Patent US5638827A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5638827A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Super-elastic flexible jaws assembly for an endoscopic multiple sample bioptome
Assignee: Boston Scientific Miami Corp
•
Filing: 1995-05-12
•
Granted: 1997-06-17
•
Expires: 2015-05-12
Abstract
Abstract A jaw assembly for an endoscopic bioptome includes a pair of opposed end effectors having resilient arms formed from a super-elastic metal. The distal ends of the resilient arms terminate in end effector jaw cups which are also preferably formed from super-elastic metal, while the proximal portions of the resilient arms include angled portions which urge the jaw cups away from each other. The jaw cups are brought together into a biting action by a cylinder having a sharp distal edge which moves relative to over the arms of the end effectors. As the resilient arms are formed from a superelastic metal, they exhibit very high resiliency and durability even after numerous uses. Several embodiments of jaws and different ways of coupling the jaws to the distal end of the bioptome are disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Matthew A. Palmer
- 👤 Charles R. Slater
- 👤 David Turkel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 11:39
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B10/00; A61B10/02; A61B10/06; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/320016; A61B17/30; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B2010/0225; A61B2017/00367; A61B2017/00398; A61B2017/00831; A61B2017/00867; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B2017/2926; A61B2017/2931; A61B2017/2932; A61B2017/2933; A61B2017/2937; A61B2017/2939; A61B18/1206; A61B2018/1246; A61B2018/1253; A61B18/1442; A61B2018/146; A61B90/00; A61B90/06; A61B2090/064; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/3006; A61F2002/30092; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0014; A61F2210/0019; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M2025/0098; A61M2205/00; A61M2205/60; A61M2205/6063; A61M2205/6081
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
In an endoscopic instrument having at least two end effectors, and means for articulating at least one of the end effectors, an improvement comprising: at least one of said end effectors having an arm formed from a superelastic metal and a superelastic metal jaw cup at a distal end of said arm, wherein said end effector having an arm and a jaw cup formed from a superelastic metal is articulated by said means for articulating by causing said arm formed from a superelastic metal to flex from a first position to a second position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
In an endoscopic instrument having at least two end effectors, and means for articulating at least one of the end effectors, an improvement comprising: at least one of said end effectors having an arm formed from a superelastic metal and a superelastic metal jaw cup at a distal end of said arm, wherein said end effector having an arm and a jaw cup formed from a superelastic metal is articulated by said means for articulating by causing said arm formed from a superelastic metal to flex from a first position to a second position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
In the endoscopic instrument of claim 1, wherein: said superelastic metal is a nickel-titanium alloy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
In the endoscopic instrument of claim 1, where the means for articulating articulates both of the end effectors, the improvement further comprising: both of said end effectors having an arm formed from a superelastic metal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
In the endoscopic instrument of claim 3, wherein: each of said arms has a proximal portion and a distal portion, and each said proximal portion has a bend which biases each said distal portion away from each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
In the endoscopic instrument of claim 1, wherein: each of said end effectors has a jaw at a distal end of said arm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
In the endoscopic instrument of claim 5, wherein: said jaw is formed from a superelastic metal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
152 words
A jaw assembly for an endoscopic bioptome, where the endoscopic bioptome has a closure means for closing first and second end effectors of the jaw assembly by extending over at least a portion of the first and second end effectors, and an actuation means for causing relative movement of the closure means and the first and second end effectors, said jaw assembly comprising: a) first and second end effectors each having a distal hollow jaw cup with hollows of said jaw cups facing each other, and said first and second end effectors each having a proximal narrow arm coupled to a respective said jaw cup, said arms and said jaw cups of the first and second end effectors being formed from a superelastic metal and said arms being biased away from each other; b) coupling means for coupling said arms of said first and said second end effectors to the endoscopic bioptome.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
152 words
A jaw assembly for an endoscopic bioptome, where the endoscopic bioptome has a closure means for closing first and second end effectors of the jaw assembly by extending over at least a portion of the first and second end effectors, and an actuation means for causing relative movement of the closure means and the first and second end effectors, said jaw assembly comprising: a) first and second end effectors each having a distal hollow jaw cup with hollows of said jaw cups facing each other, and said first and second end effectors each having a proximal narrow arm coupled to a respective said jaw cup, said arms and said jaw cups of the first and second end effectors being formed from a superelastic metal and said arms being biased away from each other; b) coupling means for coupling said arms of said first and said second end effectors to the endoscopic bioptome.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A jaw assembly according to claim 7, wherein: each said arm includes a gently bent portion proximal of said jaw cup and distal of a proximal end of said arm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
