The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 13, 1998
Filed:
Jun. 07, 1995
Lee M Middleman, Portola Valley, CA (US);
Walter R Pyka, Redwood City, CA (US);
Michael Buhler, Madeira Beach, CA (US);
Philippe Poncet, Fremont, CA (US);
Karl Van Dyk, Fremont, CA (US);
James E Jervis, Atherton, CA (US);
Reza Zadno, Newark, CA (US);
Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A device or apparatus for manipulating matter in a confined or inaccessible space, comprises a manipulator at least partly constructed of one or more bent or twisted elongate metallic members having pseudoelasticity at the intended manipulation temperature, and a hollow housing (preferably of elongate tubular form) or cannula capable of holding at least the metallic member(s) in a relatively straightened state, and an actuator for extending the metallic member(s) from the housing to manipulate matter within the space and for withdrawing the metallic member(s) into the housing, the arrangement being such that the metallic member(s) bend(s) or twist(s) pseudoelastically in a lateral or helical sense to manipulate the matter on extending from the housing at the manipulation temperature, and become(s) relatively straightened on withdrawal into the housing at the temperature. Preferably the device or apparatus is of elongate form for surgical manipulation of matter within a living body, and has the manipulator at its distal end with the metallic member(s) having pseudoelasticity at the temperature to be encountered within the body, and wherein the actuator is operable from the proximal end of the device.