Wire loop former

Aug. 13, 1957 j. g. mcnally 2,802,467

WIRE LOOP FORMER

Filed Nov. 4, 1954

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United States Patent Office

2,802,467

Patented Aug. 13, 1957

2,802,467

WIRE LOOP FORMER ⁵

John G. McNally, Shiprock, N. Mex., assignor of fifty percent to Mary E. McNally, Shiprock, N. Mex.

Application November 4,1954, Serial No. 466,920

Claims. (CI. 128—303)

This invention relates to the class of surgical instru- 15 ments and more particularly to a novel wire loop former.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel surgical instrument which will enable tension to be placed on metal wires or the like while forming loops in the ends thereof so that the metal 20 wires can be easily engaged with other therapeutic appliances as may be necessary.

When articulating fractured facial bones and fastening these bone segments together under tension from metal wires so that normal healing can take place it is often 25 necessary to augment the tension by utilization of rubber bands or other tensioning devices which extend from wire to wire and bone segment to bone segment. This is especially true where the upper and lower teeth must be placed and held in occlusion. The present invention 30 provides means for tensioning metal wires while also forming loops therein so that resilient bands or the like can be easily attached to the metal wires as may be necessary.

A further object of the invention resides in the pro- ³⁵vision of a wire loop former which is adapted to form loops in taut wires as may be desired and in which the wire loop former can be utilized for various and different functions when treating the various parts of a patient’s body as may be necessary. 40

A yet further object of the invention resides in the provision of a surgical instrument which is adapted to enable wire loops of varying sizes to be easily and conveniently formed in the metal wires used as ligatures thus reducing substantially the time necessary for performing ⁴⁵various operations.

Still further objects of the invention reside in the provision of a surgical instrument which may be made of any desired size, which is strong and durable, and which is highly efficient in use. ⁵⁰

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this surgical instrument, preferred embodiments of which have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by ⁵⁵way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view illustrating the manner in which the instrument may be engaged with a metal wire or the like ligature material;

Figure 2 is an elevational view illustrating the surgical ⁶⁰instrument in a closed position for forming a wire loop;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional detail view illustrating the manner in which one form of cone may be secured to one of the blades of the surgical instrument;

Figure 4 is a sectional detail view illustrating an alternative means for attaching the cone to the blade; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the cone and associated portions for attachment to a blade of the instrument. 70

With continuing reference to the accompanying draw•Z/. .

mgs wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 generally designates the improved surgical instrument comprising the present invention, which employs a conventional hemostat 12 or other forceps, needle holder, or the like which consists of a pair of mutually pivoted members 14 and 16 mounted for relative movement with respect to each other by means of a pin 18. The hemostat 12 may include a pair of eye members or finger loops 20 and 22 as well as opposed blades 24 and 26 at the ends of the hemostat 12 opposite from those of the fingerloops 20 and 22. The hemostat 12 may be self locking by means of serrated projections 28 and 30 which are adapted to be interengaged in the obvious manner.

The blade 26 is provided with a truncated conical member or cone 32 which is secured thereto and which is adapted to engage a bight portion 34 of a metal wire ligature or the like. With the bight portion of the ligature engaged, the entire instrument 10 can be rotated thus twisting the ligature while also forming the loop 36 in the bight portion of the wire ligature 34. Further, the wire ligature is also made taut and placed under tension.

The cone 32 is secured to the blade 26 by threadedly engaging the externally threaded stem 38 thereof within the threaded aperture 40 formed in the stem 38. By detaching the cone 32 from the blade 26, a cone of different size can be utilized thereby enabling various sized loops to be formed in the wire ligatures.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5 it will be noted that herein the cone 42 is provided with a stem 44 having an internally threaded recess 46 therein. The cone 42 is further provided with an annular tongue 48 extending concentrically about the stem 44. The stem 44 is adapted to extend through an aperture 50 in the blade 52 with the tongue 48 being seated within an annular groove 54 concentric with respect to the aperture 50. A screw or other fastener 56 is threadedly engaged in the recess 46 and draws the cone 42 downwardly with the head 58 of the fastener 56 engaging the exterior side of the blade 52.

The multiple securing engagement of the cone 42 results in a better connection between the cone 42 and the blade 52 while also eliminating the necessity for threads in the blade 52 itself which are often a seat for rust and germs.

In use, it is to be recognized that the hemostat 12 may be locked in a closed position with the serrated projections 28 and 30 being mutually interengaged thereby holding the blade 24 against the cone 32 and preventing the ligature 34 from becoming disengaged.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation, of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.