156 words
An endoscopic instrument, comprising: a) a cylindrical member; b) first and second end effectors each having an am formed from a superelastic metal and a distal law cup formed from a superelastic metal, said arms of said first and second end effectors being biased away from each other; and c) actuation means coupled to either said cylindrical member or to said first and second end effectors for causing said cylindrical member and said first and second end effectors to move relative to each other so as to cause said cylindrical member, in a first position, to extend over at least a portion of the first and second end effectors so as to force said arms of said first and second end effectors toward each other and assume a relatively closed position, and, in a second position, to permit said first and second end effectors to extend away from each other and assume a relatively open position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
156 words
An endoscopic instrument, comprising: a) a cylindrical member; b) first and second end effectors each having an am formed from a superelastic metal and a distal law cup formed from a superelastic metal, said arms of said first and second end effectors being biased away from each other; and c) actuation means coupled to either said cylindrical member or to said first and second end effectors for causing said cylindrical member and said first and second end effectors to move relative to each other so as to cause said cylindrical member, in a first position, to extend over at least a portion of the first and second end effectors so as to force said arms of said first and second end effectors toward each other and assume a relatively closed position, and, in a second position, to permit said first and second end effectors to extend away from each other and assume a relatively open position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
An endoscopic instrument according to claim 9, wherein: each said arm has an arced outer surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
An endoscopic instrument according to claim 10, wherein: each said arm terminates in a distal jaw cup, and each said arm includes a gently bent portion proximal of said jaw cup and distal of a proximal end of said arm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
An endoscopic instrument according to claim 10, wherein: said cylindrical member comprises a substantially rigid hollow tube through which said rod extends, and said actuation means comprises means for moving said hollow tube over said first and second end effectors.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
An endoscopic instrument according to claim 9, wherein: each said arm terminates in a distal jaw cup, and said cylindrical member has a sharp distal edge.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
An endoscopic instrument according to claim 9, further comprising: d) a rod coupled to said first and second end effectors.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
An endoscopic instrument according to claim 14, wherein: said rod has a threaded distal end, and said endoscopic instrument further comprises e) coupling means for coupling said first and second end effectors to said rod.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
180 words
An endoscopic instrument, comprising: a) a cylindrical member; b) first and second end effectors each having an arm formed from a super-elastic metal, said arms of said first and second end effectors being biased away from each other; c) actuation means coupled to either said cylindrical member or to said first and second end effectors for causing said cylindrical member and said first and second end effectors to move relative to each other so as to cause said cylindrical member, in a first position, to extend over at least a portion of the first and second end effectors so as to force said arms of said first and second end effectors toward each other and assume a relatively closed position, and, in a second position, to permit said first and second end effectors to extend away from each other and assume a relatively open position; d) a coil; and e) coupling means for coupling said first and second end effectors to said coil, wherein said actuation means is coupled to said cylindrical means for causing said cylindrical means to move.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
180 words
An endoscopic instrument, comprising: a) a cylindrical member; b) first and second end effectors each having an arm formed from a super-elastic metal, said arms of said first and second end effectors being biased away from each other; c) actuation means coupled to either said cylindrical member or to said first and second end effectors for causing said cylindrical member and said first and second end effectors to move relative to each other so as to cause said cylindrical member, in a first position, to extend over at least a portion of the first and second end effectors so as to force said arms of said first and second end effectors toward each other and assume a relatively closed position, and, in a second position, to permit said first and second end effectors to extend away from each other and assume a relatively open position; d) a coil; and e) coupling means for coupling said first and second end effectors to said coil, wherein said actuation means is coupled to said cylindrical means for causing said cylindrical means to move.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
An endoscopic instrument according to claim 16, wherein: said actuation means includes a pull wire extending through said coil, wherein said pull wire has a distal end coupled to said cylindrical member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3001522A
Cited
US3175554A
Cited
US3404677A
Cited
US3989049A
Cited
US3989033A
Cited
US4200111A
Cited
US4393872A
Cited
US4427014A
Cited
US4925445A
Cited
US4896678A
Cited
US5052402A
Cited
US5358796A
Cited
US5368661A
Cited
US5281230A
Cited
US5352235A
Cited
US5334198A
Cited
US5341818A
Cited
US5352237A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-06-16 | 2000-12-16 | 2001-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-06-16 | 2004-12-16 | 2005-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-06-16 | 2008-12-16 | 2009-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |