US3899829A - Holder and actuator means for surgical instruments - Google Patents

Abstract

A combined holder and actuator means to which various types of instruments used in surgery may be attached; such instruments including scissors type and blade type. A holder and actuator means for such instruments constructed to permit autoclaving under conditions of high temperature and pressure. The actuator means imparts precise minute motion strokes to an instrument for cutting, piercing, or otherwise penetrating epidermis, membrane, or tissue. In one example, a precisely limited pivoted element actuates the instruments, in another example, a linearly reciprocal element provides the precise motion stroke.

Description

United States Patent [1 Storm et a1.

[ HOLDER AND ACTUATOR MEANS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS [75] Inventors: Fred K. Storm, Glendale; Eldridge H. Smiley, Rosemead, both of Calif.

[73] Assignee: Fred Storm Industrial Designs, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif.

22 Filed: Feb. 7, 1974 21 App]. No.: 440,498

[52] US. Cl. 30/228; 30/272 A; 128/305; 128/318; 310/32 [51] Int. Cl.B26B 7/00;B26B 15/00 [58] Field ofSearch 30/228, 180, 241, 272 A, 30/272 R; 128/305, 314, 315, 318; 310/31, 32; 15/22 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,680,627 8/1928 Mings 30/228 1,772,852 8/1930 Bates 310/31 Wiggins 30/228 Aug. 19, 1975 2,977,614 4/1961 Demanuele 310/31 X 3,166,943 1/1965 Simmen 15/22 R 3,524,088 8/1970 Ryckman.. 15/22 R 3,698,086 10/1972 Herr 30/228 Primary Examiner-Al Lawrence Smith Assistant Examiner-J. C. Peters Attorney, Agent, or FirmEdward F. Jaros [5 7] ABSTRACT A combined holder and actuator means to which various types of instruments used in surgery may be attached; such instruments including scissors type and blade type. A holder and actuator means for such instruments constructed to permit autoclaving under conditions of high temperature and pressure. The actuator means imparts precise minute motion strokes to an instrument for cutting, piercing, or otherwise penetrating epidermis, membrane, or tissue. In one example, a precisely limited pivoted element actuates the instruments, in another example, a linearly reciprocal element provides the precise motion stroke.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED AUG] 9 I975 SPEET 1 [1f 2 HOLDER AND ACTUATOR MEANS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Use of surgical instruments requires an extremely high degree of care and skill by an experienced; trained surgeon. A skilled surgeon is capable of manually manipulatinga surgical instrument to precisely cut to desired depth and length into and through outer and inner layers or coverings or tissues of a body during the performance of an operation thereon. Such surgical instruments are extremely sharp, precisely contoured for the cutting purpose intended, and must be maintained in 'sterile condition. After use such instruments must be -capableof sterilization under conditions of high temperature to destroy any bacteria thereon. Extremely high standardshave been set by surgeons, hospitals, i and health authorities for surgical instruments and their 1 i use in operationson the human body.

I s g ry. on any part of the human body, is a delicate fmatter and perhaps oneof the most sensitive areas 'aracts. When cutting into the eye or eyeball structure,

is apparent the cutting line may be of three dimensional curvedconfiguration and a precise cut demands i utmost skill of the eye surgeon.

I It has been proposed to employ surgical manuallyoperated scissors for cutting through outer covering layers or tissue of the eyeball. Cutting by manual scissors often leaves a jagged line because of the incremental reciprocal cutting action imparted to the scissors and the hesitation inherent in a scissors action when the sc ssors members are repositioned for the successive cut. Jagged, irregular cutting lines are undesirable with respect to such eye surgery because of the difficulty of preelsel matching the cut edges after completion of v operation and the resultant increased time for heal- It lsalse desirable that Surgical instruments, such as eliifil'i Qh Ithlves, be relatively small and lightweight ta permit-easy manipulation and to be readily held by a surgeens hand, Such small size imposes restrictions j @H the Ql at the elements to be electrically actuated and the QPflQIlht of power transmitted thereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to and contemplates a small, lightweight. electrically actuated holder and acmater means with which various surgical instruments may be attached and operated so that acutting blade 61 cutting scissors members are actuated in such a manher that a Ptcise line of cut in tissue or other layers of the human body amy be readily made and surgical cutting performed in a highly skilled manner and superior result. The invention contemplates a novel surgical instrument holder and actuator in which motion imparted to the cutting blade or cutting scissors-is precisely controlled and restricted so that a surgeon need only direct the cutting blade along the selected line of cut. I

It is therefore a primary objectof the present invensurgical instruments. .1. t i

An object of the present invention is to provide a surgical instrument holder and actuator means which is constructed to permit autoclaving of the holder and actuator means without damage to motion imparting means provided in the holder.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a holder and actuator means for surgical instruments which is readily adapted for use with singleblade type surgical instruments or scissors type surgical instruments.

A further object of the invention is to provide a holder and actuator means for instruments wherein motion impartedto the instrument is precisely accurately controlled, so that a uniform fine cut may be made in the body tissue upon which the instrument is being used.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a surgical instrument holder and actuator means wherein motion imparting means carried thereby is readily adapted to provide linear reciprocal motion or pivotal reciprocal motion.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an instrument holder and actuator means which is small and lightweight to permit precise manipulation and control of the instrument held thereby under conditions of delicately performed surgery.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an instrument holder and actuator means which is small and lightweight and electrically actuated, and wherein the design of the actuator means minimizes frictional losses and minimizing power requirement.

Generally speaking, the actuator and holder means of this invention includes a pin member adapted to be attached to an instrument to impart motion to an instrument member. The pin member is carried by a transversely disposed element which is subject to restricted vibratory, oscillatory or reciprocal motion imparted to it by electrical solenoid means, the length of the stroke being preselected and controlled by location of stop surfaces. The electrical and mechanical parts of the holder and actuating means are sealed and protected to permit autoclaving.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following description of the drawings in which an exemplary embodiment of the invention are shown.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS shown in FIG. '1.

FIG. 3 isan enlarged perspective and exploded view of motion transferring or imparting elements used in the holder and actuator means.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken in the same plane as FIG. 2 illustrating the connection of a surgical scissors to the holder and actuator means of this invention. I

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, and shows a modification of the holder and actuator means for adaptation to a single surgical blade member to which linear reciprocal motion is imparted.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of a different type of surgical blade which may be used with the modification shown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED SPECIFICATION In FIG. 1 a surgical instrumentholder and. actuator means embodying this invention is generally indicated at 10. Actuator means 10 is adapted to operably receive asurgical instrument 11 indicated in phantom lines and of surgical scissors type. The holder and actuator means 10 includes a shielded jacketed electrical cable12 which may be connected to a foot switch generally indicated at 14 by a suitable separableelectrical coupling 15. The holder and actuator means 10 without the surgical scissors l1 and includingelectrical cable 12 and part ofcoupling 15, is constructed and arranged to be autoclaved, that is, sterilized under conditions of steam temperatures of about 270 degrees F, and selected suitable pressure. Such construction of the holder and actuator means 10,cord 12, andcoupling 15 is designed to meet and satisfy tests required to give this product a Class A rating by the City of Los Angeles Electrical Testing Laboratory, the same rating as that required for heart pacemakers."

The holder and actuator means 10 is of a size adapted to readily be held by the hand of a surgeon, an exemplary length of the actuator means being 3% inches and a diameter of about five-eighths inch. The actuator means may thus be readily held as if it were a pen, a pencil, or a scribing tool.

The holder and actuator means 10 comprises an elongated, hollow, open-endedcylindrical member 17 andend closure members 18 and 19. Each end closure member may have an outer diameter corresponding to the outer diameter ofcylinder member 17, and may be provided withannular recesses 20 and 21, respectively, for snugly receiving end portions ofcylindrical member 17. Each ofmembers 17, 18 and 19 is preferably made of stainless steel.

Themembers 17, 18 and 19 provide a hollowcylindrical chamber 22 within which is housed an actuator means, generally indicated at 23, for imparting motion to a surgical instrument. In this embodiment, actuator means 23 within the front half portion ofchamber 22, includes asolenoid 24 comprising a central coaxial longitudinally extendingcore member 25 of iron or other magnetic material surrounded over a major portion of its length by acoil 26.Member 25 has an inner end provided with aradial flange 27, interrupted by a cut-out 28, for passage therethrough in atubular member 29 ofelectrical leads 30 from thecoil 26.Tubular member 29 may be of suitable dialectric material. The end face ofcore member 25 andflange 27 may seat against aspacer disc 32, also of suitable dialectric material. Thecoil 26 is encased in insulation material indicated at 34 for the purpose of providing double insulation of the coil. Enclosing thecoil 26 is aninternaliron sleeve 36, press fitted toflange 27 and having one end face seated against thedisc 32 adjacent to the center ofchamber 22, and having its other end face spaced from the internal planar face of thefront end closure 18. Such spacing may be about 0.010 inches and pennits precise adjustment of the actuator means during assembly as later described.

