| abstract |
A surgical forceps adapted to grip tissue, blood vessels and walls of organs without causing injury thereto, and to further grasp suture needles without causing damage to the forceps. The surgical forceps is made of a light weight but strong material formed into two opposed branch arms joined at a proximate end and having springingly open opposing tips at a distal end. An alignment pin is attached to one of the branch arms and is located toward the distal end thereof. An alignment hole in the other branch arm is opposite the alignment pin and is comprised of a bushing made of a low friction material such as various types of plastics, NYLON™, TEFLON™ and the like. The alignment pin and bushing hole are located as close to the distal ends of the branch arms as physically practical. The alignment pin and bushing hole cooperate together in preventing the distal opposing tips from overlapping (misalignment). Stops are provided in a central portion of the branch arms to prevent excessive compression of the opposing tips which may result in misalignment thereof, tissue trauma or bowing. Platforms are provided proximate to the tips located at the distal ends of the branch arms of the forceps. The platforms are on opposing faces of the tips and distal portions of the branch arms, and are made from hard material. The platforms are adapted to allow a surgeon to grasp and withdraw a suture needle during surgery without damaging the delicate opposing tips normally used to grasp body tissues. |