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Small diameter endoscopic instruments

  • US 5,697,949 A
  • Filed: 05/18/1995
  • Issued: 12/16/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A small diameter endoscopic instrument, comprising:

  • a) a hollow tube having a proximal end and a distal end;

    b) an axially displaceable flexible wire extending through said hollow tube, said wire having a proximal end and a distal end;

    c) a manual actuation means coupled to the proximal ends of said tube and said wire for axially displacing one of said tube and said wire relative to the other;

    d) a first end effector mechanically coupled to said distal end of said tube; and

    e) a second end effector mechanically coupled to said distal end of said wire and rotatably coupled to said first end effector, whereina curved guiding channel is provided in either a proximal portion of said first end effector or a distal portion of said hollow tube, and said axially displaceable wire extending through said channel and is guided by said channel to move radially as well as axially when said manual actuation means axially displaces one of said tube and said wire relative to the other, said guiding channel being in a fixed orientation relative to said distal end of said hollow tube.

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