GB2073086A

GB2073086A - Forceps

Info

Publication number: GB2073086A
Application number: GB8016419A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-04-03
Filing date: 1980-05-19
Publication date: 1981-10-14
Also published as: GB2073086B

Abstract

A pair of forceps for vascular anastomosis in which free ends of the arms 10, 11 of the forceps are connected to the mid-region of side edges of prongs 13, 14 providing opposed gripping surfaces. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or Relating to Forceps This invention relates to forceps and in particular to forceps for use in vascular a nastomosis.

According to this invention a pair of forceps ~ comprises two arms, two elongate gripping prongs respectively at the free ends of the arms and connected to the arms intermediate the ends of the prongs.

The prongs may have flat opposed gripping surfaces, which may be roughened; may have tapered ends; and may be at an acute angle to the respective arm.

The acute angle may be 450.

The arms may connect to the prongs at a mid region of a side edge of the prongs.

The invention may be performed in various ways and one specific embodiment with possible modification will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which.~ Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pair of forceps for use in vascular anastomosis; Fig. 2 is a view of part of the forceps on an enlarged scale to Fig. 1; and Figs. 3 and 4 show use of the forceps.

The forceps are made from suitable material for example stainless steel and are generally U shaped or V-shaped with generally straight arms 10, 11 which are generally parallel but slightly inturned at the free end region and whose outer side surfaces are knurled or serrated or otherwise shaped to provide gripping portions 12 intermediate their lengths.

The end of each arm 10, 1 1 is provided with a prong 13, 14 respectively generally in a plane at right angles to the plane contains the arms. Each prong 13, 14 is elongate and straight and of generally semi-circular cross-section; its ends are somewhat tapered as at 15 (Fig. 2). The opposed inside surfaces of the two prongs are flat and generally in the plane of the inside surface of the end of the arm and serrated or otherwise roughened as at 17, and the inside surfaces of the lower end regions of the arms are also roughened at 18. The prongs are parallel, and each is integral with the respective arm and connected to the arm at the mid-point of one side edge of the prong so that a portion 1 3a, 1 4a of the prong extends to one side of the arm and a portion 1 3b, 1 4b, extends to the other side.

The faces 17 are of uniform width apart from the tapered ends 15.

The acute angle a (Fig. 2) between the prong and the arm is 450.

In one example the prongs are 12 mm long, the width of face 1 7 is 1.5 mm and the overall length of the forceps is 15.24 cm. Other lengths are possible but the prongs would generally be 12 mm but this can be varied if suitable.

Preferably the distance x equals the distance Y.

The distance Z may be 2 mm.

The angle a can vary somewhat from 450 say between 400 and 500. The prongs need not be of semi-circular cross-section; for example the outer surface could be other than circular.

The forceps can be used in connecting artery to artery, or artery to vein, or an artery to a graft or length of artificial artery, and can be used for both end to end anastomosis and by-pass anastomosis. In so doing the end, see Fig. 3 for example, of a graft 21 is gripped between lower portions 1 3b, 1 4b keeping portions 1 3a, 1 4a free from the artery 20 and the stitching needle and thread 22 is passed through the graft. Now without any necessity to turn the forceps round, the end of the artery can be gripped between portions 13a, 14a keeping portions 13b, 146 free from the graft (Fig. 4) and the stitching needle and thread are passed through the artery and stitched into place.

Use of these forceps enables the anastomosis to be performed more quickly than with conventional forceps.

It is possible to secure the other end of the graft to the end of another artery portion by gripping that artery portion between prong parts 1 3b, 1 4b and the other end of the graft between portions 1 3a, 1 4a.

In summary, if the upper portions 1 3a, 1 4a of the prongs are used for gripping the end of the artery then the lower portions will be used for gripping the graft, or vice versa.

It will be appreciated that gripping the artery or other part between the elongate prongs provides added support to the part making stitching easier compared with conventional forceps which only grip essentially at a single location.

Claims

1. A pair of forceps comprising two arms, two elongate gripping prongs respectively at the free ends of the arms and connected to the arms intermediate the ends of the prongs.

2. A pair of forceps as claimed in Claim 1, in which the prongs have flat opposed surfaces.

3. A pair of forceps as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which opposed gripping surfaces of the prongs are roughened.

4. A pair of forceps as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the prongs are at an acute angle to the respective arm.

5. A pair of forceps as claimed in Claim 4, in which the acute angle is between 400 and 500.

6. A pair of forceps as claimed in Claim 4, in which the acute angle is 450.

7. A pair of forceps as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the arms are connected to a midregion of a side edge of the prongs.

8. A pair of forceps substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.