# US 11,998,446 B2 · Gripping and pushing device for medical instrument > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,998,446 B2 - Document ID: US11998446B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/587,843 - Filed: 2022-01-28 - Published: 2022-05-19 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2015-08-14 - Assignees: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation - Applicants: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation - Inventors: Tamir S. Levi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998446B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/2427: {Devices for manipulating or deploying heart valves during implantation} - A61F 2/95: Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts - A61M 25/0113: {Mechanical advancing means, e.g. catheter dispensers} - A61M 25/013: {One-way gripping collars} - A61B 2017/00469: {for insertion of instruments, e.g. guide wire, optical fibre} - A61M 25/09041: {Mechanisms for insertion of guide wires} - A61M 2025/09116: {Design of handles or shafts or gripping surfaces thereof for manipulating guide wires} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract In one representative embodiment, a gripping and pushing device for a medical instrument comprises an elongated main body defining a lumen. The elongated main body comprises one or more deflectable portions that can be pressed radially inwardly toward a shaft of the medical instrument extending through the lumen. One or more elastomeric gripping layers can be secured to the inner surface of a respective deflectable portion at axially spaced apart attachment locations. The one or more gripping layers are axially deformable relative to the one or more deflectable portions between the attachment locations when manual pressure is applied to the one or more deflectable portions to press the one or more gripping layers against the shaft and move the shaft longitudinally into a patient's body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gripping and pushing device for a medical instrument comprising: an elongated body defining a lumen, the elongated body comprising a plurality of deflectable portions that can be deflected radially inwardly towards a longitudinal axis extending through the lumen, each of the plurality of deflectable portions having an inner surface; and one or more gripping layers, each secured to the inner surface of a respective deflectable portion of the plurality of deflectable portions, wherein the one or more gripping layers are deformable along the longitudinal axis; wherein the plurality of deflectable portions move radially inward toward the longitudinal axis when manual pressure is applied to the plurality of deflectable portions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gripping and pushing device of claim 1, in combination with the medical instrument, the medical instrument comprising a shaft, the shaft being disposed within the lumen. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The gripping and pushing device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of deflectable portions comprise first and second deflectable portions formed as first and second diametrically opposed leg portions, and the one or more gripping layers of the first and second leg portions comprise first and second diametrically opposed gripping layers secured to the first and second leg portions, respectively. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The gripping and pushing device of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more gripping layers is secured to the inner surface of a respective deflectable portion at a plurality of spaced apart locations and is not secured to the inner surface between the spaced apart locations. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The gripping and pushing device of claim 1, wherein the device is split longitudinally along its entire length to permit placement of a shaft of the medical instrument within the lumen laterally from one side of the device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The gripping and pushing device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a plurality of longitudinal slits that extend along the entire length of the lumen. ### Claim 7 A gripping and pushing device for a medical instrument comprising: an inner tube defining a first lumen; an elongated main body extending from the inner tube and defining a second lumen, the second lumen being in communication with, and coaxial to, the first lumen, the elongated main body comprising one or more deflectable portions that can be pressed radially inwardly towards a longitudinal axis extending through the second lumen, each deflectable portion having an inner surface; and one or more gripping layers, each secured to the inner surface of a respective deflectable portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The gripping and pushing device of claim 7, wherein the inner tube is made of a material that is more rigid than a material from which the elongated main body is made. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The gripping and pushing device of claim 7, wherein the inner tube is configured to maintain engagement with a shaft of the medical instrument inserted through the first lumen and the one or more deflectable portions are configured to selectively engage a portion of the shaft extending through the second lumen. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The gripping and pushing device of claim 7, wherein the device is split longitudinally along its entire length to permit placement of a shaft of the medical instrument laterally within the first and second lumens from one side of the device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The gripping and pushing device of claim 7, wherein the device comprises a plurality of longitudinal slits formed in a radial outer surface of the inner tube and a radial outer surface of the main body, wherein a shaft of the medical instrument can be placed within the first and second lumens by inserting the shaft through a lateral slit of the plurality of lateral slits. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The gripping and pushing device of claim 7, wherein each of the one or more gripping layers is secured to the inner surface of a respective deflectable portion at a plurality of spaced apart locations and is not secured to the inner surface between the spaced apart locations. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The gripping and pushing device of claim 7, wherein the one or more gripping layers are deformable along the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 14 A gripping and pushing device for a medical instrument comprising: an inner tube defining a first lumen; and an elongated main body extending from the inner tube and defining a second lumen, the second lumen being in communication with, and coaxial to, the first lumen, the elongated main body comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart deflectable portions, wherein each of the plurality of deflectable portions comprise a gripping surface and can be pressed radially inwardly towards a longitudinal axis extending through the second lumen. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The gripping and pushing device of claim 14, wherein the device is split longitudinally along its entire length to permit placement of a shaft of the medical instrument within the first and second lumens laterally from one side of the device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The gripping and pushing device of claim 14, wherein the device comprises a plurality of longitudinal slits formed in a radial outer surface of the inner tube and a radial outer surface of the main body, wherein a shaft of the medical instrument can be placed within the first and second lumens by inserting the shaft through a lateral slit of the plurality of lateral slits. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The gripping and pushing device of claim 14, wherein the gripping surface of at least one deflectable portion of the plurality of deflectable portion comprises one or more gripping layers secured to the inner surface of the at least one respective deflectable portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The gripping and pushing device of claim 17, wherein the one or more gripping layers of a respective deflectable portion of the plurality of deflectable portions are secured to the inner surface of the respective deflectable portion at a plurality of spaced apart locations, wherein between spaced apart locations of the plurality of spaced apart locations at least one gripping layer of the one or more gripping layers are not secured to the inner surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The gripping and pushing device of claim 17, wherein the one or more gripping layers are deformable along the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 20 A gripping and pushing device for a medical instrument comprising: an elongated body defining a lumen, the elongated body comprising a plurality of deflectable portions that can be deflected radially inwardly towards a longitudinal axis extending through the lumen, each of the plurality of deflectable portions having an inner surface; and one or more gripping layers, each secured to the inner surface of a respective deflectable portion of the plurality of deflectable portions; wherein the plurality of deflectable portions move radially inward toward the longitudinal axis when manual pressure is applied to the plurality of deflectable portions and wherein the device is split longitudinally along its entire length to permit placement of a shaft of the medical instrument within the lumen laterally from one side of the device. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The gripping and pushing device of claim 20, in combination with the medical instrument, the medical instrument comprising a shaft, the shaft being disposed within the lumen. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The gripping and pushing device of claim 20, wherein the plurality of deflectable portions comprise first and second deflectable portions formed as first and second diametrically opposed leg portions, and the one or more gripping layers of the first and second leg portions comprise first and second diametrically opposed gripping layers secured to the first and second leg portions, respectively. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The gripping and pushing device of claim 20, wherein each of the one or more gripping layers is secured to the inner surface of a respective deflectable portion at a plurality of spaced apart locations and is not secured to the inner surface between the spaced apart locations. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The gripping and pushing device of claim 20, wherein the device comprises a plurality of longitudinal slits that extend along the entire length of the lumen.