The present invention relates to a pin cutter. More particularly, the present invention relates to a pin cutter that is usable in connection with a variety of different types of surgery.
There are a number of different types of surgery that require the use of a pin, or the like. This pin is typically located within the anatomy. For example, this is common in wrist surgery or other types of orthopedic surgery although, not limited thereto.
At the present time, in order to cut through a pin or shaft, the surgeon uses something akin to a pair of pliers. It is typical for the cut portion of the pin to be expelled and perhaps even form a small projectile. This causes an unsafe condition in operating room areas. Moreover, the cutting mechanism that is presently used is not completely effective and many times does not have a sufficient cutting force to provide a clean cut of the pin or shaft.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved pin or shaft cutter.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved pin or shaft cutter that is characterized by extremely effective means for providing a substantial force in cutting the pin or shaft.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a pin or shaft cutter mechanism that enables storage of cut segments so as to eliminate unsafe conditions associated with the particular medical procedure.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved pin or shaft cutter that is characterized by having a removable inner canister that enables storage of cut segments. This canister may be disposable or re-usable.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved pin or shaft cutter that is readily sterilizable, that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, that can be assembled quickly, and that is moreover characterized by an effective actuation mechanism that is easily operable by the user.
Briefly, there is provided a pin cutter that is comprised of a housing including at a proximal end thereof a grip; an actuator handle supported at the housing; a pair of elongated blades that define at a distal end thereof a set of cutting jaws; and a ramp mechanism secured with the actuator handle for operating proximal ends of the blade members. The pin cutter preferably also includes a cartridge for collecting cut pin segments therein. This cartridge is slid within a support shaft of the pin cutter.
In accordance with other aspects of the present invention there is provided a hollow shaft extending through said housing, said ramp mechanism supported about said hollow shaft; a biasing spring disposed about said hollow shaft; a pin segment cartridge disposed within said hollow shaft; the cartridge has a locked position and an unlocked position; a roller at the proximal end of each blade for riding on opposite sides of the ramp mechanism; linkage mechanism interconnecting the respective blades and disposed closely adjacent to the jaw ends of the blade. the linkage mechanism includes a pair of links having a common support pin fixed to the housing; a cartridge for receiving cut pin segments, said cartridge disposed in said hollow shaft and releasable from an opposite end of the housing to the blades.
In accordance with the present invention there is also provided a pin cutter that includes a housing including at a proximal end thereof a grip; an actuator handle supported at the housing; a pair of elongated blades that define at a distal end thereof a set of cutting jaws; a hollow shaft extending through said housing; and a cartridge supported within said hollow shaft for receiving cut pin segments.
In accordance with other aspects of the present invention there is provided a ramp mechanism secured with the actuator handle for operating proximal ends of the blade member; a biasing spring disposed about said hollow shaft; the cartridge has a locked position and an unlocked position; a roller at the proximal end of each blade for riding on opposite sides of the ramp mechanism; a linkage mechanism interconnecting the respective blades and disposed closely adjacent to the jaw ends of the blades; the linkage mechanism includes a pair of links having a common support pin fixed to the housing; a pair of leaf springs each mounted fixed to the housing at opposed positions; each leaf spring has a free end contacting a respective blade; and each ramp mechanism has a slot for receiving respective blades.
It should be understood that the drawings are provided for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to define the limits of the disclosure. The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the embodiments described herein will become apparent with reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Reference is now made to the drawings for a preferred embodiment of the pin cutter of the present invention. This is comprised of a main body 10 that is comprised basically of a longitudinally extending housing 12 and a transverse grip 14. The combination of the housing 12 and grip 14 may be provided in two separate sections that are interconnected such as by using screws or the like which are not disclosed herein. The grip 14 is bent to fit comfortably within the palm of the user. The grip 14 thus includes a relatively flat distal side 15 and a rounded proximal side 16.
The longitudinally extending housing 12 is basically hollow but is also provided with opposed slots 18 as illustrated in
Within the housing 12, there is supported an elongated shaft 26. This shaft 26 extends between front and rear ends of the housing 12 and is preferably hollow so that it can also function, or receive a cartridge for the portions 45A of pin 45 that are cut at the distal blade. As illustrated, in, for example,
Reference may be made to, for example,
The drawings also illustrate, such as in
The blade members 40A and 40B also form at their distal ends the cutting portions 42A and 42B (jaws). In the position illustrated in
In this way, any small sections 45A of the pin that are cut or severed are captured by the cutting mechanism. Refer to
The operation of the blade members 40A, 40B is controlled from a linkage 50. There are actually a pair of linkages 50, one on each side of the blade members. Each of the linkages 50 includes a pair of links 52 such as the links 52A and 52B illustrated in
The pin cutter mechanism of the present invention also preferably employs a pair of leaf springs 60A, 60B. These leaf springs impose a force upon the respective blade members 40A, 40B so that the blade members will be biased towards a closed position but still be controlled by virtue of the actuation handle 20 and the associated ramp member 30. Each of the leaf springs 60A, 60B is supported at a proximal end thereof in a fixed position within the housing 12. The very distal end of each of the leaf springs 60A, 60B is urged against a surface of the respective blade members 40A, 40B. Reference to
Thus, in operation, and with reference to
Reference is now made to
Reference is now also made to
Having now described one preferred embodiment of the present invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous other embodiments and modifications thereof are contemplated as falling within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
Priority for this application is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to commonly owned and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/389,824 which was filed on Oct. 5, 2010 and which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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2615181 | McGaughey | Oct 1952 | A |
3310872 | Dowdell | Mar 1967 | A |
4815476 | Clossick | Mar 1989 | A |
5327896 | Schmieding | Jul 1994 | A |
7992305 | Herrick | Aug 2011 | B1 |
20010022029 | Vary | Sep 2001 | A1 |
20110203116 | Vary | Aug 2011 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61389824 | Oct 2010 | US |