Patent US2531562A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5304183A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Tethered clamp retractor
Assignee: Heartport Inc
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Filing: 1992-03-23
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Granted: 1994-04-19
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Expires: 2012-03-23
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides a tissue manipulation system including a tethered clamp and a clamp applicator for positioning the clamp through a trocar sleeve and applying the clamp to a tissue location in the abdominal cavity. In a further embodiment, the tissue manipulation system includes a introducer through which the tether can be withdrawn from the abdominal cavity and a clamp attached to the proximal end of the introducer for clamping the tether in position. The tissue manipulation system further includes an obturator for inserting the introducer into the abdomen, and a tether snare for retrieving the tether and withdrawing it through the introducer.
Inventors
- 👤 Stuart J. Gourlay
- 👤 Terry Buelna
- 👤 Wayne A. Noda
- 👤 Paul Lubock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:00
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/00234; A61B17/02; A61B17/0218; A61B17/12; A61B17/122; A61B17/1227; A61B17/128; A61B17/1285; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00265; A61B2017/00287; A61B2017/00349; A61B17/28; A61B2017/2808; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S227/00; Y10S227/901; Y10S227/902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A tissue manipulation system comprising: a clamp having a pair of movable jaws, a pair of levers connected to the jaws for closing and opening the jaws and a hinge disposed between the levers and the jaws; means for applying the clamp through a percutaneous cannula to a first tissue site, said means for applying having a tubular portion for sealing within the cannula; and a flexible tether having a first end attached to the clamp and a free end opposite the first end for remotely manipulating the clamp.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
A tissue manipulation system comprising: a clamp having a pair of movable jaws, a pair of levers connected to the jaws for closing and opening the jaws and a hinge disposed between the levers and the jaws; means for applying the clamp through a percutaneous cannula to a first tissue site, said means for applying having a tubular portion for sealing within the cannula; and a flexible tether having a first end attached to the clamp and a free end opposite the first end for remotely manipulating the clamp.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
84 words
A tissue manipulation system as in claim 1 wherein the means for applying the clamp comprises: an elongated tubular body with a distal end, a proximal end and an axial passageway therebetween; a pair of movable arms disposed at the distal end, each arm configured to engage one of the levers of the clamp; means at the proximal end of the body for actuating the arms; and a linkage disposed in the axial passageway, the linkage connecting the arms to the means for actuating.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A tissue manipulation system as in claim 1 further comprising means sealable within a percutaneous cannula for retrieving the free end of the tether.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A tissue manipulation system as in claim 3 wherein the means for retrieving the tether comprises an elongated snare having a hooked distal end for grasping the tether and means at a proximal end for sealing the percutaneous cannula.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A tissue manipulation system as in claim 1 further comprising means separated from the clamp for retaining the tether.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
A tissue manipulation system as in claim 5 wherein the means for retaining comprises a introducer comprising a shaft having a distal end, a proximal end and an axial passage therebetween, and a retainer disposed at the proximal end of the introducer, wherein the distal end is percutaneously positionable to allow the tether to be passed through the axial passageway and detachably secured in the retainer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A tissue manipulation system as in claim 6 wherein the retainer comprises a stopcock having a housing with a bore therethrough and a valve for closing off the bore, whereby the tether may be positioned in the bore and engaged by the valve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A tissue manipulation system as in claim 5 wherein the means for retaining the tether comprises means attached to the tether and separated from the first clamp for engaging a second tissue site.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A tissue manipulation system as in claim 1 wherein the clamp further comprises means for biasing the jaws in a closed configuration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A tissue manipulation system as in claim 2 wherein the clamp applying means includes means for biasing the arms in an open configuration.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A tissue manipulation system as in claim 2, wherein the means for actuating the arms comprises a tubular handle and a plunger slidably mounted in the handle, the plunger being coupled to the linkage.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
111 words
A tissue manipulation system comprising: a clamp having a pair of movable jaws, a pair of levers connected to the jaws for opening and closing the jaws and a hinge disposed between the levers and the jaws; a flexible tether having a first end attached to the clamp and a free end opposite the first end for remotely manipulating the clamp; and a introducer comprising a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, an axial passage therebetween and means at the proximal end for sealing the axial passage, wherein the distal end is percutaneously positionable to allow the free end of the tether to be drawn through the axial passage.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
111 words
A tissue manipulation system comprising: a clamp having a pair of movable jaws, a pair of levers connected to the jaws for opening and closing the jaws and a hinge disposed between the levers and the jaws; a flexible tether having a first end attached to the clamp and a free end opposite the first end for remotely manipulating the clamp; and a introducer comprising a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, an axial passage therebetween and means at the proximal end for sealing the axial passage, wherein the distal end is percutaneously positionable to allow the free end of the tether to be drawn through the axial passage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A tissue manipulation system as in claim 12 further comprising means for holding a portion of the tether in tension.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A tissue manipulation system as in claim 13 wherein the means for holding comprises a stopcock disposed at the proximal end of the introducer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
A tissue manipulation system as in claim 12 further comprising means sealable within the introducer for retrieving the free end of the tether and drawing the free end through the axial passage of the introducer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
A tissue manipulation system as in claim 14 wherein the means for retrieving and drawing comprises an elongated snare having a hooked distal end configured to pass through the axial passage of the introducer and means at a proximal end for sealing the axial passage.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A tissue manipulation system as in claim 12 further comprising means for percutaneously inserting the introducer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A tissue manipulation system as in claim 17 wherein the means for inserting the introducer comprises an obturator removably disposed in the axial passage of the introducer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A tissue manipulation system as in claim 12 further comprising means for percutaneously applying the clamp to the tissue through a percutaneous cannula.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
84 words
A tissue manipulation system as in claim 19 wherein the means for applying comprises: an elongated tubular body having a distal end, a proximal end and an axial passageway therebetween; a pair of movable arms disposed at the distal end of the body, each arm configured to engage one of the levers of the clamp; means at the proximal end of the body for actuating the arms; and a linkage disposed in the axial passageway and connecting the arms to the means for actuating.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
130 words
A tissue manipulation system comprising: a clamp having a pair of movable jaws, a pair of levers connected to the jaws for opening and closing the jaws and a hinge disposed between the levers and the jaws; a flexible tether having a first end coupled to the clamp and a free end opposite the first end; means for percutaneously applying the clamp to tissue through a percutaneous cannula; a introducer comprising a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, an axial passage therebetween and means at the proximal end for sealing the axial passage, the distal end being percutaneously positionable, whereby the tether may be passed through the axial passage; and means on the proximal end of the introducer for retaining the tether which passes through the axial passage.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
130 words
A tissue manipulation system comprising: a clamp having a pair of movable jaws, a pair of levers connected to the jaws for opening and closing the jaws and a hinge disposed between the levers and the jaws; a flexible tether having a first end coupled to the clamp and a free end opposite the first end; means for percutaneously applying the clamp to tissue through a percutaneous cannula; a introducer comprising a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, an axial passage therebetween and means at the proximal end for sealing the axial passage, the distal end being percutaneously positionable, whereby the tether may be passed through the axial passage; and means on the proximal end of the introducer for retaining the tether which passes through the axial passage.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
84 words
A tissue manipulation system as in claim 21 wherein the means for applying comprises: an elongated tubular body having a distal end, a proximal end and an axial passageway therebetween; a pair of movable arms disposed at the distal end of the body, each arm configured to engage one of the levers of the clamp; means at the proximal end of the body for actuating the arms; and a linkage disposed in the axial passageway and connecting the arms to the means for actuating.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
A tissue manipulation system as in claim 21 further comprising means sealable within the introducer for retrieving the free end of the tether and drawing the free end through the axial passage of the introducer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
46 words
A tissue manipulation system as in claim 23 wherein the means for retrieving the free end comprises an elongated snare with a hooked distal end configured to pass through the axial passage of the introducer and means at a proximal end for sealing the axial passage.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
A tissue manipulation system as in claim 24 further comprising means for percutaneously inserting the introducer into a patient.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
A tissue manipulation system as in claim 25 wherein the means for inserting the introducer comprises an obturator having a distal point for piercing tissue.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
A tissue manipulation system as in claim 25 wherein the means for inserting the introducer comprises means disposed at the distal end of the introducer for applying radiofrequency current to tissue.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
65 words
A tissue manipulation system as in claim 25 wherein the hooked end of the tether snare is conductive, the tether snare further comprising means at the proximal end of the snare for connecting to a radiofrequency generator and a conductive rod extending between the means for connecting and the hooked end, whereby the radiofrequency energy may be applied to the tissue using the hooked end.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
A tissue manipulation system as in claim 21 wherein the clamp further comprises means for biasing the jaws in a closed configuration.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
A tissue manipulation system as in claim 22 wherein the means for applying a clamp further comprises means for biasing the arms in an open configuration.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
51 words
A method for manipulating tissue comprising the steps of: introducing a clamp through a percutaneous cannula to a tissue location using an applicator which seals within the cannula; securing the clamp to the tissue location; and tensioning a free end of a tether attached to the clamp to manipulate the tissue.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
51 words
A method for manipulating tissue comprising the steps of: introducing a clamp through a percutaneous cannula to a tissue location using an applicator which seals within the cannula; securing the clamp to the tissue location; and tensioning a free end of a tether attached to the clamp to manipulate the tissue.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the step of tensioning comprises pulling the tether through a percutaneous introducer.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 32 further comprising the step of securing the tether relative to the introducer after the tensioning step.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 33 wherein the step of securing the tether comprises actuating a retainer disposed at a proximal end of the introducer.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 33 wherein the step of securing the tether comprises securing to a second tissue location means attached to the tether for engaging tissue.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the percutaneous introducer is positioned using an obturator removably mounted in the introducer.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the tether is pulled through the percutaneous introducer by inserting a tether snare having a hooked end through the introducer, engaging the tether with the hooked end, and retracting the tether snare with the tether in the hooked end from the introducer.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 37 wherein the introducer is positioned by applying radiofrequency energy to tissue where the introducer is to be positioned.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 38 wherein the radiofrequency energy is applied through the hooked end of the tether snare with the tether snare positioned in the introducer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-04-18 | 1997-10-18 | 1998-04-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-04-18 | 2001-10-18 | 2002-04-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-04-18 | 2005-10-18 | 2006-04-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |