GB2348390A - Interchangable handles - Google Patents

Abstract

A handle arrangement comprises an implement having one or two legs 2,3, wherein the or each leg is detachably connected to a handle bow 10 selected from a plurality of handle bows. This arrangement enables a user to select the most comfortable handle bow(s) when using the implement, which may be a pair of surgical scissors. Each leg 2,3 may be provided with a groove 4 which cooperates with a projecting tongue 5 on the handle bow 10 to be connected. Alternatively, the groove 4 may be located on the handle bow 10 and the tongue 5 on the or each leg 2,3. Dimples 6 and lugs 7 may be provided on the groove 4 and tongue 5 in order to secure them together (also see figure 2).

Description

INTERCHANGEABLE HANDLES The present invention relates to interchangeable handle bows for use with manually grippable implements. It is particularly applicable to scissors-type implements, which term is intended to include implements in which a pair of handles is pivoted together and a pair of blades or surfaces is also pivoted together, with movement of the handles causing corresponding movement of the blades or surfaces.

The invention is applicable to any implement of this type, although it was initially developed for use with surgical instruments such as are described in our International Application No.

PCT/GB99/00162. Hence, the invention will be described in relation to its use with surgical instruments, although as stated above, it is not limited to such uses.

It is well known to design handle bows ergonomically so that they conform to the general shape of an intended user's hands. Generally, one of the handle bows is adapted to receive the user's thumb, while the other is adapted to receive or be used by one, two or more fingers of the user. Usually, such designs are adapted for the comfort of right-handed users.

However, a not inconsiderable minority of users are left-handed, and for a left-handed person to use a right-handed pair of scissors (or vice versa) is doubly difficult t8les are ergonomically designed, since angled surfaces designed for the comfort of, say a right thumb, are extremely uncomfortable when the scissors are reversed so that the same handle bow is used from the other side, by a left thumb.

In the case of household implements such as scissors, this is usually dealt with either by equalising discomfort by using non-ergonomic scissors or by providing special left-handed scissors. However, in cases where the implement is an expensive surgical instrument, it is only possible to provide a left-handed surgical instrument to special order, and that instrument can only be used by a left-handed surgeon.

It is also the case that different surgeons have preferred techniques of gripping, and require handle bows which suit their particular technique. This is particularly the case where the surgical instrument is a laparoscopic instrument, such as a haemostatic cutting tool, as is disclosed in the above International Application, which requires an exact degree of manual control.

Hence, each surgeon must have their own set of instruments, which are of little use to other surgeons. Given the expense of instruments of this type, this is clearly a disadvantage in terms of overall spending on health care It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide means to equip an implement, especially but not necessarily a surgical instrument, with handle bows idealised for use by any user of the implement for the time being. A range of handle bows may be provided, each attachable to the implement so that the user can select an appropriate combination. Other users may select their own different combination.

According to the present invention, there is provided a handle arrangement for a manually grippable implement in which the implement is provided with one or two legs for operating the implement, comprising attachment means for the or each leg, a plurality of manually grippable handle bows, each being provided with means detachably to attach a selected handle bow to the attachment means of a selected leg of the implement.

Preferably one of a handle bow or a leg is provided with a projecting tongue and the other is provided with a groove cooperable with the tongue.

One of the groove or tongue may be provided with at least two dimples and the other with at least two lugs so dimensioned and located as to cooperate with said dimples.

The handle bow may be selected from a range which comprises handle bows to accommodate left thumb, right thumb, one left finger, one right finger, one or more left fingers or one or more right fingers.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows schematically a proximal end of a scissors-type implement ; Figure 2 shows a scrap view of a longitudinal cross-section of one leg of the implement of Figure I together with, in separated condition, a corresponding end of a handle bow ; Figure 3 shows a first pair of handle bows for use with the invention ; Figure 4 shows a second pair of handle bows for use with the invention ; and Figure 5 shows a further pair of handle bows for use with the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 a proximal end of a scissors-type implement. As stated earlier, the invention will be described with reference to its use with a surgical instrument, such as disclosed in International Application No. PCT/GB99/00162, in which the bringing together of handle bows causes longitudinal movement of an actuator rod which, at the distal end of the instrument causes jaws to close together. For the purposes of the present invention, the proximal end of the implement may be considered to consist of a body portion 1 and two legs 2 and 3, which are pivoted either together or separately to the body 1 at a point not shown in the figure. Indeed, one of the legs could be fixed to the body with only the other being pivoted.

The end of each leg 2 and 3 is provided with a groove 4 extending into the leg. Each major surface of the groove 4 is provided with two dimples 6 disposed in a pre-arranged pattern.

Each handle bow is provided at its end with an extending tongue 5 which is provided on each surface with lugs 7 positioned and dimensioned to cooperate with the dimples 6 once the tongue 5 is in the groove 4. Given that the material of the handle bows and of the legs is preferably plastics material, or at least some resiliently deformable material, the tongue 5 of a selected handle bow may be slid into one of the grooves 4 until the lugs 7 click into position in the respective dimples 6. The handle bow is then connected for operative purposes with the respective leg. When it is desired to change handles, sufficient force may be placed on the handle bow to withdraw it from the leg Obviously, it would be possible to place a groove in each handle bow and provide each leg with a corresponding tongue. Similarly, it would be possible to interchange the lugs and dimples from tongues to grooves and/or from handle bows to legs.

Referring now to Figure 3, there is shown a pair of handle bows 10 which are similarly shaped but oppositely handed Hence, either one of the bows 10 may accommodate the thumb of a user while the other accommodates one finger within the bow and up to two other fingers at positions 8 and 9 externally of the finger bow 10. Hence, the arrangement shown in Figure 3 may be used by either a left-handed or right-handed user. A variant of this arrangement has thumb bows with a larger aperture, and finger bows with a smaller aperture and other contact points, each of this type of bow being provided in left and right-handed versions.

Referring now to Figure 4, there is shown a right-handed pair of handle bows in which there is provided one to accommodate the right thumb of a user, and the other to accommodate up to four left fingers of the user within the bow Obviously, an oppositely handed pair would be required for left-handed use.

Referring now to Figure 5, there is shown a left-handed pair of handle bows with one for the left thumb and the other for up to four right fingers. Again, an oppositely handed pair needs to be provided for right hand use.

Other shapes of handle bow are possible provided they have the tongue ? to cooperate with the groove 4 of each leg 2 and 3, or a reverse arrangement if that is appropriate.

Claims (5)

1. CLAIMS 1. A handle arrangement for a manually grippable implement in which the implement is provided with one or two legs for operating the implement, comprising attachment means for the or each leg, a plurality of manually grippable handle bows, each being provided with means detachably to attach a selected handle bow to the attachment means of a selected leg of the implement.
2. 2. A handle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of a handle bow or a leg is provided with a projecting tongue and the other of a leg or a handle bow is provided with a groove cooperable with the tongue.
3. 3. A handle arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein one of the groove or tongue is provided with at least two dimples and the other of the tongue or groove is provided with at least two lugs so dimensioned and located as to cooperate with said dimples.
4. 4. A handle arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of handle bows comprises a number of differently shaped handle bows, each one of which is adapted to accommodate either a left thumb, a right thumb, one : finger, one right finger, one or more left fingers or one or more right fingers.
5. 5. A handle arrangement substantially as described herein with reference to the Figures of the accompanying drawings.