Superelastic/shape memory tissue stabilizers and surgical instruments
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument for temporary use in a medical procedure in a mammalian body, the surgical instrument being configured to be changed between two shapes upon application of one or both of heating and cooling, the instrument comprising:
- a first member;
a second member having a surface configured to contact tissue; and
a means to apply heating or cooling to one or both of the first member and the second member to change the shape between a first shape and a second shape.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument is used for temporary use in a medical procedure in a mammalian body. The surgical instrument is configured to be changed between two shapes upon application of one or both of heating and cooling. The instrument includes a first member, a second member having a surface configured to contact tissue, and a means to apply heating or cooling to one or both of the first member and the second member to change the shape between a first shape and a second shape. A surgical instrument also may be configured to be changed between two shapes upon removal of a constraining force. The surgical instrument includes a first member, a second member having a surface configured to contact tissue, and a constraining means to apply a constraining force to one or both of the first member and the second member to cause one or both of the first member and the second member to be in a first constrained shape. The surgical instruments may be used in minimally invasive valve surgery.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument for temporary use in a medical procedure in a mammalian body, the surgical instrument being configured to be changed between two shapes upon application of one or both of heating and cooling, the instrument comprising:
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a first member;
a second member having a surface configured to contact tissue; and
a means to apply heating or cooling to one or both of the first member and the second member to change the shape between a first shape and a second shape. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A surgical instrument for temporary use in a medical procedure in a mammalian body to be placed in contact with tissue, the surgical instrument being configured to be changed between two shapes upon removal of a constraining force, the instrument comprising:
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a first member;
a second member having a surface configured to contact tissue; and
a constraining means to apply a constraining force to one or both of the first member and the second member to cause one or both of the first member and the second member to be in a first constrained shape. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method of providing a surgical instrument for temporary use in a medical procedure in a mammalian body, the method comprising:
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providing a surgical instrument fabricated from a shape memory material and being configured to be changed between two shapes in the mammalian body upon application of one or both of heating and cooling, the surgical instrument comprising;
a delivery device, a first member, a second member having a surface configured to contact tissue, and a means to apply heating or cooling to one or both of the first member and the second member to change the shape between a first shape and a second shape;
applying cooling to one or both of the first member and the second member and placing one or both of the first member and the second member into the delivery device in a first shape;
advancing the delivery device in the mammalian body;
advancing the first member and the second member in the delivery device such that at least one of the first member and the second member extend out of the delivery device into the mammalian body;
applying heating to one or both of the first member and the second member to change the shape of one or both of the first member and the second member from the first shape to a second shape;
using the second member to contact tissue; and
removing the surgical instrument from the mammalian body. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification