RIGIDIZABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a rigidizable member having a proximal end and a distal end;
a first collapsible arm located at the distal end of the rigidizable member;
a second collapsible arm located at the distal end of the rigidizable member;
a bag having an open end and a closed end, wherein the bag is configured to be retained upon the first collapsible arm and the second collapsible arm;
a central bore extending through the rigidizable member;
a rigidizing component disposed in the central bore, wherein the rigidizing component comprises a state-change material to rigidize the rigidizable member when the state-change material is in a rigid state;
wherein the rigidizable member is rendered substantially rigid when the rigidizing component is actuated; and
wherein the rigidizable member is rendered substantially flexible when the rigidizing component is deactuated.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A rigidizable surgical instrument comprises a rigidizable member, a first collapsible arm, a second collapsible arm, and a specimen retrieval bag for retrieving biological materials. The collapsible arms may be located at the distal end of the rigidizable member. The specimen retrieval bag may have an open end and a closed end, and may be configured to be retained upon the collapsible arms. The rigidizable member may include a rigidizing component to rigidize the rigidizable member when the state-change material or a stiffening element is in a rigid state. The rigidizable member may be rendered substantially rigid when the rigidizing component is actuated and the rigidizable member may be rendered substantially flexible when the rigidizing component is deactuated. A rigidizing mechanism for actuating the rigidizing component may include a vacuum. Various end-effectors may be provided in addition to the specimen retrieval bag.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a rigidizable member having a proximal end and a distal end; a first collapsible arm located at the distal end of the rigidizable member; a second collapsible arm located at the distal end of the rigidizable member; a bag having an open end and a closed end, wherein the bag is configured to be retained upon the first collapsible arm and the second collapsible arm; a central bore extending through the rigidizable member; a rigidizing component disposed in the central bore, wherein the rigidizing component comprises a state-change material to rigidize the rigidizable member when the state-change material is in a rigid state; wherein the rigidizable member is rendered substantially rigid when the rigidizing component is actuated; and wherein the rigidizable member is rendered substantially flexible when the rigidizing component is deactuated.
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2. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a rigidizable member having a proximal end and a distal end; a first collapsible arm located at the distal end of the rigidizable member; and a second collapsible arm located at the distal end of the rigidizable member. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of positioning a surgical apparatus in a patient, the method comprising:
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inserting a surgical instrument into a patient through an opening in the patient, the surgical instrument comprising a rigidizable member having a proximal end and a distal end, and an end-effector connected to the distal end of the rigidizable member; inserting an endoscope into the patient through the opening in the patient; positioning the surgical instrument with the endoscope; and rigidizing the rigidzable member. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A surgical instrument comprising:
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a rigidizable member having a proximal end and a distal end; and an end-effector connected to the distal end of the rigidizable member. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification