Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A surgical method comprising the steps of: inserting a distal end of an elongate tubular member into a patient's abdomen; ejecting from a distal end of said tubular member a pair of prongs; during said step of ejecting, spreading said prongs apart from one another to form a pair of jaws; moving said jaws towards a colon of the patient to insert a portion of said colon between said jaws so that said jaws essentially surround said colon; shifting said tubular member towards said prongs, thereby at least partially closing said jaws about said colon to essentially clamp said colon between said jaws, thereby closing said colon at said jaws.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
A surgical method comprising the steps of: inserting a distal end of an elongate tubular member into a patient's abdomen; ejecting from a distal end of said tubular member a pair of prongs; during said step of ejecting, spreading said prongs apart from one another to form a pair of jaws; moving said jaws towards a colon of the patient to insert a portion of said colon between said jaws so that said jaws essentially surround said colon; shifting said tubular member towards said prongs, thereby at least partially closing said jaws about said colon to essentially clamp said colon between said jaws, thereby closing said colon at said jaws.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said prongs are connected to an elongate rod member slidably inserted into said tubular member, said step of ejecting including the step of pushing said rod member in a distal direction through said tubular member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method defined in claim 2 wherein said prongs are integral with one another and made of a resilient material having a limited degree of flexibility, whereby said prongs may be collapsed towards one another by being drawn into said distal end of said tubular member, said step of spreading including the step of automatically spreading said prongs under the action of internal stresses.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said step of inserting includes the step of inserting said tubular member through a trocar sleeve into the patient's abdomen, said method being part of a laparoscopic procedure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of displacing said colon relative to other organic tissues of the patient by exerting a force on said tubular member and said jaws upon completion of said step of closing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
117 words
A surgical method comprising the steps of: inserting a distal end of an elongate member into a patient's abdomen; upon said step of inserting, opening a pair of opposed arcuate arms of a C-shaped clamping member connected to said elongate member at a distal end thereof, thereby forming a pair of jaws; moving said jaws towards a colon of the patient to insert a portion of said colon between said jaws so that said jaws essentially surround said colon; pressing said arms towards one another to partially flatten said arms, thereby closing said clamping member about said colon to seal said colon; and repairing a perforation in said colon while said colon is clamped by said jaws.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
117 words
A surgical method comprising the steps of: inserting a distal end of an elongate member into a patient's abdomen; upon said step of inserting, opening a pair of opposed arcuate arms of a C-shaped clamping member connected to said elongate member at a distal end thereof, thereby forming a pair of jaws; moving said jaws towards a colon of the patient to insert a portion of said colon between said jaws so that said jaws essentially surround said colon; pressing said arms towards one another to partially flatten said arms, thereby closing said clamping member about said colon to seal said colon; and repairing a perforation in said colon while said colon is clamped by said jaws.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method defined in claim 6 wherein said step of inserting includes the step of inserting said elongate member through a trocar sleeve into the patient's abdomen, said method being part of a laparoscopic procedure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method defined in claim 6, further comprising the step of displacing said organ relative to other organic tissues of the patient by exerting a force on said elongate member and said jaws.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
140 words
A surgical method comprising the steps of: providing two elongate members each having a pair of prongs and means operatively connected to the respective prongs for alternatively opening and closing the prongs; inserting the distal ends of the two elongate members into a patient's abdomen; upon insertion of the distal ends of the two elongate tubular members into a patient's abdomen, opening the prongs to form two pairs of jaws; moving said pairs of jaws towards a colon having a perforation to insert a portion of said colon between each of said pairs of jaws such that said jaws are located on opposite sides of said perforation; at least partially closing said pairs of jaws about the colon to clamp the colon on opposite sides of the perforation; and repairing the perforation while the colon is clamped by said jaws.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
140 words
A surgical method comprising the steps of: providing two elongate members each having a pair of prongs and means operatively connected to the respective prongs for alternatively opening and closing the prongs; inserting the distal ends of the two elongate members into a patient's abdomen; upon insertion of the distal ends of the two elongate tubular members into a patient's abdomen, opening the prongs to form two pairs of jaws; moving said pairs of jaws towards a colon having a perforation to insert a portion of said colon between each of said pairs of jaws such that said jaws are located on opposite sides of said perforation; at least partially closing said pairs of jaws about the colon to clamp the colon on opposite sides of the perforation; and repairing the perforation while the colon is clamped by said jaws.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method defined in claim 11 wherein said elongate members are tubular members, further comprising the step of ejecting the prongs from the distal ends of the respective tubular members upon insertion f the distal ends of the tubular members into the patient's abdomen, said step of opening being executed upon said step of ejecting.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method defined in claim 10 wherein said pairs of prongs are each connected to a respective elongate rod member slidably inserted into the respective tubular member, said step of ejecting including the step of pushing said rod member in a distal direction through said respective tubular member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method defined in claim 11 wherein said step of closing includes the step of moving said tubular members relative to respective ones of said pairs of jaws, thereby drawing said prongs into the distal ends of said tubular members.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method defined in claim 9 wherein said step of inserting includes the step of inserting said tubular members through trocar sleeves into the patient's abdomen, said method being part of a laparoscopic procedure.