Actuator means 23 also includes, in the space between the frontend closure member 18 and the front end ofcore 26, a frontend core element 40 preferably made of brass and having acentral bore 41 receiving theaxial core portion 25. In the space between the rear surface of frontend closure member 18 and the forwardly directed surface ofcore element 40, a circular disc-like flapper element 43 is positioned for limited restricted pivotal or hinge-like movement.

The arrangement offlapper element 43 and core element which permits pivotal or hinging movement of the flapper element is best seen in FIG. 3.Core element 40 is provided with a partiallytruncated end face 44 lying in a plane inclined to the axis of thecore element 40 of about three degrees. the plane intersecting with the right angle or normal face portion 45 of the core element at achord line 46 above the through bore of thecore element 40. Theback face 47 offlapper element 43 is planar and normal to the axis of theelement 43 andcore element 40. To afford the limited pivotal movement offlapper element 43 abouthinge line 46,front face 48 of the flapper element is beveled at 49 at about 10 degrees to provide a truncated surface defined bychord line 50 which is spaced from the axis offlapper element 43 the same distance aschord line 46 is spaced from the axis ofcore element 40.

To maintain thechord lines 46 and 50 in parallel relation and to prevent relative rotation offlapper element 43 andcore element 40,core element 40 is provided with a forwardly extending registration orguide pin 52 diametricallyopposite chord line 46 as shown, but the registration pin may be located elsewhere to minimize friction forces.Flapper element 43 is provided with an aligned through opening 53 for loose reception ofpin 52 in assembly. The tolerance betweenpin 52 and the inner surface of opening 53 are sufficient to afford pivotal or hinge movement offlapper element 43 abouthinge line 46.

An instrument connecting pin ormember 55 is carried by and projects forwardly from the front surface offlapper element 43 from a location between the axis offlapper element 43 and thechord line 50. The axis of connectingpin 55 intersects the radius ofelement 43 which is normal to thechord line 50. Thus, movement imparted to connectingpin 55 will lie in a longitudinal plane which includes the axes ofpin 55,element 43, andopening 53, said axes defining a plane normal tochord line 50 and hingeline 46.

Frontend closure element 18 is provided with a throughbore 57 through which connectingpin 55 extends and terminates at a point beyond the front face offront closure 18. The diameter ofbore 57, may be approximately twice the diameter of connectingpin 55 to afford free movement ofpin 55 therein. Through bore 57 includes an enlarged front boreportion 58 defining an annular recess andshoulder 59 which provides a seat for a sealingmember 60.

Sealingmember 60 comprises a base portion 61 v seated onshoulder 59 and having a forwardly extending outercylindrical wall 62 defining with a forwardly extending innerconical portion 63 an annularforwardly facing recess 64. Theconical portion 63 has radially inwardly extendingflanges 65 which tightly fit aroundpin 55. Sealingmember 60 thereby provides a relatively thin, flexible,conical wall portion 63 which readily permits lateral and longitudinal motion of connectingpin 55 as imparted to it byflapper element 43.

The above described construction of the sealingmember 60 not only permits the connecting pin to transmit motion fromflapper element 43, but also provides a seal means capable of sealingbore 57 under conditions of autoclaving or steam and pressure sterilization. Under such conditions of pressure, it will be apparent that fluid pressure inannular recess 64 will be exerted both radially outwardly and radially inwardly against theclosure element 18 and thepin 55, respectively, to enhance the sealing characteristics of sealingmember 60.

The frontend closure member 18 also includes ahole 67 extending a selected suitable depth intomember 18 for slidable reception of an instrument ortool part 68.Tool part 68 may be retained and fixed in relation to frontend closure member 18 by a set screw means 69.

Means for impartingforward and back motion (including major longitudinal and minor lateral motion components) toflapper element 43 and its rigidly connectingpin 55 is provided not only by the solenoid means 24 but also by a headedslide pin 71 movable in anaxial bore 72 ofcore member 25. Headedpin 71 is biased against the back face offlapper element 43 by asuitable coil spring 74 seated at one end against the head ofpin 71 and at its other end against aspacer rod 75.Spacer rod 75 is fixed inbore 72 by a press fit or by suitable adhesive.

In operation, when solenoid means 24 is energized, theflapper element 43 will be reciprocated, backwardly by the attraction of the electromagnetic flux of thesolenoid 24 and forwardly by the spring biased headedslide pin 71. The rate of reciprocation imparted to theflapper element 43 and connectingpin 55 may be a rapid vibration of selected frequency, such as 60 c.p.s. or 120 c.p.s. so as to actuate the surgical instrument as further described.

The rearward chamber portion of the holder and actuator means is primarily arranged for providing electrical connections to solenoid means 24, a seal for the back end of the holder and actuator means 10 capable of withstanding autoclaving, and a means for precise assembly ofcore element 40 andflapper element 43 with respect to the back face of the frontend closure member 18. Within the back portion ofchamber 22 may be provided an elongated cup-shapedmember 80, including acylindrical wall 81 having an outer diameter closely slideably fitted within thecylinder member 17. The front end ofcylindrical wall 81 is open and receives therewithintubular member 29 from solenoid means 24 which provides a passageway for leads 30. The front edge wall of thecylindrical wall 81 seats against aspacer disc 32. Anend wall 83 includes acentral opening 84 enlarged at itsback portion 85 to partially receive one end of abrass fitting 86. Brass fitting 86 has a ported central partition 87 through which may passcable 12 including the outer covering ofcable 12. inwardly of ported partition 87 outer covering ofcable 12 may be striped to the braidedportion 89 of the cable to facilitate splicing; The back end of fitting 86 extends into an alignedopening 90 provided inend closure member 19, opening 90 having anaxial port 91 forcable 12. On opposite sides of central partition 87 of fitting 86, thechambers 93 and 94 may be filled with a suitable silastic material providing a tight leak-proof seal forcable 12 under conditions of autoclaving.

In FIG. 2 it will be apparent thatend closure members 18, 19 tightly abut end faces ofcylinder member 17 when assembled.Cylindrical sleeve 36,transverse spacer disc 32 and cup-shapedmember 80 are in abutment with each other andcylinder sleeve 36 is in abutment with frontend closure member 18. Thebase wall 83 of cup-shaped member provides a seat for aspacer sleeve 96 which encircles fitting 86. Between the'back edge face ofsleeve 96 and the front end face 97 of the backend closure member 19 are provided one ormore shims 98 to provide a precise selected clearance of about 0.010 inches.

Electric cable 12 may be coupled to thefoot switch 14 throughcoupling 15 as previously indicated.Foot switch 14 may be any convenient well-known type of foot switch and may be connected to a suitable power supply (not shown.) Such a power supply should be capable of energizing the solenoid means 24 so as to provide reciprocal motion of the flapper element and connecting pin at rates of'60 to 120 cycles per second or some other desired frequency.

Asurgical instrument 11 of scissors type and its adaptation to the holder and actuator means 10 is best shown in FIG. 4 wherescissors 11 includes a stationarynon-movable instrument member 68 which is fixed and received in theend closure member 18 by theset screw 69.Member 68 may have a flattedrecess 70 to receive the end of the set screw. Theinstrument member 68 includes anintermediate portion 102 inclined toward the axis of the holder and actuator means and which provides apivot axis 103 located on or proximate to the projection of the axis of the connectingpin 55. Thescissors member 68 also includes acutting blade portion 104 which forms an obtuse angle with theintermediate portion 102 and provides a fixedstationary cutting edge 105 of selected shape and configuration depending upon the type of surgery to be performed.

Scissors 11 also includes amovable scissors member 106 pivoted aboutaxis 103 and having acutting blade portion 107 extending along and in angular relation to thecutting blade 104 of the fixed scissors member.Scissors member 106 includes atapered end portion 108 adapted to be received within atransverse notch 109 provided in the end of connectingpin 55. The shape of the surfaces on theend portion 108 of thescissors member 106 provides unrestrained relative rocking motion between the surfaces of thenotch 109 and theend portion 108; Preferably,axis 103, the point of contact betweenend portion 108 and notch 109, and

hingeline 46 should lie close to a straight line to reduce wear between the surfaces ofend portion 108 and notch 109.Notch 109 should lie slightly below the line extending betweenaxis 103 and hingeline 46.

In operation, energization of the solenoid means and reciprocal hinged movement of theflapper element 43 produces up and down motion of the outer end of the connectingpin 55 to cause restricted pivotal movement of thescissors member 106 about thescissors axis 103 and to cause thecutting blade 107 to move in a cutting action with respect to thestationary blade 104. The

- amount of movement of cutting blade 107' relative to fixedblade 104 is in the order of 0.020 inches. It will be apparent that the outer end ofmovable blade 107 does not close with the outer end of the fixedblade 104. When cutting through tissue layers or membranes, the fixed blade member may accurately follow guide lines or the direction in which the scissorsis moved by -the surgeon. Themovable cutting blade 107 with each stroke cuts a very small incremental portion of the tissue layer. Since the frequency of vibration of the cutting blade relative to the fixed blade is relatively high, it will be apparent that the small incremental part of the tissue cut on each stroke not only facilitates precise cutting, but also facilitates fairly rapid cutting.

In FIG. a modification of the invention is disclosed in which the solenoid means 24 is adapted to impart linear reciprocal movement to a surgical instrument comprising a single blade as indicated at 112. Only the difference in the construction of the holder and actuator means will be described with respect to this modification for purposes of brevity and clarity.

In FIG. 5 core member 40' and flapper element 43' are provided with planar front and back faces normal to the axis of the holder and actuator means 10 and rocking or hinged movement offlapper element 43 relative to thecore member 40 is not provided. Flapper element 43' may be fixed as by welding to anaxially extending pin 113 which may be spring baised in a manner similar to that of the header pin in the prior embodiment. However, in this example, pin 113 extends through the front sealingmember 60 for threaded connection at 114 with a coaxially extendingadapter member 115 provided with a forwardly extendingaxial bore 116 having internal threads 117 for reception of theshank portion 118 of thesurgical instrument blade 112. Adjacent the end ofadapter 115 thebore 116 may be provided with an outwardly flaredseat 119 adapted to engage an annularrounded collar 120 provided on theshank portion 118 to limit the depth of threading of thesurgical blade 112 into the adapter and to restrict and limit any lateral displacement of the blade with theadapter 115. Theinstrument blade 112 may include a straight axially extendingblade portion 121 having a cutting edge 122 of selected configuration.

In FIG. 5 it should be noted that theflapper element 43 when seated against thecore member 40 under conditions of energization of the solenoid means, is permitted restricted travel in the amount of the depth of thespace 125 between the front face offlapper element 43 and the back face of theend closure member 18. Such space normally permits approximately 0.020 inches. Thus the stroke of theblade 112 will be approximately the same as it is reciprocated at selected frequencies of for example 60 to 120 cycles per second.

It will thus be apparent that the holder and actuator means 10 is readily modified to permit linear reciprocal movement of a surgical instrument cutting blade.

Various types of surgical instrument cutting blades maybe employed with the holder and actuator means 10 of this invention. In FIG. 6 a different configuration of a surgical instrument cutting blade is shown. Theinstrument blade 126 comprises ashank portion 127 adapted to be inserted into the blade holder oradapter 115. The configuration of the cutting edges 128 onblade 126 is shown of V form having a point or apex 129 which may pierce the tissue layer being operated upon. With the cuttingedges 128 disposed at an angle to the axis of theshank portion 127, it will be apparent that reciprocal movement of thecutting blade 126 will produce a fine cut edge of tissue.

Double insulation for the electrical components of the holder and actuator means 10 is provided by the encapsulation of the winding 26 in theinsulation 34, the protection of the leads in chamber 82 afforded by the dielectric material of the cup-shapedmember 80, and the embedment ofcable 12 in a silicone or silastic material in thechambers 93 and 94 at the cable entry fitting 86.

The holder and actuator means 10 is also constructed with close fittings and further sealed by the use of well known cementing or bonding compounds such as Loctite. The stainless steel parts comprising thecylinder member 17 and theend closure members 18 and 19 are cemented together in sealing relation by the application of such a bonding material at the mating surface at 20 and 21. In assembly, the internalcylinder sleeve member 36 is longitudinally positioned within thecylindrical member 17 with one end in spaced relation to endclosure member 18 and'isbonded to the internal surfaces ofmember 17 only at the other end ofmember 36. Before such bonding ofsleeve 36 tomember 17, precise adjustment of the close tolerances betweenflapper element 43,closure 18, andcore 40 are made in a jig and held while thesleeve 36 is bonded tomember 17. After thecable 12 has been passed through theport 91 in the backend closure member 19 and has been sealed in the fitting 86, the fitting 86 may then be cemented and sealed in the chamber by such a cementing and bonding material applied to theexternal surfaces 130 of the fitting. It should be noted that the fitting 86 is driven fully into thechamber 90 during assembly with theend closure member 19 so that when theend closure member 19 is driven into final seated position with respect to thecylinder member 17, the other end of fitting 86 will be partially inserted but not fully inserted within thechamber 85 of the cup-shapedmember 80.

Aremovable guard 131 may be used with the holder and actuator means as shown in FIG. 5.Guard 131 is of part circular cross section and provides a support, if desired, for a finger of the surgeons hand. The guard is removed for autoclaving the actuator means.

It should be noted that the various dielectric materials selected for thetube 29 cup-shapedmember 80 andspacing discs 32 and shims 98 are also made of a heat resistant material such as Teflon or silicone. It will thus be apparent that the holder and actuator means may be subjected to the high temperatures and pressures of an autoclave or sterilization process without injuring or weakening the electrical or mechanical characteristics of the holder and actuator means. The rigid requirements for a sterile condition of surgical operating instruments is therefore met by the construction of the holder as described above.

It will be readily apparent that the actuating means for producing vibratory motion capable of being modified into a reciprocal hinged movement of limited extent or a linear reciprocal movement is provided by the actuating means of this invention described above. The actuator and holder means is fully protected by its construction and the motion generated by the actuating means is evidenced by vibratory action of the connectingpin 55 which is the only'moving part projecting from the actuator and holder means 10. Thus, by suitable design of the frontend closure member 18 of the actuator and holder means may be readily adapted to various types of instruments which may require actuation by slightly different types of motion. In the examples set forth above, linear and curvilinear reciprocal motion has been described. The precise limits of such motion are controlled or regulated by the positive spacing ofcore element 40 with respect to the front closure member and the provision of precisely spaced stop surfaces thereon.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the actuator and holder means described above and all such changes and modifications coming within the spirit of this invention are contemplated herein and all such changes and modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims are embraced thereby.

We claim:

1. In an actuator and holder means for a cutting instrument useful in microsurgery and including'a cutting member, the combination of:

holder means including a housing having a chamber therein; I

actuator means for imparting cutting motion to said cutting member including 7 a pin adapted to be operably connected at one end with said cutting member,

a transversely disposed element connected to said pin in spaced relation to said one end and located within said chamber and movable with the pin,

said transversely disposed element being mounted for pivotal movment about an axis spaced from the axis of the pin,

said transversely disposed element comprising a disclike element,

one face of said disc-like element being beveled from a chord line spaced from the center of the element and spaced from the axis of thepin member to provide clearance for saidpivotal movement,

said disc-like element including a planar face opposite to said face having said bevel,

spring means in contact with said planar face biasing said disc-like element in the direction of said pin,

and means carried by the housing and cooperable with said transversely disposed element to impart forward and backward motion to said pin and element whereby a cutting edge on said cutting member is imparted cutting motion of restricted scope.

2. In a means as stated in claim 1 wherein said motion imparting means includes an electrically actuated core exerting a force field on said disc-like element.

3\ In an actuator and holder means for a cutting instrument useful in microsurgery and including a cutting member, the combination of:

holder means including a housing having a chamber therein;

actuator means for imparting cutting motion to said cutting 'member including a pin adapted to be operably connected at one end with Said cutting member,

a transversel disposed element connected to said pin in spaced relation to said one end and located within Said chamber and movable with the pin,

means carried by the housing and cooperable with said transversely disposed element to impart forward and backward motion to said pin and element whereby a cutting edge on said cutting member is imparted cutting motion of restricted scope,

and means on said actuator means and on said transversely disposed element to restrain rotation of said element and said pin;

said transversely disposed element being mounted for pivotal movement about an axis spaced from the axis of the pin and perpendicular to the pin axis;

said transversely disposed element comprising a disclike element,

10 one face of the disc-like element being beveled from a chord line spaced from the center of the element and spaced from the axis of the pin member to provide clearance for said pivotal movement,

said chord line locating said pivotal axis for said element. 4

4. In an actuator and holder means for a cutting instrument useful in microsurgery and including a cutting member, the combination of: i

holder means including a housing having a chamber therein; I I

actuator means for imparting cutting motion to said cutting member including v I a pin adapted to be operably connected at one end with said cutting member, I

a transversely disposed element connected to said pin in spaced relation to said one 'end and located within said chamber arid movable with the pin,

means carried by the housing and cooperable with said transversely disposed element to impartforward and backward motion to said pin and element whereby a cutting edge on said cutting member is imparted cutting motion of restricted scope,

and means on said actuator means and on said transversely disposed element to restrain rotation of said element andsaid pin;

said holder means including an end cap having a recessed opening through which said pin extends,

a flexible seal means seated in said recessed opening and having a cylindrical flange in said recess and a conical portion extending outwardly of the opening along said pin whereby external pressure is transmitted to said pin and cap for Sealing thereof, and means on said end cap for securing one member of a scissors type cutting member.

5. In an actuator and holder means for a cutting instrument useful in microsurgery and including a cutting member, the combination of:

holder means including a housing having a chamber therein;

actuator means for imparting cutting motion to said cutting member including a pin adapted to be operably connected at one end with said cutting member,

a transversely disposed element connected to said pin in spaced relation to said one end and located within said chamber and movable with the pin,

means carried by the housing and cooperable with said transversely disposed element to impart forward and backward motion to said pin and element whereby a cutting edge on said cutting member is imparted cutting motion of restricted scope,

and means on said actuator means and on said transversely disposed element to restrain rotation of said element and said pin;

said holder means including,

means providing a first stop surface to contact one face of said transverse member,

means providing a second stop surface to contact a face of said transverse member opposite to said one face,

and wherein said means to impart back and forth motion to said pin and transverse element is restricted to the precise distance between said stop surfaces and at a selected number of cycles per second,

one of said stop surfaces including a hinge line for rocking of said transverse member thereon.

6. In an actuator and holder means for a cutting instrument useful in microsurgery and including a cutting member, the combination of:

holder means including a housing having a chamber therein;

actuator means for imparting cutting motion to said cutting member including a pin adapted to be operably connected at one end with said cutting member,

a transversely disposed element connected to said pin in spaced relation to said one end and located within said chamber and movable with the pin,

means carried by the housing and cooperable with said transversely disposed element to impart forward and backward motion to said pin and element whereby a cutting edge on said cutting member is imparted cutting motion of restricted scope,

and means on said actuator means and on said transversely disposed element to restrain rotation of said element and said pin;

said holder means including a housing comprising an elongated cylinder having open ends,

end caps partially receivable in said open ends in sealing relation therewith,

one end cap having an opening for entry of electrical conduit,

fluid tight pressure seal means for said conduit in said end cap,

said other end cap having an opening for said pin,

a seal means between said pin and said end cap,

and means on the latter end cap for mounting a fixed part of an instrument.

7. In an actuator and holder means for a cutting instrument useful in microsurgery and including a cutting member, the combination of:

holder means including a housing having a chamber therein and a longitudinal axis;

actuator means for imparting cutting motion to said cutting member including a pin laterally offset from said axis and adapted to be operably connected at one end with said cutting member,

a transversely disposed element rigidly connected to said pin in spaced relation to said one end and located within said chamber in coaxial relation with said housing and movable with said pin,

means carried by the housing at said longitudinal axis and cooperable with said transversely disposed element to impart forward and backward motion to said pin and element whereby a cutting edge on said cutting member is imparted cutting motion of restricted scope;

and means on said actuator means and on said transversely disposed element to restrain rotation of said element and said pin;

said holder means including means providing a first stop surface to contact one face of said transverse member.

means providing a second stop surface to contact a face of said transverse member opposite to said one face,

said means carried by said housing at said longitudinal axis to impart back and forth motion to said pin and transverse element being restricted to the precise distance between said stop surfaces and to a selected number of cycles per second.

8. In a means as stated inclaim 7 wherein one of said stop surfaces is movable longitudinally of said axis relative to the other stop surface to provide precise length of travel of said transverse member and said pin.

Claims (8)

1. In an actuator and holder means for a cutting instrument useful in microsurgery and including a cutting member, the combination of: holder means including a housing having a chamber therein; actuator means for imparting cutting motion to said cutting member including a pin adapted to be operably connected at one end with said cutting member, a transversely disposed element connected to said pin in spaced relation to said one end and located within said chamber and movable with the pin, said transversely disposed element being mounted for pivotal movment about an axis spaced from the axis of the pin, said transversely disposed element comprising a disc-like element, one face of said disc-like element being beveled from a chord line spaced from the center of the element and spaced from the axis of the pin member to provide clearance for said pivotal movement, said disc-like element including a planar face opposite to said face having said bevel, spring means in contact with said planar face biasing said disclike element in the direction of said pin, and means carried by the housing and cooperable with said transversely disposed element to impart forward and backward motion to said pin and element whereby a cutting edge on said cutting member is imparted cutting motion of restricted scope.

2. In a means as stated in claim 1 wherein said motion imparting means includes an electrically actuated core exerting a force field on said disc-like element.

3. In an actuator and holder means for a cutting instrument useful in microsurgery and including a cutting member, the combination of: holder means including a housing having a chamber therein; actuator means for imparting cutting motion to said cutting member including a pin adapted to be operably connected at one end with said cutting member, a transversely disposed element connected to said pin in spaced relation to said one end and located within said chamber and movable with the pin, means carried by the housing and cooperable with said transversely disposed element to impart forward and backward motion to said pin and element whereby a cutting edge on said cutting member is imparted cutting motion of restricted scope, and means on said actuator means and on said transversely disposed element to restrain rotation of said element and said pin; said transversely disposed element being mounted for pivotal movement about an axis spaced from the axis of the pin and perpendicular to the pin axis; said transversely disposed element comprising a disc-like element, one face of the disc-like element being beveled from a chord line spaced from the center of the element and spaced from the axis of the pin member to provide clearance for said pivotal movement, said chord line locating said pivotal axis for said element.

4. In an actuator and holder means for a cutting instrument useful in microsurgerY and including a cutting member, the combination of: holder means including a housing having a chamber therein; actuator means for imparting cutting motion to said cutting member including a pin adapted to be operably connected at one end with said cutting member, a transversely disposed element connected to said pin in spaced relation to said one end and located within said chamber and movable with the pin, means carried by the housing and cooperable with said transversely disposed element to impart forward and backward motion to said pin and element whereby a cutting edge on said cutting member is imparted cutting motion of restricted scope, and means on said actuator means and on said transversely disposed element to restrain rotation of said element and said pin; said holder means including an end cap having a recessed opening through which said pin extends, a flexible seal means seated in said recessed opening and having a cylindrical flange in said recess and a conical portion extending outwardly of the opening along said pin whereby external pressure is transmitted to said pin and cap for sealing thereof, and means on said end cap for securing one member of a scissors type cutting member.

5. In an actuator and holder means for a cutting instrument useful in microsurgery and including a cutting member, the combination of: holder means including a housing having a chamber therein; actuator means for imparting cutting motion to said cutting member including a pin adapted to be operably connected at one end with said cutting member, a transversely disposed element connected to said pin in spaced relation to said one end and located within said chamber and movable with the pin, means carried by the housing and cooperable with said transversely disposed element to impart forward and backward motion to said pin and element whereby a cutting edge on said cutting member is imparted cutting motion of restricted scope, and means on said actuator means and on said transversely disposed element to restrain rotation of said element and said pin; said holder means including, means providing a first stop surface to contact one face of said transverse member, means providing a second stop surface to contact a face of said transverse member opposite to said one face, and wherein said means to impart back and forth motion to said pin and transverse element is restricted to the precise distance between said stop surfaces and at a selected number of cycles per second, one of said stop surfaces including a hinge line for rocking of said transverse member thereon.

6. In an actuator and holder means for a cutting instrument useful in microsurgery and including a cutting member, the combination of: holder means including a housing having a chamber therein; actuator means for imparting cutting motion to said cutting member including a pin adapted to be operably connected at one end with said cutting member, a transversely disposed element connected to said pin in spaced relation to said one end and located within said chamber and movable with the pin, means carried by the housing and cooperable with said transversely disposed element to impart forward and backward motion to said pin and element whereby a cutting edge on said cutting member is imparted cutting motion of restricted scope, and means on said actuator means and on said transversely disposed element to restrain rotation of said element and said pin; said holder means including a housing comprising an elongated cylinder having open ends, end caps partially receivable in said open ends in sealing relation therewith, one end cap having an opening for entry of electrical conduit, fluid tight pressure seal means for said conduit in said end cap, said other end cap having an opening for said pin, a seal means between said pin and said end cap, and means on the latter enD cap for mounting a fixed part of an instrument.

7. In an actuator and holder means for a cutting instrument useful in microsurgery and including a cutting member, the combination of: holder means including a housing having a chamber therein and a longitudinal axis; actuator means for imparting cutting motion to said cutting member including a pin laterally offset from said axis and adapted to be operably connected at one end with said cutting member, a transversely disposed element rigidly connected to said pin in spaced relation to said one end and located within said chamber in coaxial relation with said housing and movable with said pin, means carried by the housing at said longitudinal axis and cooperable with said transversely disposed element to impart forward and backward motion to said pin and element whereby a cutting edge on said cutting member is imparted cutting motion of restricted scope; and means on said actuator means and on said transversely disposed element to restrain rotation of said element and said pin; said holder means including means providing a first stop surface to contact one face of said transverse member, means providing a second stop surface to contact a face of said transverse member opposite to said one face, said means carried by said housing at said longitudinal axis to impart back and forth motion to said pin and transverse element being restricted to the precise distance between said stop surfaces and to a selected number of cycles per second.

8. In a means as stated in claim 7 wherein one of said stop surfaces is movable longitudinally of said axis relative to the other stop surface to provide precise length of travel of said transverse member and said pin.

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