Endoscopic biopsy forceps handle with removable sample removal pick

DETAILED DESCRIPTION It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an endoscopic biopsy forceps instrument incorporating therein a tool for removing a biopsy sample from the forceps jaws.
It is another object to provide an endoscopic biopsy forceps instrument with a handle having a removable tool which is held securely by the handle.
It is a further object to provide an endoscopic biopsy forceps handle having a removable pick which is easily removable from the handle.
In accord with these objects which will be discussed in detail below, an actuator handle assembly is provided for an endoscopic biopsy forceps instrument with a pick holder slot or pick holder bore for removably receiving a sample removing pick.
A sample removal pick is frictionally engaged in the holder.
In one embodiment, the sample removal pick is trapezoidal-shaped.
In another embodiment the pick is T-shaped.
In yet other embodiments the pick is cylindrical or conical.
In each embodiment the pick holder is shaped to frictionally engage the pick.
Furthermore, in some embodiments, the pick has ridges on its back which enable a practitioner's finger to frictionally engage the pick and to slide the pick distally out of the holder.
In other embodiments the pick has a finger catch at a manipulation end for engagement by a finger.
Furthermore, an embodiment is disclosed in which multiple picks are removably engaged in multiple pick holding slots or bores in the actuator handle assembly.
An endoscopic biopsy forceps instrument incorporating the handle assembly of the invention is also disclosed.
The forceps instrument includes a tubular member, a control member, and a pair of biopsy forceps jaws.
The control member extends through the tubular member and both the control member and the tubular member are coupled at their proximal ends to the actuator handle and at their distal and to the biopsy forceps jaws, such that actuation of the actuation handle causes relative movement of the control member and the tubular member and results in the opening and closing of the forceps jaws