US 12,446,950 B2
Medical instrument
Erik Walberg, Tuttlingen (DE); and Patrick Heizmann, Huefingen (DE)
Assigned to Aesculap AG, Tuttlingen (DE)
Filed by Aesculap AG, Tuttlingen (DE)
Filed on Jun. 19, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/844,015.
Application 17/844,015 is a continuation of application No. PCT/EP2020/086698, filed on Dec. 17, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2019 135 513.3 (DE), filed on Dec. 20, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0313351 A1, Oct. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 18/12 (2006.01); A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 18/1445 (2013.01) [A61B 2018/00958 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1455 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A medical instrument for treating tissue, the medical instrument comprising:
an actuator at a proximal end of the medical instrument;
a shank extending from the actuator; and
a gripping tool extending from the shank and terminating at a distal end of the medical instrument,
the gripping tool comprising a first tool element and a second tool element, the first tool element being pivotably movable relative to the second tool element,
the first tool element comprising a first clamping face and the second tool element comprising a second clamping face,
the actuator being operably connected to the gripping tool to pivot the first tool element relative to the second tool element,
the first tool element being pivotable relative to the second tool element between an open position, in which the first clamping face is positioned away from the second clamping face, and a closed position, in which the first clamping face is closer to the second clamping face than in the open position,
the first tool element comprising a first distal end with a first plate extending around the first distal end, and the second tool element comprising a second distal end with a second plate extending around the second distal end,
at least one of the first plate and the second plate extending along opposing sides of the gripping tool and defining, on each opposing side, an outwardly tapered plate section, an inwardly tapered plate section that adjoins the outwardly tapered plate section, and a protuberance where the outwardly tapered plate section adjoins the inwardly tapered plate section, each protuberance projecting laterally from the gripping tool.