| US 7,488,296 B1 | ||
| Multifunctional actuator rod and handle for pushing a driver cable of a biopsy grasping instrument | ||
| James A. Van Andel, 13933 Islandview Ct., Walnut Grove, Calif. 95690 (US) | ||
| Filed on Nov. 15, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/985,462. | ||
| Int. Cl. A61B 10/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 600—564 | 6 Claims |

| 1. A multifunctional biopsy grasping tool actuator rod and handle device that uniquely performs the functions necessary to
safely and effectively operate a flexible medical device that utilizes a push mode of operation, the device comprising:
a biopsy tool handle comprising two rigid elongated members interconnected by a pivot mechanism to form a pair of lower hand
grasping leg portions comprising a front hand grasping leg portion and a back hand grasping leg portion, and a pair of upper
biopsy tool actuator arms comprising a front biopsy tool actuator arm extending from the back hand grasping leg portion and
a back biopsy tool actuator arm extending from the front hand grasping leg portion so that squeezing the hand grasping leg
portions moves the tool actuator arms toward each other, the front biopsy tool actuator arm further comprising a means for
securing a biopsy tube therein, and the back biopsy tool actuator arm further comprising at least one opening to admit a pin
therein;
an actuator rod attached to the biopsy tool handle, the actuator rod comprising a front tubular portion slidable within the
front biopsy tool actuator arm; a driver cable extending through the tubular portion, the driver cable extending through the
biopsy tube and attached to the biopsy cutting tool at a distal end to activate the biopsy cutting tool and attached to the
actuator rod at a proximal end, so that squeezing the biopsy actuator tool leg portions together causes the back biopsy tool
actuator arm to push the driver cable through the biopsy tool front actuator arm and through the biopsy tube to activate the
biopsy cutting tool, the tubular portion protecting the driver cable from collapsing under forward pressure on the driver
cable; a spring stop and a spring resting against the spring stop, the spring interacting between the spring stop and the
rear biopsy tool actuator arm to regulate bite pressure of the biopsy cutting tool to protect both the cutting edge of the
biopsy cutting tool and safeguard all unions and connections from breakage; the actuator rod having an elongated horizontal
slot, a stop pin inserted between the horizontal elongated slot and the at least one stop pin hole in the back biopsy tool
actuator arm for a limited length slidable connection therebetween, the horizontal slot elongated in the direction of travel
of the driver cable so that the length of the horizontal slot reduces the effect of a greater travel of the biopsy tool activating
arms of the handle to interact effectively with the limited travel of the other working components and regulates a ratio of
travel between the biopsy tool handle and other moving parts of the biopsy tool in cooperation with the spring to protect
the biopsy cutting tool from unsafe pressure and to eliminate rotation of the actuator rod to provide greater steering ability;
wherein the actuator rod further comprises a platform notch cut into the actuator rod for welding the proximal end of the
driver cable to the actuator rod.
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