US5509923A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for dissecting, grasping, or cutting an object
Assignee: Medtronic Inc
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Filing: 1990-12-21
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Granted: 1996-04-23
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Expires: 2010-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A device for dissecting, grasping and/or cutting an object has at least two elongate elements at least a portion of at least one of the elements is formed from a pseudoelastic material, preferably a pseudoelastic shape memory alloy. End portions of the elements can be moved away from one another and then toward one another to dissect, grasp and/or cut an object with the elements. In certain embodiments, the device further comprises an actuating means and at least a portion of the elements and/or the actuating means is formed from a pseudoelastic material. The device is particularly useful in dissecting, grasping and/or cutting objects located in difficult to reach areas, for example within the body during surgery.
Inventors
- 👤 Lee M. Middleman
- 👤 Walter R. Pyka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:07
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B10/00; A61B10/02; A61B17/00; A61B17/02; A61B17/0218; A61B17/04; A61B17/0469; A61B17/08; A61B17/10; A61B17/12; A61B17/12009; A61B17/12013; A61B17/22; A61B17/221; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B17/32; A61B17/320016; A61B17/3205; A61B17/32056; B; B25; B25B; B25B9/00; B26; B26B; B26B13/00; B26B13/26; A61B10/06; A61B17/30; A61B17/3201; A61B17/34; A61B17/3417; A61B17/3421; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00287; A61B2017/00349; A61B2017/00353; A61B2017/00367; A61B2017/00371; A61B2017/0038; A61B2017/0042; A61B2017/00455; A61B2017/00831; A61B2017/00867; A61B17/06; A61B2017/06052; A61B17/06166; A61B2017/06171; A61B2017/22072; A61B2017/2212; A61B2017/2901; A61B2017/2905; A61B2017/2926; A61B2017/2927; A61B2017/2932; A61B2017/2933; A61B2017/2936; A61B2017/2937; A61B2017/2943; A61B2017/320064; A61B17/3209; A61B17/3211; A61B2017/32113; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B2018/1405; A61B2018/1407; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/3006; A61F2002/30092; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0014; A61F2210/0019
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A device for dissecting an object which comprises at least two elongate elements, positioned alongside one another, each having a body portion and an end portion, the end portions of the elements including means for: i. being capable of being splayed apart from one another when free of transverse constraint to dissect said object from surrounding material; and ii. being capable of being moved toward one another; wherein a portion of at least one of the elements is formed from a pseudoelastic material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
83 words
A device for dissecting an object which comprises at least two elongate elements, positioned alongside one another, each having a body portion and an end portion, the end portions of the elements including means for: i. being capable of being splayed apart from one another when free of transverse constraint to dissect said object from surrounding material; and ii. being capable of being moved toward one another; wherein a portion of at least one of the elements is formed from a pseudoelastic material.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
95 words
A device for manipulating an object which comprises at least two elongate elements, positioned alongside one another, each having a body portion and an end portion, the end portions of the elements including means for: i. being capable of being splayed apart from one another when free of transverse constraint and presenting manipulating surfaces to an object to be manipulated that is placed between them; and ii. being capable of being moved toward one another to manipulate said object; wherein a portion of at least one of the elements is formed from a pseudoelastic material.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
95 words
A device for manipulating an object which comprises at least two elongate elements, positioned alongside one another, each having a body portion and an end portion, the end portions of the elements including means for: i. being capable of being splayed apart from one another when free of transverse constraint and presenting manipulating surfaces to an object to be manipulated that is placed between them; and ii. being capable of being moved toward one another to manipulate said object; wherein a portion of at least one of the elements is formed from a pseudoelastic material.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
135 words
A device for dissecting an object which comprises a. a hollow elongate component; and b. at least two elongate elements, at least part of which are positioned within said component, said elements being positioned alongside one another, each having a body portion and an end portion, the end portions of the elements including means for: i. being capable of being splayed apart from one another when free of transverse constraint to dissect said object from surrounding material; and ii. being capable of being moved toward one another; wherein the elements and the component are longitudinally slideable relative to one another so that at least a portion of the elements can be slide into and out of said component and wherein a portion of at least one of the elements is formed from a pseudoelastic material.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
135 words
A device for dissecting an object which comprises a. a hollow elongate component; and b. at least two elongate elements, at least part of which are positioned within said component, said elements being positioned alongside one another, each having a body portion and an end portion, the end portions of the elements including means for: i. being capable of being splayed apart from one another when free of transverse constraint to dissect said object from surrounding material; and ii. being capable of being moved toward one another; wherein the elements and the component are longitudinally slideable relative to one another so that at least a portion of the elements can be slide into and out of said component and wherein a portion of at least one of the elements is formed from a pseudoelastic material.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
147 words
A device for manipulating an object which comprises a. a hollow elongate component; and b. at least two elongate elements, at least part of which are positioned within said component, said elements being positioned alongside one another, each having a body portion and an end portion, the end portions of the elements including means for: i. being capable of being splayed apart from one another when free of transverse constraint and presenting manipulating surfaces to an object to be manipulated that is placed between them; and ii. being capable of being moved towards one another to manipulate said object; wherein the elements and the component are longitudinally slideable relative to one another so that at least a portion of the elements can be slid into and out of said component and wherein a portion of at least one of the elements is formed from a pseudoelastic material.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
147 words
