Ergonomic forceps tool

Abstract

There is disclosed a system and methods for safely and securely gripping osseous-based tissue during allograft processing. One embodiment includes a first forceps half pivotally coupled to a second forceps half, where the first and the second forceps halves combine to form a handle portion and a head portion. The handle portion may define a first longitudinal axis, and the head portion may define a second longitudinal axis that intersects the first longitudinal axis at a varying head angle. The first and the second halves move between an open position in which the first and second forceps halves at the head portion are separated and a closed position in which the first and second forceps halves at the head portion are together. The forceps may also include an open-biasing spring element attached between the first and second forceps halves and a selective locking mechanism. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ergonomic forceps tool for gripping osseous-based tissue during allograft processing, comprising:
 a first forceps half pivotally coupled to a second forceps half, the first and the second forceps halves combining to form a handle portion and a head portion, the handle portion defining a first longitudinal axis and the head portion defining a second longitudinal axis that intersects the first longitudinal axis at a head angle, wherein the first and the second halves move between an open position in which the first and the second forceps halves at the head portion are separated and a closed position in which the first and the second forceps halves at the head portion are together; and   a spring element attached between the first and the second forceps halves, the spring element biased toward the open position.   
     
     
         2 . The ergonomic forceps tool of  claim 1 , wherein the head angle is between 30 and 90 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The ergonomic forceps tool of  claim 1 , wherein when the first and the second forceps halves are in the open position, the head portion is disposable about a human femoral head. 
     
     
         4 . The ergonomic forceps tool of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the head portion comprises opposing first and second jaws; and   a number of teeth protrude inward from the first jaw toward the second jaw and from the second jaw toward the jaw.   
     
     
         5 . The ergonomic forceps tool of  claim 4 , wherein each of the teeth has a length of 3 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The ergonomic forceps tool of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first pair of interchangeable grips for removable installation about the first and the second forceps halves at the handle portion, the first pair of the interchangeable grips configured to fit a first hand size; and   a second pair of interchangeable grips for removable installation about the first and the second forceps halves at the handle portion, the second pair of interchangeable grips configured to fit a second hand size.   
     
     
         7 . The ergonomic forceps tool of  claim 1 , wherein the spring element comprises at least one counterforce spring steel biased toward the open position. 
     
     
         8 . The ergonomic forceps tool of  claim 7 , further comprising a selective locking mechanism configured to selectively affix the first and the second forceps halves in a desired compressed position between the closed position and the open position. 
     
     
         9 . The ergonomic forceps tool of  claim 8 , wherein the selective locking mechanism comprises ratchet-based locking bar configured to exert a constant grip pressure at the desired compressed position. 
     
     
         10 . The ergonomic forceps tool of  claim 1 , wherein the forceps tool is formed of one or more of stainless steel and autoclavable plastic. 
     
     
         11 . An ergonomic forceps tool kit for securing osseous-based tissue for processing operations, comprising:
 a number of forceps, each of the forceps comprising:
 first and second pivotally coupled forceps halves, the first and the second forceps halves combining to form a handle portion and a head portion, the head portion comprising first and second opposing jaws configured to move between open and closed positions, wherein:
 the handle portion comprises a proximal end and a distal end and defines a first longitudinal axis and the head portion comprises a proximal end and a distal end and defines a second longitudinal axis that intersects the first longitudinal axis at a head angle; 
 the head angle defines an offset between the first longitudinal axis and the distal end of the head portion; and 
 the head angle and the offset vary for each of the number of the forceps; and 
 
   a number of interchangeable grips, each of the interchangeable grips comprising a finger portion and a thumb portion, the finger and the thumb portions sized to fit a particular hand size, wherein each of the interchangeable grips is configured for removable installation upon the handle portion of any one of the number of the forceps.   
     
     
         12 . The ergonomic forceps tool kit of  claim 11 , wherein:
 when in the open position, the first and the second jaws are spaced apart by a jaw opening width; and   the jaw opening width varies for each of the number of the forceps.   
     
     
         13 . The ergonomic forceps tool kit of  claim 11 , wherein:
 each of the first and the second opposing jaws comprises a number of inwardly-extending teeth; and   a length of the inwardly-extending teeth varies for each of the number of the forceps.   
     
     
         14 . The ergonomic forceps tool kit of  claim 11 , wherein each of the forceps further comprises a spring element attached between the first and the second forceps halves at the handle portion, the spring element biased toward the open position. 
     
     
         15 . The ergonomic forceps tool kit of  claim 14 , wherein each of the forceps further comprises a selective locking mechanism configured to secure the head portion in a desired compressed position between the closed position and the open position such that the head portion applies a desired compressive force to a tissue portion secured between the first and the second jaws. 
     
     
         16 . The ergonomic forceps tool kit of  claim 15 , wherein the selective locking mechanism comprises a ratchet-and-pawl mechanism. 
     
     
         17 . A method of preparing an allograft from osseous-based tissue using an ergonomic forceps tool kit, the kit comprising:
 a number of ergonomic forceps, each having a handle portion defining a first longitudinal axis and a head portion having opposing first and second jaws that define a second longitudinal axis that intersects the first longitudinal axis at a head angle, wherein the head angle of each of the ergonomic forceps is different; and   a number of interchangeable grips, each adapted for removable installation upon the handle portions of the number of the ergonomic forceps, wherein each of the interchangeable grips is configured to fit a different hand size, the method comprising:
 based upon a correlation between a configuration of the osseous-based tissue and the head angle of each of the ergonomic forceps, selecting one of the number of the ergonomic forceps; 
 based upon a hand size of a user, selecting one of the number of the interchangeable grips; 
 removably installing the selected one of the number of the interchangeable grips upon the handle portion of the selected one of the number of the ergonomic forceps; and 
 compressing the handle portion of the selected one of the number of the ergonomic forceps to move the head portion from an open position in which the first and the second jaws a separated by a jaw opening width to a closed position in which the first and the second jaws are secured about the osseous-based tissue. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the osseous-based tissue comprises a human femoral head. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the first and the second jaws of the head portion of each of the ergonomic forceps comprise inwardly-extending teeth of a different length; and   the open position of the first and the second jaws of the head portion of each of the ergonomic forces comprises a different jaw opening width.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising engaging a selective locking mechanism to maintain the first and the second jaws of the selected one of the number of the ergonomic forceps in the closed position.