Intraluminal retractor
AssigneeManual Surgical Sciences L.L.C.
InventorsJames Frank Kasic, II, Lawrence Kronick, Shawn P. Fojtik
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An intraluminal retractor includes a shapeable element formed by a series of shaping segments. The shaping segments may be associated with one another in a relaxed configuration that imparts the shapeable element with a linear, substantially linear or curvilinear shape to enable its insertion into an interior space within a subject's body. When actuated, the shaping segments may assume a contracted configuration that imparts the shapeable element with a desired shape, which may move an organ within which or against which the shapeable element is positioned, change a path of the organ and/or alter a shape of the organ. Methods for altering the locations, paths and/or shapes of organs are also disclosed.
Claims20
An intraluminal retractor, comprising:
- a plurality of shaping segments on an elongated element, each shaping segment including:
- a body including a first half and a second half reversibly assemblable with each other over the elongated element to define orientations of an adjacent pair of shaping segments of the plurality of shaping segments;
- a channel extending through a length of the body, the channel including a first half recessed in an abutting surface of the first half of the body and a second half recessed in an abutting surface of the second half of the body, the channel capable of receiving a portion of the elongated element and enabling each shaping segment to be oriented in a plurality of orientations about the portion of the elongated element;
- and
- ends, including a proximal end and a distal end opposite from one another.
An intraluminal retractor, comprising:
- a plurality of shaping segments positioned sequentially along a length of an elongated element, each shaping segment removable from and replaceable on the elongated element and including:
- a body including a first half and a second half capable of being assembled with each other over the elongated element to define an orientation of each shaping segment relative to an orientation of at least one adjacent shaping segment;
- a channel extending through a length of the body, the channel including a first half recessed in an abutting surface of the first half of the body and a second half recessed in an abutting surface of the second half of the body, the channel capable of receiving a portion of the elongated element and enabling each shaping segment to be oriented in a plurality of orientations about the portion of the elongated element;
- and
- ends, including a proximal end and a distal end opposite from one another,
- the intraluminal retractor having a relaxed state in which positions of adjacent shaping segments of the plurality of shaping segments are able to change relative to one another and a retracted state in which positions of the adjacent shaping segments are substantially fixed relative to one another.
A method for moving a portion of an esophagus away from a left atrium of a heart, comprising:
- assembling a plurality of shaping segments with an elongated element in orientations to define a shapeable element that will deflect the esophagus in a desired manner, including:
- assembling a first member of each shaping segment with the elongated element such that a portion of the elongated element is received by a channel of the first member;
- and
- securing a second member of each shaping segment over the first member in a manner that retains the elongated element within the channel of the first member;
- inserting the shapeable element into the esophagus;
- and
- introducing tension into the shapeable element to bring the shapeable element into a retracted state to deflect the portion of the esophagus away from the left atrium of the heart without distending the esophagus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.