Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
326 words
An endoscopic biopsy forceps instrument, comprising: a) a tubular member having proximal and distal ends; b) a control member extending through the tubular member and having proximal and distal ends; c) a cylindrical member coupled to said distal end of one of said tubular member and said control member and having a longitudinal axis; d) a distal assembly having first and second end effectors and at least a first resilient anchor member, said first and second end effectors each having an arm biased away from said longitudinal axis and each having a distal jaw cup located at a distal end of said arm, and said first anchor member having a tip, wherein said anchor member engaging a tissue surface and directs said effectors into a desired position, said distal assembly coupled to the other of said tubular member and said control member not coupled to said cylindrical member; and e) actuation means coupled to said proximal ends of said tubular member and said control member for moving said control member relative to said tubular member and thereby moving said cylindrical member relative to said first and second end effectors and said first anchor member, such that said cylindrical member and said first and second end effectors and said first anchor member move relative to each other so as to cause said cylindrical member, in a first position, to extend over a portion of the first and second end effectors and said first anchor member so as to force said arms of said first and second end effectors and said tip of said first anchor member toward said longitudinal axis to 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 to permit said first anchor member to bend outward from said longitudinal axis such that said first and second end effectors and said first anchor member assume a relatively open position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
326 words
An endoscopic biopsy forceps instrument, comprising: a) a tubular member having proximal and distal ends; b) a control member extending through the tubular member and having proximal and distal ends; c) a cylindrical member coupled to said distal end of one of said tubular member and said control member and having a longitudinal axis; d) a distal assembly having first and second end effectors and at least a first resilient anchor member, said first and second end effectors each having an arm biased away from said longitudinal axis and each having a distal jaw cup located at a distal end of said arm, and said first anchor member having a tip, wherein said anchor member engaging a tissue surface and directs said effectors into a desired position, said distal assembly coupled to the other of said tubular member and said control member not coupled to said cylindrical member; and e) actuation means coupled to said proximal ends of said tubular member and said control member for moving said control member relative to said tubular member and thereby moving said cylindrical member relative to said first and second end effectors and said first anchor member, such that said cylindrical member and said first and second end effectors and said first anchor member move relative to each other so as to cause said cylindrical member, in a first position, to extend over a portion of the first and second end effectors and said first anchor member so as to force said arms of said first and second end effectors and said tip of said first anchor member toward said longitudinal axis to 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 to permit said first anchor member to bend outward from said longitudinal axis such that said first and second end effectors and said first anchor member assume a relatively open position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
An endoscopic biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 1, wherein: said distal assembly includes a second anchor member having a proximal portion and a tip biased away from said longitudinal axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
An endoscopic biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 2, wherein: said tips of said first and second anchor members are substantially blunt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An endoscopic biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 2, wherein: said first and second anchor members are made of super-elastic metal alloy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
110 words
An endoscopic biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 2, wherein: said distal assembly further includes a base member which couples said first and second end effectors and said first and second anchor members to said distal end of said tubular member, said base member being substantially cylindrical and including four longitudinal channels around a circumference of said base member, each of said longitudinal channels being offset by 90°, and wherein said first and second end effectors are each coupled in one of said channels and separated by 180° from each other, and said anchor members are each coupled in one of said channels and separated by 180° from each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An endoscopic biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 5, wherein: said distal assembly further includes a retaining sleeve extending over said longitudinal channels of said base member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
An endoscopic biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 1, wherein: said distal assembly further includes a base member for coupling said first and second end effectors and said first anchor member to said distal end of said tubular member, said base member including a threaded portion having threads dimensioned to engage said distal end of said tubular member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
An endoscopic biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 1, wherein: said first and second jaw cups are each provided with a sharp cutting rim.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
An endoscopic biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 1, wherein: said first and second jaw cups are each provided with a plurality of radially arranged teeth.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The endoscopic biopsy forceps instrument of claim 1 wherein the tip of the resilient anchor member is biased away from the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
160 words
An end effector assembly for an endoscopic instrument, the endoscopic instrument having a tubular member with proximal and distal ends, a control member with proximal and distal ends, closure means for closing said end effector assembly by extending over a portion of said end effector assembly, and an actuation means for causing relative movement of the closure means and said end effector assembly, said end effector assembly having a central longitudinal axis and comprising: a) first and second end effectors each having an arm biased away from the longitudinal axis; and each having a jaw cup located at a distal end of said arm; b) a first resilient anchor member having a proximal portion, and a tip, wherein said anchor member engaging a tissue surface and directs said effectors into a desired position; and c) coupling means for coupling said arms of said first and second end effectors and said proximal portion of said anchor member to the endoscopic instrument.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
160 words
An end effector assembly for an endoscopic instrument, the endoscopic instrument having a tubular member with proximal and distal ends, a control member with proximal and distal ends, closure means for closing said end effector assembly by extending over a portion of said end effector assembly, and an actuation means for causing relative movement of the closure means and said end effector assembly, said end effector assembly having a central longitudinal axis and comprising: a) first and second end effectors each having an arm biased away from the longitudinal axis; and each having a jaw cup located at a distal end of said arm; b) a first resilient anchor member having a proximal portion, and a tip, wherein said anchor member engaging a tissue surface and directs said effectors into a desired position; and c) coupling means for coupling said arms of said first and second end effectors and said proximal portion of said anchor member to the endoscopic instrument.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
An end effector assembly according to claim 11, further comprising: a second anchor member having a proximal portion, and a tip biased away from the longitudinal axis, said second anchor member coupled to said coupling means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
An end effector assembly according to claim 12, wherein: said tips of said first and second anchor members are substantially blunt.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
An end effector assembly according to claim 12, wherein: said first and second anchor members are made of super-elastic metal alloy.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
108 words
An end effector assembly according to claim 12, wherein: said coupling means includes a base member for coupling said first and second end effectors and said first and second anchor members to the distal end of the tubular member, said base member being substantially cylindrical and including four longitudinal channels around the circumference of said base member, each of said longitudinal channels being offset by 90°, and wherein said first and second end effectors are each coupled in one of said channels and separated by 180° from each other, and said anchor members are each coupled in one of said channels and separated by 180° from each other.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
An end effector assembly according to claim 15, wherein: said base member includes a threaded portion having threads dimensioned to engage the distal portion of the tubular member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
An end effector assembly according to claim 15, wherein: said coupling means further includes a retaining sleeve extending over said longitudinal channels of said base member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
54 words
An end effector assembly according to claim 11, wherein: said coupling means includes a base member for coupling said first and second end effectors and said first anchor member to the distal end of the tubular member, said base member having a threaded portion dimensioned to engage the distal portion of the tubular member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
An end effector assembly according to claim 11, wherein: said first and second jaw cups are each provided with a sharp cutting rim.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
An end effector assembly according to claim 11, wherein: said first and second jaw cups are each provided with a plurality of radially arranged teeth.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
An end effector assembly according to claim 11, wherein: said arms of said first and second end effectors are made of super-elastic metal alloy.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The end effector assembly according to claim 11 wherein the tip of the resilient anchor member is biased away from the longitudinal axis.