Medical device including basket

Claim 2

A minimally invasive, medical device (10) for grasping, capturing, retrieving, extracting or removing an object from a location within a body, the device (10) comprising a reversibly collapsible basket (12) engageable with the object and an elongated member (14) for delivering the basket (12) to the location of the object; wherein the basket (12) is tipless and atraumatic, and the basket (12) comprises: at least one superelastic wire loop (20); at least one superelastic wire leg (26); and means (28) restricting relative movement of the at least one wire loop (20) and the at least one wire leg (26), the movement restricting means (28) being continuously and kinklessly formed with at least one of (a) the at least one wire loop (20), and (b) the at least one wire leg (26).

Claim 3

The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the movement restricting means (28) comprises a first smaller loop (30) formed in the at least one wire loop (20).

Claim 4

The device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the first smaller loop (30) depends inwardly of the wire loop (20).

Claim 5

The device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the movement restricting means (28) further comprises a second smaller loop (32) formed in the at least one wire leg (26).

Claim 6

The device (10) according to claim 4, wherein the second smaller loop (32) depends inwardly of the wire leg (26).

Claim 7

The device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the basket (12) further comprises at least a second superelastic wire loop (24) incorporating the at least one wire leg (26).

Claim 8

The device (10) according to claim 6, wherein the movement restricting means (28) further comprises a second smaller loop (32) formed in the second wire loop (24).

Claim 9

The device (10) according to claim 7, wherein the second smaller loop (32) depends inwardly of the second wire loop (24).

Claim 10

The device (10) according to claim 7, wherein the first smaller loop (30) and the second smaller loop (32) are interlocked with one another.

Claim 11

The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the basket (12) includes a nitinol alloy.

Claim 12

The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the elongated member (14) comprises at least one flexible sheath, cannula, tube or catheter (34).

Claim 13

The device (10) according to claim 11, wherein the elongated member (14) further comprises at least a second flexible sheath, cannula, tube or catheter (36) surrounding the at least one flexible sheath, cannula, tube or catheter (34).

Claim 14

The device (10) according to claim 11, wherein the device (10) further comprises a handle (38) connected to at least the basket (12) for withdrawing the basket (12) into the at least one flexible sheath, cannula, tube or catheter (34).

Claim 15

The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the device (10) further comprises a handle (38) connected to at least the basket (12) for reversibly collapsing the basket (12).

Claim 16

The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the elongated member (14) is about 1.7 Fr to 7 Fr (0.57 mm to 2.3 mm) in diameter.

Claim 17

The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one wire loop (20) and the at least one wire leg (26) are formed from round, flat or triangular wire.

Claim 18

The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one loop (20) and the at least one leg (26) further comprise longitudinally extending portions (40 and 46) slidably received in the elongated member (14).

Claim 19

The device (10) according to claim 17, wherein the device (10) further comprises at least one collar (52) securing the longitudinally extending portions (40 and 46) of the at least one loop (20) and the at least one leg (26) to one another.

Claim 20

A minimally invasive, medical device (10) for grasping, capturing, retrieving, extracting or removing stones, calculus or the like from the renal system, the device (10) comprising a reversibly collapsible basket (12) engageable with the object and an elongated member (14) for delivering the basket (12) to the location of the stones, calculus or the like; wherein the basket (12) is tipless and atraumatic, and the basket (12) comprises: a first superelastic wire loop (20); a second superelastic wire loop (24); and means (28) restricting relative movement of the first wire loop (20) and the second wire loop (24), the movement restricting means (28) being continuously and kinklessly formed with the first wire loop (20) and the second wire loop (24), and being positioned opposite the elongated member (14); wherein the movement restricting means (28) comprises a first inwardly depending smaller loop (30) formed in the first wire loop (20) and a second inwardly depending smaller loop (32) formed in the second wire loop (24), interlocked with one another; wherein the elongated member (14) comprises a flexible sheath, cannula, tube or catheter (34) of a length suitable for introduction of the basket (12) into the major and minor renal calyxes; wherein the first wire loop (20) and the second wire loop (24) comprise longitudinally extending portions (40 and 46) slidably received in the flexible sheath, cannula, tube or catheter (34) and secured to one another; and wherein the device (10) further comprises a handle (38) connected to the flexible sheath, cannula, tube or catheter (34) and to the longitudinally extending portions (40 and 46) of the first wire loop (20) and the second wire loop (24) for withdrawing the basket (12) into the flexible sheath, cannula, tube or catheter (34) and collapsing the basket (12).

Claim 21

A minimally invasive, medical device (10) for grasping, capturing, retrieving, extracting or removing stones, calculus or the like from the renal system, the device (10) comprising a reversibly collapsible basket (12) engageable with the object and an elongated member (14) for delivering the basket (12) to the location of the stones, calculus or the like; wherein the basket (12) is tipless and atraumatic, and the basket (12) comprises: a first superelastic wire loop (20); a second superelastic wire loop (24); and means (28) restricting relative movement of the first wire loop (20) and the second wire loop (24), the movement restricting means (28) being continuously and kinklessly formed with the first wire loop (20) and the second wire loop (24), and being positioned opposite the elongated member (14); wherein the movement restricting means (28) comprises a first inwardly depending smaller loop (30) formed in the first wire loop (20) and a second inwardly depending smaller loop (32) formed in the second wire loop (24), interlocked with one another; wherein the elongated member (14) comprises a flexible sheath, cannula, tube or catheter (34) of a length suitable for introduction of the basket (12) into the major and minor renal calyxes; wherein the first wire loop (20) and the second wire loop (24) comprise longitudinally extending portions (40 and 46) slidably received in the flexible sheath, cannula, tube or catheter (34) and secured to one another; and wherein the device (10) further comprises a handle (38) connected to the flexible sheath, cannula, tube or catheter (34) and to the longitudinally extending portions (40 and 46) of the first wire loop (20) and the second wire loop (24) for withdrawing the basket (12) into the flexible sheath, cannula, tube or catheter (34) and collapsing the basket (12).

Claim 22

The device (10) according to claim 19, wherein the elongated member has an outside diameter of about 3 Fr (1 mm), and wherein the first wire loop (20) and the second wire loop (26) are composed of 0.006 in. (0.15 mm) nitinol wire.