Method of operating an endoscopic device with one hand
First Claim
1. A method of operating an endoscopic device comprising the steps of:
- holding a handle of the device between the palm and at least one finger of the hand other than the index finger and thumb;
holding a portion of a flexible shaft extending from the handle between the thumb and another finger of the same hand holding the handle;
advancing the flexible shaft using at least the thumb of the same hand holding the handle; and
operating an actuator associated with the handle with the same hand holding the handle without using the thumb of that hand to operate the actuator.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscopic accessory medical device is provided. The device can include a handle, a flexible shaft, and an end effector. The handle can include an actuator for operating the end effector through a wire or cable pulling member that extends through the flexible shaft. The handle and actuator can be operable with a single hand, such that the operation of the end effector can be accomplished with the same hand that is used to hold the handle and advance the end effector through an endoscope. The handle can include an actuation mechanism that is decoupled from operation of the end effector when the actuator is in a first open position, which becomes operatively coupled to the end effector when the actuator is moved to a second position, such as by squeezing the actuator, and which operates the end effector when the actuator is moved further to a third position.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of operating an endoscopic device comprising the steps of:
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holding a handle of the device between the palm and at least one finger of the hand other than the index finger and thumb; holding a portion of a flexible shaft extending from the handle between the thumb and another finger of the same hand holding the handle; advancing the flexible shaft using at least the thumb of the same hand holding the handle; and operating an actuator associated with the handle with the same hand holding the handle without using the thumb of that hand to operate the actuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of using a medical device comprising the steps of:
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providing an endoscopic device comprising a flexible member, a handle associated with the proximal end of the flexible member, and an end effector associated with the distal end of the flexible member; holding the handle with a single hand without using the index finger and thumb of that hand; holding a portion of the flexible member between the thumb and another finger of the same hand holding the handle; advancing the flexible shaft using the index finger and thumb of the same hand holding the handle; and operating an actuator associated with the handle with the same hand holding the handle without using the thumb or index finger of that hand to operate the actuator.
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9. A method of using a medical device comprising the steps of:
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providing an endoscopic having at least one channel; providing an endoscopic accessory comprising a flexible member, a handle associated with proximal end of the flexible member and an end effector associated with a distal end of the flexible member; steering the distal end of the endoscope with one hand; holding the handle of the endoscopic accessory in the other hand; advancing the endoscopic accessory through a channel of the endoscope with the hand holding the handle while holding the handle, wherein the step of advancing the endoscopic accessory comprises gripping the flexible member with the hand holding the handle while holding the handle; and actuating the end effector of the endoscopic accessory with the hand holding the handle while holding the handle. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification