Spectrum Medsystems Corporation

Endomedix Corporation/box 330

Larry A Dial

John T Sorensen

Richard J Harp

R J Serra

Thomas L Hursman

Frans Limonta

Alfred S Soria

Alan DeLaRama

Steve Tarpening

A morcellation system and method for reducing and removing tissue or other matter contained within a mammalian body. A portal apparatus, having a central opening, is inserted into a small incision. Thereafter, a hollow-bore morcellator device is nestable within the central opening of the portal device. The hollow-bore morcellator device includes a rotatable shaft which extends downwardly into the body cavity, and upon which an annular cutting ring is mounted. An elongate suction probe is passable downwardly through the hollow-bore morcellator device, and is usable to engage (by suction force) a mass of tissue or other matter, and to repeatedly lift such mass into contact with the rotating annular cutting ring of the morcellator shaft. A tissue containment chamber may be positioned on the proximal end of the suction probe such that segments of tissue or matter separated by the annular cutting ring may be aspirated through the suction probe and collected within the collection chamber. The morcellator system may be utilized in conjunction with a flexible tissue containment bag. The tissue containment bag is preferably engageable with the portal apparatus to facilitate insertion of the morcellator device thereinto. Also, the system may include a pressurization system for passing positive pressure gas into the tissue containment bag. The passing of gas into the bag may be coordinated with the removal of gas withdrawn through the suction probe to ensure that the containment bag remains fully expanded during the suction operation.

Tissue morcellator system and method

A bi-directional endoscope comprising a catheter body having a tubular spring frame attached to and extending axially from the distal end thereof. The spring frame comprises a spring body which includes a tip member positioned on the distal end thereof, and a plurality of relief slots disposed therein for allowing the deflection of the spring frame within a first deflection plane. The relief slots are formed in the spring body in a manner defining first and second longitudinally extending stiffening portions which are oriented substantially diametrically opposite each other therewithin. Extending longitudinally through the catheter body and spring frame is a pair of activation wires which are encased by a pair of support sleeves. The spring frame is deflected by stressing the activation wires by subjecting either of the wires to a tensile force. Stressing the wires as operable to transmit the tensile force from the stressed wire to the tip member thus causing the spring body to deflect in the first deflection plane toward the stressed wire.

Bi-directional and multi-directional miniscopes

Growing community of inventors

Chino Hills, CA, United States of America

Larry A Dial