US 12,167,846 B2
Multi-functional surgical instrument
John D. Murray, Jacksonville, FL (US); and Wendy Ashby, Jacksonville, FL (US)
Assigned to UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INCORPORATED, Gainesville, FL (US)
Filed by UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INCORPORATED, Gainesville, FL (US)
Filed on Jun. 17, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/350,631.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/040,098, filed on Jun. 17, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0393254 A1, Dec. 23, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 17/04 (2006.01); A61B 17/076 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/0467 (2013.01) [A61B 17/076 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A medical instrument comprising: a first elongated arm and a second elongated arm pivotally attached at a pivoting joint, the first and second elongated arms comprising a distal end, a proximal end, an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the first and second elongated arms define, along respective inner surfaces, opposing gripping portions and opposing cutting edges proximal to the gripping portions, and wherein the first and second elongated arms comprise a flange, each flange comprising an inner end and an outer end such that the outer end outwardly deflects from the distal end of the first and second elongated arms,
wherein the instrument has a longitudinal axis;
wherein the cutting edge of the first elongated arm and the cutting edge of the second elongated arm each comprise a proximal portion and a distal portion wherein the distal portion is sloped at a slope angle of 50 degrees or less relative to the longitudinal axis and the proximal portion is straight relative to the longitudinal axis;
wherein the flange comprises a length of about 0.5 to about 30 mm between the inner and outer ends; and
wherein the instrument comprises a first and second notch adjacent to the flange of the first and second elongated arms, respectively, such that a staple can rest while being removed.