Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
An endosurgical instrument, comprising: a) a hollow tube having a proximal end, and a distal end, and a wall defining a radial opening near said distal end; b) a push rod having a proximal end and a distal end, said push rod extending at least partially through said hollow tube; c) a deflecting surface inside said hollow tube and near said distal end of said hollow tube; d) a non-rotatable end effector coupled to said push rod with said end effector extending at least partially outside said tube and coupled to said push rod through said radial opening when said end effector is in a deployed position; and e) actuation means coupled to said proximal end of said hollow tube and said proximal end of said push rod for effecting a relative axial movement of said tube and push rod, wherein relative axial movement of said tube and push rod causes said distal end of said push rod and said deflecting surface to engage such that said end effector is moved radially and distally relative to said tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
An endosurgical instrument, comprising: a) a hollow tube having a proximal end, and a distal end, and a wall defining a radial opening near said distal end; b) a push rod having a proximal end and a distal end, said push rod extending at least partially through said hollow tube; c) a deflecting surface inside said hollow tube and near said distal end of said hollow tube; d) a non-rotatable end effector coupled to said push rod with said end effector extending at least partially outside said tube and coupled to said push rod through said radial opening when said end effector is in a deployed position; and e) actuation means coupled to said proximal end of said hollow tube and said proximal end of said push rod for effecting a relative axial movement of said tube and push rod, wherein relative axial movement of said tube and push rod causes said distal end of said push rod and said deflecting surface to engage such that said end effector is moved radially and distally relative to said tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An endosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein: said radial opening includes a radial slot, and said end effector is a cutting blade.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
An endosurgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein: said cutting blade has a sharp edge and a dull edge, said sharp edge facing proximally and radially inward relative to said push rod.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
An endosurgical instrument according to claim 3, wherein: said cutting blade is curved.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
An endosurgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein: said cutting blade is sickle shaped and has an inner edge and an outer dull edge, said inner edge further has a distal dull portion and a proximal sharp portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
An endosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein: said deflecting surface is substantially cylindrical.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
An endosurgical instrument according to claim 6, wherein: said deflecting surface is inclined in the distal direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
An endosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein: said actuation means comprises a handle coupled to said proximal end of said tube and a lever pivotally coupled to said handle and coupled to said proximal end of said push rod.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
An endosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein: said distal end of said tube has a tapered outer surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
An endosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein: said deflecting surface is a substantially cylindrical guide channel having an open end adjacent to said radial opening and a proximal lateral opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
An endosurgical instrument according to claim 10, wherein: said distal end of said push rod is provided with a substantially cylindrical piston-like member which slides in said guide channel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
An endosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein: said end effector is a gripper/dissector.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
An endosurgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein: said gripper/dissector is formed as a segment of a hollow cylinder which embraces said tube when said end effector is moved to a retracted position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
An endosurgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein: a distal portion of said tube is flattened and said gripper/dissector is formed as a segment of a solid cylinder which nests on said flattened portion of said tube when said end effector is moved to a retracted position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
An endosurgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein: said deflecting surface is a substantially cylindrical guide channel having an open end adjacent to said radial opening and a proximal lateral opening.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
An endosurgical instrument according to claim 15, wherein: said distal end of said push rod is provided with a substantially cylindrical piston-like member which slides in said guide channel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
An endosurgical instrument according to claim 16, wherein: said gripper/dissector is coupled to said substantially cylindrical member by an extension arm which extends through said radial opening.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
An endosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein: said end effector is substantially rigidly coupled to said distal end of said push rod.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
181 words
An endosurgical instrument, comprising: a) a hollow tube having a proximal end, and a distal end, and a wall defining a radial opening near said distal end; b) a push rod having a proximal end and a distal end, said push rod extending at least partially through said hollow tube; c) a deflecting surface inside said hollow tube and near said distal end of said hollow tube; d) an end effector coupled to said push rod with said end effector extending at least partially outside said tube and coupled to said push rod through said radial opening when said end effector is in a deployed position; and e) actuation means coupled to said proximal end of said hollow tube and said proximal end of said push rod for effecting a relative axial movement of said tube and push rod, wherein relative axial movement of said tube and push rod causes said distal end of said push rod and said deflecting surface to engage such that said end effector is moved in a straight line radially and distally relative to said tube.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
181 words
An endosurgical instrument, comprising: a) a hollow tube having a proximal end, and a distal end, and a wall defining a radial opening near said distal end; b) a push rod having a proximal end and a distal end, said push rod extending at least partially through said hollow tube; c) a deflecting surface inside said hollow tube and near said distal end of said hollow tube; d) an end effector coupled to said push rod with said end effector extending at least partially outside said tube and coupled to said push rod through said radial opening when said end effector is in a deployed position; and e) actuation means coupled to said proximal end of said hollow tube and said proximal end of said push rod for effecting a relative axial movement of said tube and push rod, wherein relative axial movement of said tube and push rod causes said distal end of said push rod and said deflecting surface to engage such that said end effector is moved in a straight line radially and distally relative to said tube.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
202 words
An endosurgical instrument, comprising: a) a hollow tube having a proximal end, and a distal end, and a wall defining a radial opening near said distal end; b) a push rod having a proximal end and a distal end, said push rod extending at least partially through said hollow tube; c) a deflecting surface inside said hollow tube and near said distal end of said hollow tube; d) an end effector coupled to said push rod with said end effector extending at least partially outside said tube and coupled to said push rod through said radial opening when said end effector is in a deployed position; and e) actuation means coupled to said proximal end of said hollow tube and said proximal end of said push rod for effecting a relative axial movement of said tube and push rod, wherein relative axial movement of said tube and push rod causes said distal end of said push rod and said deflecting surface to engage such that said distal end of said push rod is moved in a straight line which is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of said tube and said end effector is moved radially and distally relative to said tube.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
202 words
An endosurgical instrument, comprising: a) a hollow tube having a proximal end, and a distal end, and a wall defining a radial opening near said distal end; b) a push rod having a proximal end and a distal end, said push rod extending at least partially through said hollow tube; c) a deflecting surface inside said hollow tube and near said distal end of said hollow tube; d) an end effector coupled to said push rod with said end effector extending at least partially outside said tube and coupled to said push rod through said radial opening when said end effector is in a deployed position; and e) actuation means coupled to said proximal end of said hollow tube and said proximal end of said push rod for effecting a relative axial movement of said tube and push rod, wherein relative axial movement of said tube and push rod causes said distal end of said push rod and said deflecting surface to engage such that said distal end of said push rod is moved in a straight line which is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of said tube and said end effector is moved radially and distally relative to said tube.