Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A surgical device comprising: (a) a housing including a distal portion defining an elongated bore having a diameter; (b) a retractor including at least one deployment means comprised of a pseudoelastic material, the retractor being movable in the bore between a first position in which the deployment means is disposed in the bore, and a second position in which the deployment means is disposed exteriorly of the bore; wherein the diameter of the bore is sized such that the deployment means assumes a pseudoelastically deformed first shape in which the diameter of the deployment means substantially matches the diameter of the bore in the first position, and the deployment means pseudoelastically transforms from the first shape to a curved second shape when moved from the first position to the second position exterior to the bore; and wherein the second shape of the deployment means is a loop.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
A surgical device comprising: (a) a housing including a distal portion defining an elongated bore having a diameter; (b) a retractor including at least one deployment means comprised of a pseudoelastic material, the retractor being movable in the bore between a first position in which the deployment means is disposed in the bore, and a second position in which the deployment means is disposed exteriorly of the bore; wherein the diameter of the bore is sized such that the deployment means assumes a pseudoelastically deformed first shape in which the diameter of the deployment means substantially matches the diameter of the bore in the first position, and the deployment means pseudoelastically transforms from the first shape to a curved second shape when moved from the first position to the second position exterior to the bore; and wherein the second shape of the deployment means is a loop.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The surgical device of claim 1, further comprising a membrane which spans the loop.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the loop includes a plurality of lobes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The surgical device of claim 3, further comprising at least one membrane, and each membrane spans at least one of the lobes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the loop includes two spaced lobes, and further comprising a membrane which spans between the two lobes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the retractor comprises a plurality of deployment means each comprised of a pseudoelastic material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The surgical device of claim 6, wherein the loops are positioned such that a deforming pressure applied to one loop is transmitted to the other loops in the second position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The surgical device of claim 6, wherein a first loop is disposed within a second loop, and further comprising a membrane which spans the first loop.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the element has an oval cross-section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of endoscopic devices, catheters and laparoscopic devices.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
153 words
A remotely operated surgical device comprising: (a) a housing including a distal portion defining an elongated bore having a diameter; (b) a retractor movable in the bore, the retractor including a deployment means comprised of a superelastic material and a membrane attached to the deployment means; and (c) means for moving the retractor relative to the housing between a first position in which the deployment means is disposed in the bore, and a second position in which the deployment means is disposed exteriorly of the bore; wherein the diameter of the bore is sized such that the deployment means is superelastically deformed in the first position and the diameter of the deployment means substantially matches the diameter of the bore, and the deployment means superelastically transforms to a loop shape in response to being moved from the first position to the second position, and the membrane spans the loop in the second position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
153 words
A remotely operated surgical device comprising: (a) a housing including a distal portion defining an elongated bore having a diameter; (b) a retractor movable in the bore, the retractor including a deployment means comprised of a superelastic material and a membrane attached to the deployment means; and (c) means for moving the retractor relative to the housing between a first position in which the deployment means is disposed in the bore, and a second position in which the deployment means is disposed exteriorly of the bore; wherein the diameter of the bore is sized such that the deployment means is superelastically deformed in the first position and the diameter of the deployment means substantially matches the diameter of the bore, and the deployment means superelastically transforms to a loop shape in response to being moved from the first position to the second position, and the membrane spans the loop in the second position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The surgical device of claim 11, wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of endoscopic devices, catheters and laparoscopic devices.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
163 words
A remotely operated surgical device comprising: (a) a housing including a distal portion defining an elongated bore having a diameter; (b) a retractor movably disposed in the bore, the retractor including a plurality of deployment means each comprised of a superelastic material and a membrane attached to at least one of the deployment means; and (c) means for moving the retractor relative to the housing between a first position in which the deployment means are disposed in the bore, and a second position in which the deployment means are disposed exteriorly of the bore; wherein the diameter of the bore is sized such that the deployment means are superelastically deformed in the first position and the diameter of the deployment means substantially matches the diameter of the bore, the deployment means each superelastically transform to a loop shape in response to being moved from the first position to the second position, and each membrane spans one of the loops in the second position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
163 words
A remotely operated surgical device comprising: (a) a housing including a distal portion defining an elongated bore having a diameter; (b) a retractor movably disposed in the bore, the retractor including a plurality of deployment means each comprised of a superelastic material and a membrane attached to at least one of the deployment means; and (c) means for moving the retractor relative to the housing between a first position in which the deployment means are disposed in the bore, and a second position in which the deployment means are disposed exteriorly of the bore; wherein the diameter of the bore is sized such that the deployment means are superelastically deformed in the first position and the diameter of the deployment means substantially matches the diameter of the bore, the deployment means each superelastically transform to a loop shape in response to being moved from the first position to the second position, and each membrane spans one of the loops in the second position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The surgical device of claim 13, wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of endoscopic devices, catheters and laparoscopic devices.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
162 words
A remotely operated surgical device comprising: (a) a housing including a distal portion defining an elongated bore having a diameter; (b) a retractor movably disposed in the bore, the retractor including a deployment means comprised of a superelastic material and a membrane attached to the deployment means; and (c) means for moving the retractor relative to the housing between a first position in which the deployment means is disposed in the bore, and a second position in which the deployment means is disposed exteriorly of the bore; wherein the diameter of the bore is sized such that the deployment means is superelastically deformed in the first position and the diameter of the deployment means substantially matches the diameter of the bore, the deployment means superelastically transforms to a curved shape when moved from the first position to the second position, the curved shape including a plurality of lobes and the membrane spanning at least one of the lobes in the second position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
162 words
A remotely operated surgical device comprising: (a) a housing including a distal portion defining an elongated bore having a diameter; (b) a retractor movably disposed in the bore, the retractor including a deployment means comprised of a superelastic material and a membrane attached to the deployment means; and (c) means for moving the retractor relative to the housing between a first position in which the deployment means is disposed in the bore, and a second position in which the deployment means is disposed exteriorly of the bore; wherein the diameter of the bore is sized such that the deployment means is superelastically deformed in the first position and the diameter of the deployment means substantially matches the diameter of the bore, the deployment means superelastically transforms to a curved shape when moved from the first position to the second position, the curved shape including a plurality of lobes and the membrane spanning at least one of the lobes in the second position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The surgical device of claim 15, wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of endoscopic devices, catheters and laparoscopic devices.