Blunt Dissection and Tissue Elevation Instrument

Abstract

A handheld medical instrument designed for efficient, atraumatic blunt tissue dissection and/or elevation during surgery. The instrument generally comprises an elongated rigid shaft having a grasping construct at one or both ends. Each of the grasping constructs being sized and shaped to hold a cottonoid or similar disposable dissection device.

1 . A surgical instrument, the instrument comprising:
 a shaft, having two ends and a length therebetween,   a grasping construct, positioned at the first of said two ends, said grasping construct including:
 at least two jaws; and 
 a finger tightening mechanism capable of opening and closing said jaws through rotation of said finger tightening mechanism; and 
   a blunt dissection pad, grasped between said jaws;   wherein said finger tightening mechanism can be rotated a first direction to open said jaws, when open said blunt dissection pad can be removed and replaced with another blunt dissection pad, and said jaws can be closed by rotation of said finger tightening mechanism in a second direction.   
   
   
       2 . The instrument of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a second grasping construct, positioned at the second of said two ends, said second grasping construct including:
 a second group of at least two jaws; and 
 a second finger tightening mechanism capable of opening and closing said second group of jaws through rotation of said finger tightening mechanism; and 
   a second blunt dissection pad, grasped between said second group of jaws;   wherein said second finger tightening mechanism can be rotated in a first direction to open said second group of jaws, when open said blunt dissection pad can be removed and replaced with another blunt dissection pad, and said second group of jaws can be closed by rotation of said second finger tightening mechanism in a second direction.   
   
   
       3 . The instrument of  claim 1  wherein said finger tightening mechanism comprises a cuff which is screwably attached to said shaft, which cuff can be screwed so as to extend from or retract back toward said shaft. 
   
   
       4 . The instrument of  claim 3  wherein said jaws are biased into an open position and said cuff, when extending from said shaft, compresses said jaws together. 
   
   
       5 . The instrument of  claim 1  wherein said finger tightening mechanism comprises a cuff which is rotationally attached to said shaft, wherein rotation of said cuff causes said jaws to extend from or retract toward said shaft. 
   
   
       6 . The instrument of  claim 5  wherein said jaws are biased into an open position and said jaws are compressed together when said jaws retract toward said shaft. 
   
   
       7 . The instrument of  claim 1  wherein said shaft includes a textured portion along said length. 
   
   
       8 . The instrument of  claim 1  wherein said blunt dissection pad comprises a cottonoid. 
   
   
       9 . The instrument of  claim 1  wherein said instrument is made of metal 
   
   
       10 . The instrument of  claim 1  wherein said shaft is separable into two portions at a point between said two ends and an extension shaft may be placed between said two portions to form a longer device. 
   
   
       11 . A kit of instruments for blunt dissection, the kit comprising.
 at least two tissue dissectors, each of the dissectors including:
 a shaft, having two ends and a length therebetween, 
 a grasping construct, positioned at a first of said two ends, said grasping construct including:
 at least two jaws; and 
 a tightening mechanism capable of opening and closing said jaws; 
 
 a blunt dissection pad, grasped between said jaws; 
 wherein said tightening mechanism can be manipulated to open said jaws, when open said blunt dissection pad can be removed and replaced with another blunt dissection pad, and said jaws can be closed by additional manipulation of said tightening mechanism; and 
   wherein at least two of said at least two blunt dissectors have different lengths.   
   
   
       12 . The kit of  claim 11  wherein said kit comprises at least three dissectors wherein
 a first dissector has a first length and a first diameter;   a second dissector has said first length and a second diameter, greater than said first diameter; and   a third dissector has said first diameter and a second length greater than said first length.