Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
A surgical instrument that is constructed for insertion into a body for cutting, comprising: a hollow outer member having an open distal end and an open proximal end; a hollow intermediate member mounted within said outer hollow member, said intermediate member having at least one opening in a distal region thereof; said hollow intermediate member having a preformed curvature in a portion of its length, said intermediate member being deformable so as to reduce the amount of curvature upon the application of a predetermined force and having memory such that said initial curvature is recovered upon removal of said force; a hollow inner member disposed within said intermediate member for transmitting force applied to a proximal end to move a cutting implement disposed at a distal end, said cutting implement being constructed and adapted to perform a cutting function at said opening in said intermediate member; said inner member being flexible at least in the area of said curvature in said intermediate member; and a drive for displacing said hollow outer member with respect to said hollow intermediate member along their longitudinal axes wherein the amount of said curvature of said intermediate member may be controlled.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
A surgical instrument that is constructed for insertion into a body for cutting, comprising: a hollow outer member having an open distal end and an open proximal end; a hollow intermediate member mounted within said outer hollow member, said intermediate member having at least one opening in a distal region thereof; said hollow intermediate member having a preformed curvature in a portion of its length, said intermediate member being deformable so as to reduce the amount of curvature upon the application of a predetermined force and having memory such that said initial curvature is recovered upon removal of said force; a hollow inner member disposed within said intermediate member for transmitting force applied to a proximal end to move a cutting implement disposed at a distal end, said cutting implement being constructed and adapted to perform a cutting function at said opening in said intermediate member; said inner member being flexible at least in the area of said curvature in said intermediate member; and a drive for displacing said hollow outer member with respect to said hollow intermediate member along their longitudinal axes wherein the amount of said curvature of said intermediate member may be controlled.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A surgical instrument in accordance with claim 1 wherein said drive is manually operable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
A surgical instrument in accordance with claim 1 wherein said drive is motorized.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A surgical instrument in accordance with claim 1 wherein said preformed curvature is in a distal region of said intermediate hollow member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A surgical instrument in accordance with claim 1 including a second drive for rotating said hollow intermediate member to a selected rotational position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A surgical instrument in accordance with claim 5 wherein said second drive is a manual drive.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A surgical instrument in accordance with claim 5 wherein said second drive is a motorized drive.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of performing a surgical procedure involving cutting in a body, comprising the steps of: inserting a surgical instrument having a hollow outer member, a hollow intermediate member mounted within said outer hollow member, said intermediate member having at least one opening in a distal region thereof and a preformed curvature, said intermediate member being deformable so as to reduce the amount of curvature upon the application of a predetermined force, and having memory such that said initial curvature is recovered upon removal of said force, and a hollow inner member disposed within said intermediate member for transmitting force applied to a proximal end to move a cutting implement disposed at the distal end to perform a cutting function at said opening in said intermediate member; visualizing said instrument via a scope inserted through a second incision to view the relationship between the surgical instrument and the natural curvatures of the body components; and adjusting the longitudinal position of the outer hollow member in relation to the intermediate hollow member to adjust the amount of curvature in the intermediate hollow member.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of performing a surgical procedure involving cutting in a body, comprising the steps of: inserting a surgical instrument having a hollow outer member, a hollow intermediate member mounted within said outer hollow member, said intermediate member having at least one opening in a distal region thereof and a preformed curvature, said intermediate member being deformable so as to reduce the amount of curvature upon the application of a predetermined force, and having memory such that said initial curvature is recovered upon removal of said force, and a hollow inner member disposed within said intermediate member for transmitting force applied to a proximal end to move a cutting implement disposed at the distal end to perform a cutting function at said opening in said intermediate member; visualizing said instrument via a scope inserted through a second incision to view the relationship between the surgical instrument and the natural curvatures of the body components; and adjusting the longitudinal position of the outer hollow member in relation to the intermediate hollow member to adjust the amount of curvature in the intermediate hollow member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein the step of adjusting the longitudinal position of the outer hollow member in relation to the intermediate hollow member is performed manually.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein the step of adjusting the longitudinal position of the outer hollow member in relation to the intermediate hollow member is performed utilizing a motorized drive.