Improved actuating handle with pulley system for providing mechanical advantage to a surgical working element

Claim 2

A medical device comprising a body, an actuating member mounted to said body in a manner permitting relative movement therebetween, a working element remote from said body, and an elongated force-transmitting member extending between said actuating member and said working element and capable of transmitting bi-directional actuating force between said actuating member and said working element, said actuating member including a pulley surface bodily movable therewith, said force-transmitting member including a flexible cable portion trained about said pulley surface such that movement of said actuating member in either direction a given distance, relative to said body, causes said working element to move a substantially greater distance than said given distance.

Claim 3

The medical device of claim 1 wherein said pulley surface is defined by a rigid formation that is rigidly joined to said actuating member, and said cable portion being slidable relative to said pulley surface during the movement of said actuating member.

Claim 4

The medical device of claim 1 wherein the flexible cable portion of said force-transmitting member is substantially confined throughout its length enabling transmission of axial thrust on said working element.

Claim 5

The medical device of claim 1 wherein said actuating member is mounted to translate relative to said body, thereby translating said pulley surface relative to said body.

Claim 6

The medical device of claim 1 wherein said body includes a rigid proximal portion adjacent to said actuating member and an elongated flexible distal portion through which said force-transmitting member extends.

Claim 7

The medical device of claim 5 wherein said elongated flexible distal portion comprises a medical catheter.

Claim 8

The medical device of claim 1 wherein said force-transmitting member comprises a flexible metal cable extending from a point of attachment on said body to said working element.

Claim 9

The medical device of claim 7 wherein said cable is of a form capable of transmitting both tensile and compressive forces from the actuating member to said working element.

Claim 10

The medical device of claim 1 wherein said actuating member further comprises at least one loop engageable by a finger of an operator.

Claim 11

The medical device of claim 9 wherein said body terminates in a relatively stationary thumb loop centrally located on said body, and said actuating member defines two finger loops disposed on opposite sides of said thumb loop.

Claim 12

The medical device of claim 1 wherein said actuating member includes a rigid guide tube slidably engaged with said body, said force-transmitting member extending through said guide tube in a sliding relationship.

Claim 13

The medical device of claim 1 wherein said working element is a snare.

Claim 14

The medical device of claim 1 wherein said working element is an angled snare loop.

Claim 15

The medical device of claim 1 wherein said working element is a grasper.

Claim 16

The medical device of claim 1 wherein said working element is a basket.

Claim 17

A medical snare device comprising a body, an actuating member mounted to said body in a manner permitting movement therebetween, a snare remote from said body, and a cable extending between said actuating member and said snare and capable of transmitting bi-directional actuating force between said actuating member and said snare, said actuating member including a pulley surface bodily movable therewith, said cable being trained about said pulley surface such that movement of said actuating member in either direction a given distance, relative to said body, causes said snare to move a substantially greater distance than said given distance.

Claim 18

A medical snare device comprising a body, an actuating member mounted to said body in a manner permitting movement therebetween, a snare remote from said body, and a cable extending between said actuating member and said snare and capable of transmitting bi-directional actuating force between said actuating member and said snare, said actuating member including a pulley surface bodily movable therewith, said cable being trained about said pulley surface such that movement of said actuating member in either direction a given distance, relative to said body, causes said snare to move a substantially greater distance than said given distance.

Claim 19

The medical snare device of claim 12 wherein said body further comprises an electrical terminal to which said cable is attached, said electrical terminal being capable of transmitting an electrical cauterizing current.

Claim 20

The medical snare device of claim 17 wherein said cable is capable of transmitting the electrical cauterizing current.

Claim 21

The medical snare device of claim 18 wherein said cable is attached to said snare in a manner enabling said cable to transmit the electrical cauterizing current to said snare.

Claim 22

The medical snare device of claim 16 wherein said cable is substantially laterally confined throughout its entire length enabling transmission of axial thrust on said snare.

Claim 23

The medical snare device of claim 16 wherein said pulley surface is defined by a rigid formation that is rigidly joined to said actuating member and defines a track with a diameter small enough to support said cable against columnar buckling, and said cable being slidable relative to said pulley surface during the movement of said actuating member.

Claim 24

The medical snare device of claim 12 wherein said pulley surface is defined by a member rotatably mounted on said actuating member, said cable being trained about said pulley surface such that movement of said cable causes a corresponding rotation of said pulley, said pulley surface defining a track with a diameter small enough to support said cable against columnar buckling.

Claim 25

The medical snare device of claim 12 wherein said cable is partially contained by a sheath.

Claim 26

A medical snare device comprising a body, a thumb loop integral with said body, an actuating member mounted to said body in a manner permitting relative movement therebetween, a sheath extending distally from said body, an electrical terminal integral with said body, a snare loop remote from said device, and a cable extending between said body at said electrical terminal and said snare loop, said cable being capable of transmitting actuating force between said actuating member and said snare loop, said snare loop capable of being fully retracted within said sheath, at least one cannula telescopically engaged in said actuating member and at least one cannula telescopically engaged in said body, said cable supported against columnar buckling by said cannulae, said actuating member including at least one finger loop and a pulley surface bodily movable with said actuating member, said cable being trained about said pulley surface such that movement of said actuating member a given distance, relative to said body, causes said snare loop to move a substantially greater distance than said given distance.

Claim 27

A medical snare device comprising a body, a thumb loop integral with said body, an actuating member mounted to said body in a manner permitting relative movement therebetween, a sheath extending distally from said body, an electrical terminal integral with said body, a snare loop remote from said device, and a cable extending between said body at said electrical terminal and said snare loop, said cable being capable of transmitting actuating force between said actuating member and said snare loop, said snare loop capable of being fully retracted within said sheath, at least one cannula telescopically engaged in said actuating member and at least one cannula telescopically engaged in said body, said cable supported against columnar buckling by said cannulae, said actuating member including at least one finger loop and a pulley surface bodily movable with said actuating member, said cable being trained about said pulley surface such that movement of said actuating member a given distance, relative to said body, causes said snare loop to move a substantially greater distance than said given distance.