Apparatus and method for manipulating tissue
OwnerJohn R. Liddicoat, William E. Cohninventors
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Abstract
Apparatus for reconfiguring tissue, the apparatus comprising a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end; at least one effector mechanism movably mounted to the distal end of the shaft, each effector mechanism comprising at least one gripping element for gripping tissue to that effector mechanism, the at least one effector mechanism being configured to capture the gripped tissue against said shaft, at least one actuating mechanism mounted to the proximal end of the shaft, and at least one connection mechanism connecting the at least one actuating mechanism to the at least one effector mechanism, whereby a user may utilize the at least one actuating mechanism to actuate the at least one effector mechanism so as to reconfigure tissue.
Claims34
Apparatus for reconfiguring tissue, said apparatus comprising:
- a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end;
- at least one effector mechanism movably mounted to said distal end of said shaft, each said effector mechanism comprising at least one gripping element for gripping tissue to that effector mechanism, said at least one effector mechanism being configured to capture the gripped tissue against said shaft;
- at least one actuating mechanism mounted to said proximal end of said shaft;
- at least one connection mechanism connecting said at least one actuating mechanism to said at least one effector mechanism, whereby a user may utilize said at least one actuating mechanism to actuate said at least one effector mechanism so as to reconfigure tissue;
- wherein said at least one effector mechanism comprises two effector mechanisms;
- wherein said two effector mechanisms are pivotally mounted to said shaft;
- wherein said distal end of said shaft comprises a longitudinal axis, and further wherein said two effector mechanisms are pivotally mounted to said shaft along a pivot axis extending parallel to said longitudinal axis of said distal end of said shaft;
- and
- wherein said two effector mechanisms are configured to move between (i) a closed position wherein said two effector mechanisms fold concentrically about said distal end of said shaft, and (ii) an open position wherein said two effector mechanisms rise like wings over said shaft.
Apparatus for reconfiguring tissue, said apparatus comprising:
- a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein said distal end of said shaft comprises at least one gripping element for drawing tissue against said shaft and for selectively maintaining the tissue in such engagement;
- two effector mechanisms movably mounted to said distal end of said shaft, each said effector mechanism comprising at least one gripping element for gripping tissue to that effector mechanism, said two effector mechanisms being configured to capture the gripped tissue against said shaft, wherein said distal end of said shaft comprises a longitudinal axis, wherein said two effector mechanisms are pivotally mounted to said shaft along a pivot axis extending parallel to said longitudinal axis of said distal end of said shaft, wherein said two effector mechanisms are configured to move between (i) a closed position wherein said two effector mechanisms fold concentrically about said distal end of said shaft, and (ii) an open position wherein said two effector mechanisms rise like wings over said shaft, and wherein said at least one gripping element comprises a suction pod for drawing tissue against the effector mechanism and for maintaining the tissue in such engagement while suction is maintained;
- at least one actuating mechanism mounted to said proximal end of said shaft;
- and
- at least one connection mechanism connecting said at least one actuating mechanism to said two effector mechanisms, whereby a user may utilize said at least one actuating mechanism to actuate said two effector mechanisms so as to reconfigure tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.