Snare cauterization surgical instrument assembly and method of manufacture
First Claim
1. An improved endoscopic surgical snare cauterization instrument comprising an electrically conductive cauterization loop and a flexible web member, said loop having a cauterization section at its distal end, said web member forming a capture pocket having a mouth defined by said loop, said web member being joined to said loop by a plurality of sliding connecting strands of thermoplastic material, the improvement which comprises means for severably securing at least three connecting strands at fixed positions along the distal end of the cauterization loop.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved snare cauterization instrument assembly is provided with a plurality of fixed connecting strands that severably join the web member to the cauterization loop to prevent the undesired movement of the web to the distal end of the loop prior to electrical activation and severing of the tissue sample. A method of manufacturing the assembly employs a resilient, flexible catheter as a tool to facilitate the placement of the web member on the loop.
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Citations
20 Claims
- 1. An improved endoscopic surgical snare cauterization instrument comprising an electrically conductive cauterization loop and a flexible web member, said loop having a cauterization section at its distal end, said web member forming a capture pocket having a mouth defined by said loop, said web member being joined to said loop by a plurality of sliding connecting strands of thermoplastic material, the improvement which comprises means for severably securing at least three connecting strands at fixed positions along the distal end of the cauterization loop.
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12. A method for recovering a selected portion of internal body tissues of a patient with an endoscopic surgical snare instrument, said instrument comprising an electrically conductive cauterization loop connected to a source of electrical energy and a flexible web member connected to said loop essentially around the circumference thereof by a plurality of sliding connecting strands that are in sliding contact with said loop and said web member is further connected to said loop by at least three fixed connecting strands at fixed positions along the distal end of said loop, said method comprising the steps of:
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passing the loop over the selected internal body tissues to be removed so that the web member substantially surrounds said selected internal body tissues in the form of a capture pocket; drawing the distal end of said loop into closing contact around a base region of said selected internal body tissues; during said step of drawing and closing said loop, conducting an electrical current through said loop to sever said selected internal body tissues at said base region; during said step of conducting an electrical current through said loop, melting and severing said at least three fixed connecting strands at fixed positions and any sliding connecting strands intermediate said at least three fixed connecting strands along the distal end of said loop; withdrawing the loop and the severed selected internal body tissues contained in the capture pocket of the web member; and moving the unsevered sliding connecting strands along the opposing sides of said loop toward the distal end of said loop to thereby dispose said web member at the distal end of said loop. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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- 16. A method for joining a flexible web member to an electrically conductive cauterization loop, where said web is connected to said loop by a plurality of sliding connecting strands of thermoplastic material that pass around said loop, the method comprising severably securing at least three connecting strands formed from thermoplastic material at fixed spaced apart positions along the cauterization section at the distal end of said loop.
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18. An improved method for manufacturing a snare cauterization instrument assembly comprising a flexible web member in the form of a capture pocket joined to an electrically conductive cauterization loop by a plurality of sliding connecting strands, the method comprising the steps of
(a) inserting a flexible-catheter through the connecting strands that are attached to, or which form the periphery of the web; -
(b) passing one free end of the preformed cauterization loop through the annular passageway of the catheter; (c) positioning the connecting strands of the web on the catheter so that they do not extend beyond the free ends of the loop; (d) removing the catheter from the loop and the connecting strands, while simultaneously maintaining the connecting strands and web in a fixed position with respect to the loop; (e) severably securing at least three spaced-apart connecting strands to the loop at positions proximate the distal end of the loop. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification