Inventors:
Peter J. Wilk - New York NY
Leon Pirak - Springfield NJ
International Classification:
A61B 1736
Abstract:
A device for use in laparoscopic surgery includes an elongate shaft having a distal end and a proximal end opposite thereto, and a pair of grasper components mounted to the shaft at the distal end thereof for grasping and holding organic tissues of a patient. The shaft is provided with a longitudinally extending channel having a distal end opening located essentially between the grasper components. A first actuator is operatively connected to the grasper components and mounted to the shaft at the proximal end thereof for actuating the grasper components to grasp and hold the tissues. An elongate rod member is slidably inserted through the channel in the instrument shaft, the rod having an operative tip at a distal end which is insertable between the grasper components when the grasper components are in an operatively closed, grasping configuration. A second actuator is operatively connected to the rod member for actuating the operative tip to perform a laparoscopic surgical procedure while the tissues are held by the grasper components. The operative tip may be designed for performing virtually any surgical operation including, but not limited to, cutting, coagulating, aspirating, taking a biopsy, suturing, stapling, and irrigating.