US5358496A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Endoscopic tissue manipulator
Assignee: Ethicon Inc
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Filing: 1993-09-30
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Granted: 1994-10-25
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Expires: 2013-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A tissue manipulator is provided which is insertable through an endoscopic tube to enable a surgeon to manipulate tissue inside a body cavity. The tissue manipulator includes an expandable frame comprising a plurality of flexible, interconnected frame members which are adapted to expand laterally outward into a spatula-like platform for engaging the tissue. The platform is selectively expandable into a tulip-shaped configuration and a bulb-shaped configuration to manipulate large body organs such as the liver, lungs or intestines without risk of injury to such organs. The platform is infinitely adjustable in size from its collapsed configuration to its expanded configuration.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark S. Ortiz
- 👤 M. Joshua Tolkoff
- 👤 William W. Malecki
- 👤 Fernando A. de Toledo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:37
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/02; A61B17/0218
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
An endoscopic tissue manipulator, comprising: a handle; a support shaft extending from said handle; a tube slidably mounted on said support shaft for longitudinal movement relative to said support shaft; and an expandable frame mounted at the distal end of said support shaft and connected to said tube, said frame being expandable by movement of said tube relative to said support shaft to provide a platform for manipulating tissue wherein said frame includes a pair of expandable fingers each comprising a flexible outer strip secured to the distal end of said tube and a flexible inner strip secured to the distal end of said support shaft, said inner and outer strips being joined together at a distal finger tip; and said fingers being flexed laterally outward in opposite directions by axial movement of said tube relative to said shaft to provide a platform for engaging the tissue.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
An endoscopic tissue manipulator, comprising: a handle; a support shaft extending from said handle; a tube slidably mounted on said support shaft for longitudinal movement relative to said support shaft; and an expandable frame mounted at the distal end of said support shaft and connected to said tube, said frame being expandable by movement of said tube relative to said support shaft to provide a platform for manipulating tissue wherein said frame includes a pair of expandable fingers each comprising a flexible outer strip secured to the distal end of said tube and a flexible inner strip secured to the distal end of said support shaft, said inner and outer strips being joined together at a distal finger tip; and said fingers being flexed laterally outward in opposite directions by axial movement of said tube relative to said shaft to provide a platform for engaging the tissue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The tissue manipulator of claim 1, wherein: said fingers are expandable into a tulip-shaped configuration with said finger tips spread apart and into a bulb-shaped configuration with said finger tips together.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The tissue manipulator of claim 2, wherein: said fingers are expandable to said tulip-shaped configuration by movement of said tube proximally relative to said support shaft and to said bulb-shaped configuration by movement of said tube distally relative to said support shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
The tissue manipulator of claim 1, wherein said frame includes: a connector sleeve slidably mounted on said inner strips and located at a position beyond the distal end of said tube; and a pair of elongated flexible struts extending from said connector sleeve, each of said struts being secured to an intermediate portion of one of said outer strips and being flexed outwardly when said fingers are expanded.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The tissue manipulator of claim 4, which includes: a guide tube extending distally from said connector sleeve for slidably receiving said inner strips therein, said guide tube serving to hold said inner strips together when said actuator tube is advanced to prevent misalignment and crossover of said finger tips.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
The tissue manipulator of claim 1, wherein said frame includes: a connector sleeve slidably mounted on said support shaft and located at a position beyond the distal end of said tube; and a pair of elongated flexible struts extending from said connector sleeve, each of said struts being secured to an intermediate portion of one of said outer strips and being flexed outwardly when said fingers are expanded.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The tissue manipulator of claim 1, wherein: each of said fingers comprises an elongated strap which is folded back upon itself to define said inner and outer strips.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
183 words
An endoscopic tissue manipulator for insertion into an endoscopic tube for manipulating tissue in a body cavity, comprising: a handle; a support shaft extending from said handle; an actuator tube slidably mounted on said support shaft for longitudal movement relative to said support shaft; and a tissue manipulating frame mounted at the distal end of said support shaft and connected to said actuator tube, said frame having a collapsed configuration for insertion through the endoscopic tube, and said frame being expandable by movement of said actuator tube relative to said shaft to provide a platform for manipulating the tissue in the body cavity wherein said frame includes a pair of expandable fingers each comprising a flexible outer strip secured to the distal end of said actuator tube and a flexible inner strip secured to the distal end of said support shaft, said inner and outer strips being joined together at a distal finger tip; and said fingers being flexed laterally outward in opposite directions by axial movement of said acutator tube relative to said shaft to provide a platform for engaging the tissue.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
183 words
An endoscopic tissue manipulator for insertion into an endoscopic tube for manipulating tissue in a body cavity, comprising: a handle; a support shaft extending from said handle; an actuator tube slidably mounted on said support shaft for longitudal movement relative to said support shaft; and a tissue manipulating frame mounted at the distal end of said support shaft and connected to said actuator tube, said frame having a collapsed configuration for insertion through the endoscopic tube, and said frame being expandable by movement of said actuator tube relative to said shaft to provide a platform for manipulating the tissue in the body cavity wherein said frame includes a pair of expandable fingers each comprising a flexible outer strip secured to the distal end of said actuator tube and a flexible inner strip secured to the distal end of said support shaft, said inner and outer strips being joined together at a distal finger tip; and said fingers being flexed laterally outward in opposite directions by axial movement of said acutator tube relative to said shaft to provide a platform for engaging the tissue.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The tissue manipulator of claim 8, wherein: said fingers are expandable into a tulip-shaped configuration with said finger tips spread apart and into a bulb-shaped configuration with said finger tips together.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The tissue manipulator of claim 9, wherein: said fingers are expandable to said tulip-shaped configuration by movement of said actuator tube proximally relative to said support shaft and to said bulb-shaped configuration by movement of said actuator tube distally relative to said support shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
69 words
The tissue manipulator of claim 8, wherein said frame includes: a connector sleeve slidably mounted on said inner strips and located at a position beyond the distal end of said actuator tube; and a pair of elongated flexible struts extending from said connector sleeve, each of said struts being secured to an intermediate portion of one of said outer strips and being flexed outwardly when said fingers are expanded.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
The tissue manipulator of claim 11, which includes: a guide tube extending distally from said connector sleeve for slidably receiving said inner strips therein, said guide tube acting to hold said inner strips together when said actuator tube is advanced to prevent misalignment and crossover of said finger tips.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
69 words
The tissue manipulator of claim 8, wherein said frame includes: a connector sleeve slidably mounted on said support shaft and located at a position beyond the distal end of said actuator tube; and a pair of elongated flexible struts extending from said connector sleeve, each of said struts being secured to an intermediate portion of one of said outer strips and being flexed outwardly when said fingers are expanded.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The tissue manipulator of claim 8, wherein: each of said fingers comprises an elongated strap which is folded back upon itself to define said inner and outer strips.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The tissue manipulator of claim 8, which includes: a manually operable slide connected to said actuator tube for advancing and retracting said actuator tube axially relative to said handle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The tissue manipulator of claim 15, which includes: collet means on said handle for releaseably engaging said actuator tube to retain said platform in an expanded configuration.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The tissue manipulator of claim 16, which includes: a manually operable release button on said handle for releasing said collet means to disengage said actuator tube and allow said platform to return to its collapsed configuration.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The tissue manipulator of claim 8, which includes: a sheath slidably mounted on said actuator tube for covering said frame in its collapsed configuration.
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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) | 1997-10-24 | 1998-04-25 | 1998-10-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-10-24 | 2002-04-25 | 2002-10-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-10-24 | 2006-04-25 | 2006-10-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |