Patent US6231601B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6231601B1
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Method of surgery including adjusting the shape of an implement handle
Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corp
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Filing: 1999-12-21
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Granted: 2001-05-15
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Expires: 2019-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A method of surgery including bending a multi-purpose surgical implement handle that has proximal and distal ends. A gripping section is located toward the proximal end, and an attachment section is located toward the distal end. An adjusting section is interposed between the gripping section and the attachment section. The adjusting section may be bent by a human user at virtually any discrete location along the section. The adjusting section may include an increased-adjustability portion which is easier to bend than other portions of the adjusting section. The method includes attaching a surgical implement to the attaching section of the handle, and bending the adjusting section at least once prior to inserting the implement through a surgical opening to a surgical field. The method further may include bending the adjusting section more than once to form multiple bends therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Keith Myers
- 👤 Ross Bartholomew
- 👤 Robert J. Todd
- 👤 Carl Swindle
- 👤 Charles Weyrauch
- 👤 Richard Rhee
- 👤 Jane Li
- 👤 Jerry Jackman
- 👤 Victor Packham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:36
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/24; A61F2/2442; A61F2/2466
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for performing surgery, comprising the steps of: providing a handle including a gripping section disposed on a proximal end thereof, an attaching section disposed on a distal end thereof, and a bendable adjusting section disposed between the gripping and attaching sections, the bendable adjusting section including a main portion and an increased-adjustability portion which is more bendable than the main portion; mounting an implement to the attaching section of the handle; bending the bendable adjusting section of the handle; and inserting the implement into a surgical field.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for performing surgery, comprising the steps of: providing a handle including a gripping section disposed on a proximal end thereof, an attaching section disposed on a distal end thereof, and a bendable adjusting section disposed between the gripping and attaching sections, the bendable adjusting section including a main portion and an increased-adjustability portion which is more bendable than the main portion; mounting an implement to the attaching section of the handle; bending the bendable adjusting section of the handle; and inserting the implement into a surgical field.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 , further including repeating the bending step.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as set forth in claim 2 , further including repeating the bending step more than once.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the plurality of bending steps forms more than one bend at one time in the bendable adjusting section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the mounting step comprises the step of releasably engaging an implement with the attaching section of the handle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the implement is a prosthetic heart valve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the implement is a heart valve sizer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the inserting step comprises inserting the attaching section through a surgical opening to the surgical field in a chest cavity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the inserting step comprises inserting the attaching section and the bendable adjusting section through the surgical opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the bendable adjusting section has a cross-sectional size of about ⅙ or less of the cross-sectional size of the gripping section so as to maximize visualization of a surgical site through the surgical opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the handle is of sufficient length so that a surgeon may grip the gripping section from outside the surgical opening while the attaching section is located in the surgical field.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the bending step comprises bending the bendable adjusting section at a location that is within about 0.5 cm or less from the attaching section.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the increased-adjustability portion is located between the main portion and the attaching section and the bending step involves bending the increased-adjustability portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the bending step involves bending the increased-adjustability portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the increased-adjustability portion is located between the main portion and the attaching section.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the increased-adjustability portion is located between the main portion and the gripping section.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the increased-adjustability portion is configured so that the step of bending requires between about 5-10 lbs of force applied to the attaching section while the gripping section is held stationary.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the bendable adjusting section is made from a malleable material, wherein the increased-adjustability portion has a higher malleability than the main portion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the increased-adjustability portion has a smaller outer cross-sectional dimension than the main portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as set forth in claim 19 , wherein the bendable adjusting section is cylindrical and solid.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the bendable adjusting section is tubular.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the bendable adjusting section farther includes a transition portion disposed between the main portion and the increased-adjustability portion, the transition portion being gradually more bendable from the main portion to the increased-adjustability portion.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the bendable adjusting section has a non-circular cross-section.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the bendable adjusting section is formed of a shape memory material that returns to its original shape upon heating.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as set forth in claim 24 , wherein the method includes sterilizing the handle with heat to cause the bendable adjusting section to return to its original shape.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for performing cardiac surgery through a surgical opening in a chest of patient, comprising the steps of: providing a surgical implement handle including an attaching section disposed on a distal end thereof and an adjustable section disposed proximally to the attaching section, the adjustable section including at least two bending portions of differing bending strength; mounting a cardiac surgery implement to the attaching section of the handle outside the surgical opening; bending the adjustable section of the handle in at least one of the bending portions; and inserting the implement through the surgical opening to a surgical field.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for performing cardiac surgery through a surgical opening in a chest of patient, comprising the steps of: providing a surgical implement handle including an attaching section disposed on a distal end thereof and an adjustable section disposed proximally to the attaching section, the adjustable section including at least two bending portions of differing bending strength; mounting a cardiac surgery implement to the attaching section of the handle outside the surgical opening; bending the adjustable section of the handle in at least one of the bending portions; and inserting the implement through the surgical opening to a surgical field.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as set forth in claim 26 , further including repeating the bending step.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as set forth in claim 27 , further including repeating the bending step more than once.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as set forth in claim 27 , wherein the plurality of bending steps forms more than one bend at one time in one of the bending portions.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as set forth in claim 26 , wherein the mounting step comprises the step of releasably engaging the cardiac surgery implement with the attaching section of the handle.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as set forth in claim 30 , wherein the implement is a prosthetic heart valve.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as set forth in claim 30 , wherein the implement is a heart valve sizer.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as set forth in claim 26 , wherein the bending portions include a main portion and an increased-adjustability portion which is more bendable than the main portion, wherein the increased-adjustability portion is located between the main portion and the attaching section.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as set forth in claim 33 , wherein the bendable adjusting section further includes a transition portion disposed between the main portion and the increased-adjustability portion, the transition portion being gradually more bendable from the main portion to the increased-adjustability portion.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-05-14 | 2004-11-13 | 2005-05-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-05-14 | 2008-11-13 | 2009-05-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-05-14 | 2012-11-13 | 2013-05-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |