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:
Dec. 31, 2002
Filed:
Mar. 26, 1999
Thomas L. Foster, Poland, IN (US);
Cook Urological, Incorporated, Spencer, IN (US);
Abstract
A medical retrieval device is disclosed comprising an elongated cylindrical member that includes a continuum of a material preferably a metal such as stainless steel or nitinol, that forms both the resilient grasping members of retrieval basket snare or grasper forceps and the proximal portion or shaft of the device. The elongated cylindrical member can include a metal cannula or solid rod into which a series of laterally adjacent longitudinal slots are cut or formed in the distal portion of the elongated cylindrical member to form a plurality of resilient grasping members. These slots may be cut in a spiral configuration to produce a helical basket The resilient grasping members in the original compact shape are formed into an enlarged shape to create a workspace volume for the capture, manipulation and/or retrieval of an object within a patient. An external constraining device such as an outer sheath, is used for introducing of the device and to compress the resilient grasping members over a calculus or other object into a substantially closed position An internal actuating member within the passage of the elongated cylindrical member can provide an alternative method of opening and closing the retrieval device. Using a small thin-walled cannula, retrieval devices of the present invention can fit through the accessory channel of a small endoscope, such as an ureteroscope while still having a sufficient lumen size to accommodate an ancillary treatment device such as a standard 200 micron laser fiber or lithotripsy wire. The present invention also includes a retrieval device made from a plastic tube having encased reinforcement wires By removing all material except the reinforcement wires from the distal portion of the elongated cylindrical member, the exposed wires can become the resilient grasping members of a basket or forceps.