A device for manipulating an object which comprises a. a hollow elongate component; and b. at least two elongate elements, at least part of which are positioned within said component, said elements being positioned alongside one another, each having a body portion and an end portion, the end portions of the elements including means for: i. being capable of being splayed apart from one another when free of transverse constraint and presenting manipulating surfaces to an object to be manipulated that is placed between them; and ii. being capable of being moved towards one another to manipulate said object; wherein the elements and the component are longitudinally slideable relative to one another so that at least a portion of the elements can be slid into and out of said component and wherein a portion of at least one of the elements is formed from a pseudoelastic material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the pseudoelastic material is a pseudoelastic shape memory alloy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the pseudoelastic material is a superelastic material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, claim 2, claim 3, or claim 4, in which the end portions of the elements are pivotally connected to one another towards their free ends.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the end portions of the elements are pivotally connected to one another.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as claimed in claim 2 or 4 wherein the means for manipulating comprises means for cutting said object.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as claimed in claim 2 or 4 which further comprises a cutting edge of a material other than a shape memory alloy.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
121 words
A device for manipulating an object which comprises at least two elongate elements positioned alongside one another, each having a body portion and an end portion, at least a portion of at least one of the elongate elements including a manipulating edge constructed of a material other than a shape memory alloy, the end portions of the elements including means for: i. being capable of being splayed apart from one another when free of transverse constraint and presenting manipulating surfaces to an object to be manipulated that is placed between them; and ii. being capable of being moved toward one another to manipulate said object; wherein a portion of at least one of the elements is formed from a pseudoelastic material.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
121 words
A device for manipulating an object which comprises at least two elongate elements positioned alongside one another, each having a body portion and an end portion, at least a portion of at least one of the elongate elements including a manipulating edge constructed of a material other than a shape memory alloy, the end portions of the elements including means for: i. being capable of being splayed apart from one another when free of transverse constraint and presenting manipulating surfaces to an object to be manipulated that is placed between them; and ii. being capable of being moved toward one another to manipulate said object; wherein a portion of at least one of the elements is formed from a pseudoelastic material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said cutting edge is of stainless steel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, or claim 4, which further comprises at least one grasping surface.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of manipulating an object, which comprises: A. providing a device which comprises a. at least two elongate elements, positioned alongside one another, each having a body portion and an end portion, the end portions of the elements: i. being capable of being splayed apart from one another when free of transverse constraint and presenting manipulating surfaces to an object to be manipulated that is placed between them; and ii. being capable of being moved toward one another to manipulate said object; wherein at least a portion of at least one of the elements is formed from a pseudoelastic material; B. positioning the object between the splayed apart end portions of the elements; and C. causing said end portions to move toward one another so as to manipulate said object.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of manipulating an object, which comprises: A. providing a device which comprises a. at least two elongate elements, positioned alongside one another, each having a body portion and an end portion, the end portions of the elements: i. being capable of being splayed apart from one another when free of transverse constraint and presenting manipulating surfaces to an object to be manipulated that is placed between them; and ii. being capable of being moved toward one another to manipulate said object; wherein at least a portion of at least one of the elements is formed from a pseudoelastic material; B. positioning the object between the splayed apart end portions of the elements; and C. causing said end portions to move toward one another so as to manipulate said object.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of manipulating an object, which comprises: A. providing a device which comprises: a. a hollow elongate component; and b. at least two elongate elements, at least part of which are positioned within said component, said elements being positioned alongside one another, each having a body portion and an end portion, the end portions of the elements: i. being capable of being splayed apart from one another when free of transverse constraint and presenting manipulating surfaces to an object to be manipulated that is placed between them; and ii. being capable of being moved toward one another to manipulate said object; wherein the elements and the component are longitudinally slideable relative to one another so that at least a portion of the elements can be slid into and out of said component and wherein at least a portion of at least one of the elements is formed from a pseudoelastic material; B. positioning said object between the splayed apart end portions of the elements; and C. causing said end portions to move toward one another so as to manipulate said object.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of manipulating an object, which comprises: A. providing a device which comprises: a. a hollow elongate component; and b. at least two elongate elements, at least part of which are positioned within said component, said elements being positioned alongside one another, each having a body portion and an end portion, the end portions of the elements: i. being capable of being splayed apart from one another when free of transverse constraint and presenting manipulating surfaces to an object to be manipulated that is placed between them; and ii. being capable of being moved toward one another to manipulate said object; wherein the elements and the component are longitudinally slideable relative to one another so that at least a portion of the elements can be slid into and out of said component and wherein at least a portion of at least one of the elements is formed from a pseudoelastic material; B. positioning said object between the splayed apart end portions of the elements; and C. causing said end portions to move toward one another so as to manipulate said object.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method of claim 14, or 15, wherein the pseudoelastic material is a superelastic material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the pseudoelastic material is a shape memory alloy.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of dissecting an object from surrounding material as claimed in claim 16 wherein the shape memory alloy is a nickel titanium alloy.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 14, or claim 15, in which the object is a part of a human body or animal body.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as claimed in claim 19, in which the object is an internal part of the body, and the method includes the step of positioning at least the end portions of the elements within the body.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 or 15 wherein the step of manipulating said object comprises cutting said object.
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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) | 1999-04-23 | 1999-10-23 | 2000-04-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-04-23 | 2003-10-23 | 2004-04-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-04-23 | 2007-10-23 | 2008-04-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |