxial with the tube and adapted to be moved relative to the tube. The tool includes a generally tubular body adapted to be mounted on the end of a tube of the shaft portion. The body includes a pair of axially extending yoke arms. A pair of moveable jaws are pivotally attached to the yoke arms. Each jaw includes an elongate gripping portion having electrical contacts fixed thereto. The electrical contacts are adapted to be connected to a source of electrical power. A pair of connectors are adapted to operatively couple a respective jaw to the actuating member of the shaft portion such that movement of the actuating member relative to the tube of the shaft portion causes pivotal relative movement of the pair of jaws. The surgical instrument further includes a contact assembly housed in the handle.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for cauterization having a handle including a body and a shaft rotatably mounted on the body. A motor is operatively coupled to the shaft to cause rotation thereof. The surgical instrument further includes a selectively operable control switch and a programmable control circuit operatively connected to the motor and to the control switch. The control switch having programmed instructions stored in a memory thereof. The control circuit being responsive to a plurality of distinct patterns of actuations of the control switch to cause the motor to operate according to respective ones of the programmed instructions.

Abstract: An instrument for facilitating the use of sutures in laparoscopic surgical procedures includes a hollow housing defining an internal cavity. A plunger extends within the cavity of the housing and is supported therein for relative sliding movement between first and second axial positions. A spring disposed within the cavity urges the plunger to the first axial position relative to the housing. A hollow introducer needle is secured to the housing and extends co-axially therefrom, terminating in an angled tip having a sharp point. An actuator tube is disposed within the introducer needle and is secured to the plunger for axial movement therewith relative to the housing. A flexible wire is disposed within portions of the actuator tube and is secured thereto for axial movement with the plunger in the introducer needle. The wire is resiliently predisposed to form a curved loop in a wire end thereof.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for laparoscopic surgery 21 including a handle having a body with a ratchet formed thereon. The handle including a trigger arm pivotally mounted on the body and adapted to operate a tool. The handle further includes a locking mechanism having a pawl moveably mounted on the trigger arm. The pawl is selectively movable relative to the trigger arm between an engaged position and a disengaged position. In the engaged position, the pawl is moved into engagement with the ratchet to prevent relative movement between the trigger arm and the body. In the disengaged position the pawl is disengaged from the ratchet. The handle also includes a bellcrank lever having first and second arms which are formed at an angle to one another. The bellcrank lever is pivotally mounted on the trigger arm at a pivot point positioned at the intersection of the first and second arms. Pivotal movement of the bellcrank lever operatively moves the pawl between the engaged and disengaged positions.

Abstract: A surgical instrument tool including a tubular body having axially extending, diametrically opposed first and second yoke arms formed thereon. The first and second yoke arms each have a respective pivot hole formed therethrough. The tool further including a first jaw having a flange portion formed at one end thereof. The flange portion has first and second opposed faces, and a recess formed in the first face of the flange portion. A first pivot pin extends perpendicularly from the second face of the flange portion of the first jaw through the pivot hole in the first yoke arm to pivotally mount the first jaw on the body. The tool further including a second jaw having a flange portion formed at one end thereof. The flange portion has first and second opposed faces and a connector pin extending perpendicularly from the first face of the flange portion of the second jaw.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for facilitating the use of sutures in arthroscopic, laparoscopic or other similar surgical procedures includes a housing having an internal cavity. A plunger extends within the cavity of the housing and is supported therein for relative sliding movement between first and second axial positions. A spring disposed within the cavity urges the plunger to the first axial position. A tubular introducer needle is secured to the housing and extends co-axially therefrom. An extension tube is disposed within the introducer needle and is secured to the plunger for axial movement therewith relative to the housing. The extension tube has an extension finger axially extending therefrom. A resilient wire having a wire finger portion is operatively coupled to the extension tube. When the plunger is in the first position, the extension finger and the wire finger are retracted within the introducer needle so that the wire extends generally alongside the extension finger in a closed position.

Abstract: A surgical instrument including a handle adapted to releasably engage a shaft mounting a tool having relatively moveable parts. The handle is provided with an actuating structure which includes a trigger arm selectively moveable relative to the handle to cause concurrent movement of the relatively moveable parts of the tool. The actuating structure may include a locking mechanism for releasably fixing the position of the trigger arm relative to the handle, thus releasably fixing the relative positions of the moveable parts of the tool. The handle is also provided with an operating mechanism which is operatively coupled to the tool to selectively rotate the tool relative to the handle. The operating mechanism may be motorized. The operating mechanism may include a control circuit which can be programmed to activate the motor to rotate the tool through specific intervals of displacement is a chosen direction according to selective manipulations of control switches.

Abstract: A plug for use in minimally invasive surgery which includes recesses for facilitating suturing of a trocar insertion site. The plug may be inserted in an axial bore of a separate gripper housing, and fixed in place by the gripping structure of the housing or a first end of the plug may be inserted directly into the trocar insertion site after a trocar is removed. The plug is provided with a pair of opposed, longitudinally extending recesses formed in the outer surface thereof. Each recess extends from a second end of the plug to a point between the first end and the second end of the plug. The recess may cooperate to form a single slot in the plug defined by a pair of axially extending arms. The plug is also provided with reinforcing segments which extend between the arms for stabilization.

Abstract: A trocar gripper with means for facilitating suturing of an insertion site thereof. The gripper includes a tubular housing provided with gripping structure for gripping a trocar guide tube. The housing is also provided with structure for fixing the axial position of the housing within an incision in a patient. A pair of opposed openings are formed through the tubular wall of the housing into the axial bore thereof. A plug is provided which may be inserted the axial bore of the housing, and fixed in place by the gripping structure of the housing. The plug is provided with an elastomeric seal which engages the surface of the axial bore through the housing. Radially outwardly extending lugs are formed on a second end of the plug. The plug is provided with a pair of opposed, longitudinally extending recesses formed in the outer surface thereof. Each recess extends from the second end of the plug to a point adjacent the associated opening through the wall of the housing.

Abstract: An instrument for facilitating the use of sutures in laparoscopic surgical procedures includes a hollow housing defining an internal cavity. A plunger extends within the cavity of the housing and is supported therein for relative sliding movement between first and second axial positions. A spring disposed within the cavity urges the plunger to the first axial position relative to the housing. An introducer needle is secured to the housing and extends co-axially therefrom, terminating in an angled tip having a sharp point. An actuator tube is disposed within the introducer needle and is secured to the plunger for axial movement therewith relative to the housing. A flexible wire is disposed within portions of the actuator tube and is secured thereto for axial movement with the plunger. The wire is folded back over itself to form a looped end. When the plunger is in the first axial position, the looped end of the wire is withdrawn within the angled end of the introducer needle.

Abstract: A surgical instrument including a handle adapted to releasably engage a shaft mounting a tool having relatively moveable parts. The handle is provided with an actuating structure which includes a trigger arm selectively moveable relative to the handle to cause concurrent movement of the relatively moveable parts of the tool. The actuating structure may include a locking mechanism for releasably fixing the position of the handle relative to the handle, thus releasably fixing the relative positions of the moveable parts of the tool. The handle is also provided with an operating mechanism which is operatively coupled to the tool to selectively rotate the tool relative to the handle. The operating mechanism may be motorized. The operating mechanism may include a control circuit which can be programmed to activate the motor to rotate the tool through specific intervals of displacement is a chosen direction according to selective manipulations of control switches.