Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
A surgical instrument assembly for use in snare cauterization procedures comprising: a first tubular sheath member; loop means for forming a cauterization loop which is alternatively expandable and contractible in essentially a single plane, a proximal end of said loop means configured to operatively mate with an electrically conductive wire passing longitudinally through said first tubular sheath to electrical supply means for supplying a current to said loop means; a second tubular sheath member slidably disposed in the first tubular sheath member; a flexible suture member releasably connected to the loop means, a distal end of the suture member forming a one-way slip knot and a proximal end of the suture member disposed in the distal end the second tubular sheath; an actuator module associated with the proximal end of the second tubular sheath for advancing said second tubular sheath distally with respect to the distal end of the first tubular sheath; elongate tensioning means releasably joined to the proximal end of the suture member and disposed in the second tubular sheath, a proximal end of the tensioning means joined to the actuator module where the second tubular sheath and tensioning means cooperate to advance said slip knot on the suture member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
202 words
A surgical instrument assembly for use in snare cauterization procedures comprising: a first tubular sheath member; loop means for forming a cauterization loop which is alternatively expandable and contractible in essentially a single plane, a proximal end of said loop means configured to operatively mate with an electrically conductive wire passing longitudinally through said first tubular sheath to electrical supply means for supplying a current to said loop means; a second tubular sheath member slidably disposed in the first tubular sheath member; a flexible suture member releasably connected to the loop means, a distal end of the suture member forming a one-way slip knot and a proximal end of the suture member disposed in the distal end the second tubular sheath; an actuator module associated with the proximal end of the second tubular sheath for advancing said second tubular sheath distally with respect to the distal end of the first tubular sheath; elongate tensioning means releasably joined to the proximal end of the suture member and disposed in the second tubular sheath, a proximal end of the tensioning means joined to the actuator module where the second tubular sheath and tensioning means cooperate to advance said slip knot on the suture member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The instrument assembly of claim 1 where the suture member is connected to the loop means at a plurality of spaced locations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The instrument assembly of claim 1 where the suture member is a multi-filament thread.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The instrument assembly of claim 1 where the suture member is formed of bioabsorbable material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The instrument assembly of claim 1 where the suture member is releasably connected to the loop means by filaments.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The instrument assembly of claim 1 where the suture member is releasably connected to the loop means by a film.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The instrument assembly of claim 1 where the suture member is releasably connected to the loop means by thermoplastic means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The instrument assembly of claim 7 where the thermoplastic means is a plurality of filaments.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The instrument assembly of claim 1 where the suture member is releasably connected to the loop means by water soluble means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The instrument assembly of claim 9 water soluble means is a solidified liquid adhesive.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The instrument assembly of claim 1 where the elongate tensioning means is the same material as the suture member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The instrument assembly of claim 1 where the elongate tensioning means is a flexible wire.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The instrument assembly of claim 1 where the elongate tensioning means is releasably joined to the suture member by water soluble bonding means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The instrument assembly of claim 13 where the water soluble bonding means is water soluble adhesive.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The instrument assembly of claim 13 where the water soluble bonding means is a water soluble filament.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The instrument assembly of claim 13 where the water soluble bonding means is a water soluble web.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The instrument assembly of claim 1 where the elongate tensioning means is releasably joined to the suture member by spiral wound web means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The instrument assembly of claim 17 where the spiral wound web means is attached to the elongate tensioning means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The instrument assembly of claim 1 where the proximal end of the suture member is wrapped around the distal end of the elongate tensioning means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The instrument assembly of claim 1 where the elongate tensioning means is releasably joined to the suture member by a slip knot.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The instrument assembly of claim 1 where the distal end of the second tubular sheath terminates in an orifice of a diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the proximal end of said second sheath.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The instrument assembly of claim 21 where the diameter of the orifice in the distal end of the second tubular sheath is smaller than the one-way slip knot in the suture member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
55 words
The instrument assembly of claim 1 where the actuator module comprises a first manually operable means connected to the proximal end of the second tubular sheath for advancing and retracting said second sheath relative to said first tubular sheath and a second manually operable means connected to the proximal end of the elongate tensioning means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The instrument assembly of claim 23 where the second manually operated means is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the elongate tensioning means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The instrument assembly of claim 23 where the first manually operable means comprises at least one finger ring and an axial passage for slidably receiving said elongate tensioning means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The instrument assembly of claim 25 where the second manually operable means comprises at least one finger ring.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
38 words
The instrument assembly of claim 1 further comprising a snare control module operably connected to the proximal end of said electrically conductive wire and said control module being joined to the proximal end of the first tubular sheath.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
38 words
The instrument assembly of claim 27 where the control module further comprises at least one finger ring operably attached to said conductive wire to effect the longitudinal movement of the cauterization loop relative to the first tubular sheath.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
The instrument assembly of claim 27 further comprising mating means for releasably joining the actuator module and the control module for simultaneous longitudinal movement of the elongate tensioning means and the conductive wire.