Polyp retrieval assembly with cauterization loop and suction web

Claim 1

A surgical instrument assembly comprising: an elongate tubular member insertable through a biopsy channel of an endoscope, said tubular member being provided at a distal end with a web member having a cup shape defining a concave inner surface; a cauterization snare member inserted through said tubular member so that a cauterization loop at a distal end of said snare member is ejectable from the distal end of said tubular member; and means operatively connected to said tubular member for enabling application of suction to said web member to generate a negative pressure at said inner surface upon an ejection of said web member from the biopsy channel of the endoscope and upon an opening of said web member from a collapsed configuration to said cup shape.

Claim 5

A method for removing an polyp from inside a patient, comprising the steps of: providing a surgical device including an elongate tubular member having, at a distal end, a web member with a cup shape defining a concave inner surface; also providing a cauterization snare member insertable through said tubular member so that a cauterization loop at a distal end of said snare member is ejectable from the distal of said tubular member; inserting an endoscope assembly into a patient, said endoscope assembly having a biopsy channel with a distal end; upon insertion of said endoscope assembly into the patient, pushing said tubular member through said biopsy channel so that said web member is ejected from the distal end of the biopsy channel; opening said web member from a collapsed configuration to an opened configuration upon ejection of said web member from said biopsy channel; also upon insertion of said endoscope assembly into the patient, shifting said snare member through said tubular member so that said cauterization loop is ejected from said tubular member; opening said cauterization loop from a collapsed configuration to an opened configuration upon ejection of said cauterization loop from said tubular member; upon the opening of said cauterization loop, maneuvering said cauterization loop from outside the patient to place said cauterization loop over a polyp to be removed; upon placement of said cauterization loop over the polyp, conducting electrical current to said cauterization loop to sever said polyp from the patient; during said step of conducting, shifting said cauterization loop and said tubular member relative to one another so that said cauterization loop is drawn back into said tubular member and closes about a portion of the polyp to sever the polyp; applying suction through said tubular member to generate a vacuum force between said web member and the severed polyp to thereby entrain the severed polyp to the tubular member and removing said tubular member with the entrained severed polyp from the patient.

Claim 6

A method for removing an polyp from inside a patient, comprising the steps of: providing a surgical device including an elongate tubular member having, at a distal end, a web member with a cup shape defining a concave inner surface; also providing a cauterization snare member insertable through said tubular member so that a cauterization loop at a distal end of said snare member is ejectable from the distal of said tubular member; inserting an endoscope assembly into a patient, said endoscope assembly having a biopsy channel with a distal end; upon insertion of said endoscope assembly into the patient, pushing said tubular member through said biopsy channel so that said web member is ejected from the distal end of the biopsy channel; opening said web member from a collapsed configuration to an opened configuration upon ejection of said web member from said biopsy channel; also upon insertion of said endoscope assembly into the patient, shifting said snare member through said tubular member so that said cauterization loop is ejected from said tubular member; opening said cauterization loop from a collapsed configuration to an opened configuration upon ejection of said cauterization loop from said tubular member; upon the opening of said cauterization loop, maneuvering said cauterization loop from outside the patient to place said cauterization loop over a polyp to be removed; upon placement of said cauterization loop over the polyp, conducting electrical current to said cauterization loop to sever said polyp from the patient; during said step of conducting, shifting said cauterization loop and said tubular member relative to one another so that said cauterization loop is drawn back into said tubular member and closes about a portion of the polyp to sever the polyp; applying suction through said tubular member to generate a vacuum force between said web member and the severed polyp to thereby entrain the severed polyp to the tubular member and removing said tubular member with the entrained severed polyp from the patient.