Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A mechanical morcellator comprising a cutting head means, drive means operably connected to said cutting head means to rotatably drive said cutting head means, sheath means, and extension means adapted to relatively move one of said sheath means and said cutting head means between first and second positions wherein, when in the first position, the sheath means generally surrounds the cutting head means and, when in the second position, the cutting head means extends out of the sheath means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
29 words
A mechanical morcellator according to claim 1, further comprising a suction control means, said suction control means being operable to control suction force communicated to the cutting head means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
120 words
A mechanical morcellator according to claim 2, wherein the extension means comprises a manually operated trigger means, said suction control means and one of said sheath means and said cutting head means being responsive to movement of said trigger means between an initial position and a subsequent position so that said sheath means and cutting head means are in the first position when the trigger means is in the initial position and the sheath means and cutting head means are in the second position when the trigger means is in the subsequent position, with a one-for-one correspondence between suction force and the amount the cutting head means extends out of the sheath means between the initial and subsequent trigger positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
A mechanical morcellator according to claim 3, further comprising switch means adapted to connect the drive means to power, said switch means having first and second contacts, said first contact being carried by said trigger means and being operable to engage said second contact when the trigger means is in the subsequent position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A mechanical morcellator according to claim 4, wherein the trigger means comprises a sliding trigger and a trigger latch, said trigger latch comprising latch means which releasably engage a latch surface to prevent unintentional movement of said trigger.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A mechanical morcellator according to claim 5, wherein the sheath means moves relative to the cutting head means, said trigger means being engageable with the sheath means and operable to move the sheath means relative to the cutting head means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A mechanical morcellator according to claim 2, wherein said extension means comprises a rotary sheath knob, rotation of said sheath knob causing said sheath means to move longitudinally relative to said cutting head means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A mechanical morcellator according to claim 2, wherein said extension means comprises a slide switch, said slide switch being attached to said sheath means and being operable to longitudinally move said sheath means relative to said cutting head means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
84 words
A mechanical morcellator according to claim 2, further comprising a manually operated trigger means, said suction control means being responsive to movement of said trigger means between initial and subsequent positions, wherein, when the trigger means is in the initial position, a first suction force is communicated to said cutting head means and, when the trigger means is in the subsequent position, a second suction force is communicated to said cutting head means, said second suction force being greater than the first suction force.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
A mechanical morcellator according to claim 9, wherein the drive means is responsive to movement of the trigger means between said initial and subsequent positions such that, when the trigger means is in the initial position, the drive means is in a non-operating condition and, when the trigger means is in the subsequent position, the drive means is in an operating condition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A mechanical morcellator according to claim 10, wherein the trigger means comprises a trigger latch and a sliding trigger, said trigger latch comprising latch means which releasably engage a latch surface to prevent unintentional movement of said trigger.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A mechanical morcellator according to claim 11, wherein the sheath means moves relative to the cutting head means and the suction control means is integral with the trigger means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
106 words
A mechanical morcellator according to claim 12, wherein said extension means comprises said trigger means, said sheath means being responsive to movement of said trigger means between an initial position and a subsequent position so that said sheath means and cutting head means are in the first position when the trigger means is in the initial position and the sheath means and cutting head means are in the second position when the trigger means is in the subsequent position, with a one-for-one correspondence between suction force and the amount the cutting head means extends out of the sheath means between the initial and subsequent trigger positions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A mechanical morcellator according to claim 12, wherein said extension means comprises a rotary sheath knob, rotation of said sheath knob causing said sheath means to move longitudinally relative to said cutting head means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A mechanical morcellator according to claim 12, wherein said extension means comprises a slide switch, said slide switch being attached to said sheath means and being operable to longitudinally move said sheath means relative to said cutting head means.