Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
347 words
A stone basket comprising: a handle; a slide movably mounted to said handle and operable from outside said handle, said slide being movable between a first slide position and a second slide position; a piston movably mounted to said handle for movement between a first piston position and a second piston position; a basket shaft having proximal and distal ends, said basket shaft having an expandable basket member adjacent its proximal end, said distal end of said basket shaft being mounted to said handle; a sheath extending over said basket shaft and having proximal and distal ends, said distal end of said sheath being attached to said slide, said expandable basket member being enclosed within said proximal end of said sheath when said slide is in said first slide position, and said sheath being retracted to expose said expandable basket member when said slide is in said second slide position; a control wire extending along said basket shaft and having proximal and distal ends, said distal end of said control wire being attached to said piston, and said proximal end of said control wire being attached adjacent a forward portion of said expandable basket such that moving said piston from said first piston position to said second piston position exerts a tension on said control wire which causes said expandable basket member to expand; said slide in said first slide position being drivably disengaged from said piston; and said slide and said piston being configured such that said movement of said slide to said second slide position brings said slide into driving engagement with said piston, such that movement of said slide from said second slide position to a third slide position moves said piston from said first piston position to said second piston position; whereby movement of said slide from said first slide position to said second slide position retracts said sheath to expose said basket member, and whereby further movement of said slide from said second slide position to said third slide position exerts a tension on said control wire to expand said basket member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
347 words
A stone basket comprising: a handle; a slide movably mounted to said handle and operable from outside said handle, said slide being movable between a first slide position and a second slide position; a piston movably mounted to said handle for movement between a first piston position and a second piston position; a basket shaft having proximal and distal ends, said basket shaft having an expandable basket member adjacent its proximal end, said distal end of said basket shaft being mounted to said handle; a sheath extending over said basket shaft and having proximal and distal ends, said distal end of said sheath being attached to said slide, said expandable basket member being enclosed within said proximal end of said sheath when said slide is in said first slide position, and said sheath being retracted to expose said expandable basket member when said slide is in said second slide position; a control wire extending along said basket shaft and having proximal and distal ends, said distal end of said control wire being attached to said piston, and said proximal end of said control wire being attached adjacent a forward portion of said expandable basket such that moving said piston from said first piston position to said second piston position exerts a tension on said control wire which causes said expandable basket member to expand; said slide in said first slide position being drivably disengaged from said piston; and said slide and said piston being configured such that said movement of said slide to said second slide position brings said slide into driving engagement with said piston, such that movement of said slide from said second slide position to a third slide position moves said piston from said first piston position to said second piston position; whereby movement of said slide from said first slide position to said second slide position retracts said sheath to expose said basket member, and whereby further movement of said slide from said second slide position to said third slide position exerts a tension on said control wire to expand said basket member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The stone basket of claim 1, wherein said piston is substantially inaccessible to a user from outside said housing such that said piston can be actuated only by movement of said slide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The stone basket of claim 1, wherein said basket shaft comprises an elongated tube, and wherein said control wire extending along said basket shaft comprises said control wire extending through said tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
366 words
A stone basket comprising: a handle having forward and rearward ends; a slide movably mounted to said handle and operable from outside said handle, said slide being movable between a first slide position and a second slide position forward of said first slide position; a piston movably mounted to said handle rearward of said slide; means operatively associated with said slide and said piston for biasing said piston forward as said slide is advanced and for permitting at least limited movement of said slide upon forward movement of said piston being limited; means operatively associated with said handle for limiting forward movement of said piston a basket shaft having proximal and distal ends, said basket shaft having an expandable basket member adjacent its proximal end, said distal end of said basket shaft being mounted to said slide; a sheath extending over said basket shaft and having proximal and distal ends, said distal end of said sheath being attached to said handle, said expandable basket member of said stone basket being enclosed within said proximal end of said sheath when said slide is in said first slide position, and said basket shaft being extended to expose said expandable basket member when said slide is in said second slide position; a control wire extending along said basket shaft and having proximal and distal ends, said distal end of said control wire being attached to said piston, and said proximal end of said control wire being attached adjacent a forward portion of said expandable basket; said slide and said piston being configured such that said movement of said slide to said second slide position brings said piston into engagement with said forward movement limiting means, such that movement of said slide from said second slide position to a third slide position forward of said second slide position advances said slide without advancing said piston; whereby movement of said slide from said first slide position to said second slide position extends said basket assembly to expose said basket member, and whereby further movement of said slide from said second slide position to said third slide position moves said basket member relative to said control wire to expand said basket member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
366 words
A stone basket comprising: a handle having forward and rearward ends; a slide movably mounted to said handle and operable from outside said handle, said slide being movable between a first slide position and a second slide position forward of said first slide position; a piston movably mounted to said handle rearward of said slide; means operatively associated with said slide and said piston for biasing said piston forward as said slide is advanced and for permitting at least limited movement of said slide upon forward movement of said piston being limited; means operatively associated with said handle for limiting forward movement of said piston a basket shaft having proximal and distal ends, said basket shaft having an expandable basket member adjacent its proximal end, said distal end of said basket shaft being mounted to said slide; a sheath extending over said basket shaft and having proximal and distal ends, said distal end of said sheath being attached to said handle, said expandable basket member of said stone basket being enclosed within said proximal end of said sheath when said slide is in said first slide position, and said basket shaft being extended to expose said expandable basket member when said slide is in said second slide position; a control wire extending along said basket shaft and having proximal and distal ends, said distal end of said control wire being attached to said piston, and said proximal end of said control wire being attached adjacent a forward portion of said expandable basket; said slide and said piston being configured such that said movement of said slide to said second slide position brings said piston into engagement with said forward movement limiting means, such that movement of said slide from said second slide position to a third slide position forward of said second slide position advances said slide without advancing said piston; whereby movement of said slide from said first slide position to said second slide position extends said basket assembly to expose said basket member, and whereby further movement of said slide from said second slide position to said third slide position moves said basket member relative to said control wire to expand said basket member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The stone basket of claim 4, wherein said piston is substantially inaccessible to a user from outside said housing such that said piston can be actuated only by movement of said slide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The stone basket of claim 4, wherein said basket shaft comprises an elongated tube, and wherein said control wire extending along said basket shaft comprises said control wire extending through said tube.