Abstract: A biopsy forceps instrument includes a flexible coil having one or more pull wires extending therethrough, a clevis coupled to the distal end of the coil, a pair of forceps jaws mounted in the clevis and coupled to the distal end of the pull wire(s), and a proximal handle coupled to the proximal ends of the coil and the pull wires. The handle includes a slotted shaft and a displaceable spool having a cross member which extends through the slot. The shaft is coupled to the coil and the cross member is coupled to the pull wire(s). According to the invention, at least one constant force spring is provided between the shaft and the spool and biases the spool in the proximal direction in order to maintain the jaws in a closed position. According to a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, a pair of flat wound spiral springs are provided with the free flat ends of the springs being coupled to a proximal portion of the shaft.

Abstract: An end cap is provided for an endoscopic biopsy forceps instrument having a long coil and a jaw assembly. The end cap is provided with a cup portion, an attachment clip, and preferably a suction cup. The cup portion fits over the closed jaws of the biopsy forceps and has an open end and a closed end, and side walls. The attachment clip extends perpendicularly from the side walls of the cup portion and fits around one or more sections of the biopsy forceps coil, thereby stabilizing the forceps jaw and coil for packaging. The attachment clip can also be used for attaching the cap to the coil of the biopsy forceps instrument when the cap is off of the jaws so that the cap is readily available for later retrieval. The suction cup is coupled to the top of the cup portion and is used both to prevent misplacement and loss of the cap, and to expedite recapping after usage.

Abstract: Endoscopic biopsy forceps jaws having an outer edge which may be generally U-shaped, circular, or oblate circular are disclosed with teeth which extend completely around the outer edge. The teeth may take any of several arrangements. In a first arrangement, the teeth and valleys are formed with two substantially rectangular surfaces which meet at substantially horizontal vertex and nadir lines. In a second arrangement, each tooth has a vertex or peak located upward and inward from the outer edge, and is defined by a substantially triangular inner surface, a substantially quadrilateral base, and a surface which extends outward and downward from the vertex of the triangular surface to the outer edge of the jaw. Valleys between the teeth have two inclined surfaces which intersect along a line which extends inward and downward from the outer edge of the jaw.

Abstract: Endoscopic biopsy forceps jaws having an outer edge which may be generally U-shaped, circular, or oblate circular are disclosed with a number of teeth which extend along at least a portion of the outer edge where the peaks of the teeth are located upward and inward from the outer edge. In one embodiment, each tooth is defined by a substantially triangular inner surface, a substantially quadrilateral base, and a surface which extends outward and downward from the vertex of the triangular surface to the outer edge of the jaw. Valleys between the teeth have two inclined surfaces which intersect along a line which extends inward and downward from the outer edge of the jaw. In a second embodiment, the peak of each tooth is defined by the vertex of a pyramid having four faces and valleys between these teeth have three substantially flat surfaces which intersect at a vertex which lies downward and inward from the outer edge of the jaw.

Abstract: An endoscopic bipolar cautery biopsy forceps device has a conduit, a pair of articulable opposed jaws, two conductive pull wires, and an actuator. The articulable opposed jaws are located at the distal end of the conduit. Each jaw is provided with a cutting surface at its distal end and a tang at its proximal end. At least a portion of the cutting surface is electrically conductive and a portion of the tang is electrically conductive and electrically coupled to the conductive cutting surface. The remainder of the jaw is preferably non-conductive or is coated with an insulator. The conductive pull wire is coupled to the conductive portion of the tang of each jaw and is insulated as it extends through the conduit to a handle portion which includes the actuator. The actuator is coupled to the proximal ends of the pull wires so that movement of the actuator pulls the pull wires and articulates the jaws.

Abstract: An endoscopic biopsy forceps has a detachable proximal handle portion and a distal portion which includes a pair of jaws mounted at the distal end of a flexible conduit. At least one pull wire extends through the conduit and is coupled to the jaws so that movement of the pull wire(s) through the conduit causes the jaws to open and close. The proximal end of the pull wire(s) is provided with a mating tip and the proximal end of the conduit is provided with a mating sleeve. The handle portion includes a shaft and a spool. The conduit is detachably attached to the shaft, while the pull wire(s) is detachably attached to the spool. Attachment is effected by spring biased coupling devices which engage the mating tip of the pull wire(s) and the mating sleeve of the conduit.

Abstract: Remote control actuators for endoscopic tools are provided. Each remote control actuator includes a driver, a coupler which couple the endoscopic tool to the driver, a power source which power the driver, and a controller coupled to the power source and/or the driver for controlling the power applied to the driver. In conjunction with the controller, a user interface is preferably provided for user control of the remote control actuator which actuates the endoscopic tool. In addition, a sensing/feedback mechanism is preferably provided between the driver and the endoscopic tool and is coupled to the controller and/or the power source. The sensing/feedback mechanism senses the amount of tension or compression on the pull wire(s) of the endoscopic tool and provides a related signal to the controller so that the force applied to the endoscopic tool may be regulated. Various types of power sources are disclosed including electric, mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic.