Patent Application
20200360036
The present invention relates generally to surgical clamps, and more particularly to forceps for clamping and repositioning skin tissue in mastopexy and breast-lift procedures.
Mastopexy is a surgical procedure performed to correct breast ptosis (sagging), which in the broadest sense stems from a discrepancy between the volume of underlying breast tissue and the surface area of the surrounding skin envelope or some combination thereof. The goals of Mastopexy include restoring the normal contours of the breast mound. It can involve removal and tightening of excess breast skin as well as repositioning of the nipple areola complex (NAR).
Common lift procedures include the Crescent, Vertical and the Inverted-T or Anchor technique.
In the Inverted-T technique, for example, the operator makes lines above the upper edge of the NAR marking its new location, and below the NAR. Skin in these areas will be separated from tissue below and removed. Once excess skin is removed, new skin edges are pulled together and sutured or stapled in place. The surgeon will use best estimates in carrying out these steps. The NAR can be moved to the desired new location and similarly affixed.
Sometimes during such surgery the vertical incision undesirably extends into the patient's abdominal region.
There remains is a need for performing breast lift procedures with greater simplicity, accuracy and quickness.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide an instrument for performing breast uplift surgery with improved quickness and accuracy.
Accordingly, the present invention provides surgical forceps having first and second elongate arms pivotally connected in a scissors fashion, each arm having a handle portion and an elongate clamp portion, the handle portions lying in substantially the same plane. The handle portions have finger and thumb loops and a ratchet mechanism for releasably latching these portions. The clamp portions each provide an elongate generally planar gripping surface, and feature an elongate foot bar extending outwardly from distal end of each clamp portion at about 90 degrees to the plane of the gripping surface. A further feature is the curvature of the clamp portions in a plane perpendicular the plane of the handle portions.
When the forceps are manipulated from on open position to a clamp position the elongate gripping surfaces are brought towards engagement with each other and the ratchet mechanism will be engaged so as to releasably lock the forceps. The foot bars are aligned and combine to provide a generally straight lower edge. This facilitates as a guide for proper length and direction of incisions.
In use, breast tissue on opposing sides of a line of a straight incision can be grasped to tighten the breast envelope, the clamp portions following the curvature of the breast, and the foot bars engaging the breast surface.
The present invention will be further appreciated in view of the drawings, detailed description, and claims, which follow.
Referring now to the drawings,
Elongate foot bars 39 and 41, have generally circular cross-sectional configurations, and extend from the distal ends of clamp portions at about 90° to the clamp portions, as best shown in
Referring now to the ratchet mechanism 31, it should be appreciated that when an operator manipulates the handle portion to move the forceps from the open position as shown in
The forceps 11 can be used advantageously in breast lift surgery to firmly grip skin tissue on opposing sides of a straight longitudinal incision in the breast, with the curved portions following the curvature of the engaged breast.
Forceps 11 are fabricated of high-grade carbon steel or other suitable high-quality alloys using know techniques in the industry.
Various modifications and variations of the invention will be evident to persons of ordinary skill in the art, given the benefit of this disclosure, and it is intended that the invention be given its full scope and breath as defined in the claims that follow.
