Abstract: A medical retrieval basket used for entrapping and extracting objects such as urinary and biliary calculi from the body comprising a handle assembly, a flexible shaft, and a basket. The basket comprises a plurality of outwardly disposed shape memory wires and is bulbous in shape at its distal end. Located at the intersection point of the wires at the distal end of the basket is a hub that restricts the degree of relative movement between the wires. This hub also serves to increase contact points with the object to be retrieved and to stabilize the orientation of the basket wires. The substantially tipless configuration of the distal end of the basket permits the basket to retrieve objects from difficult to reach locations and reduces tissue trauma caused by the basket tip. The basket wires have varying cross sectional shapes and sizes in different sections of the basket to optimize the performance to the needs of each section within the basket.

Abstract: The present invention is an access sheath comprising a tube or sheath with a passageway primarily for endoscopic procedures accessing the ureter through the bladder. The sheath has a bend limiting feature to limit the bend angle or bend radius. The sheath exhibits flexibility up to this limit at which point it becomes rigid. Excessive force is required to bend the sheath beyond the bend limit and would result in the kinking of the tubular frame.

Abstract: A medical retrieval device and method used in endoscopic procedures to retrieve stones has a shaft comprising a sheath with a lumen and a drive wire slidably disposed within the lumen for operating a stone entrapping mechanism on the distal end of the retrieval device. The shaft, sheath and drive wire each have proximal, intermediate and distal portions, and each of the corresponding portions are in generally similar locations along the longitudinal length of the device. The stone entrapping mechanism is constructed of a plurality of flexible elements that are outwardly disposed to form an entrapment space and having an open and closed configuration. Configuration of the flexible elements and the entrapment space vary within the stone entrapment mechanism.

Abstract: A medical retrieval basket used for entrapping and extracting objects such as urinary and biliary calculi from the body comprising a handle assembly, a flexible shaft, and a basket. The basket comprises a plurality of outwardly disposed shape memory wires and is bulbous in shape at its distal end. Located at the intersection point of the wires at the distal end of the basket is a hub that restricts the degree of relative movement between the wires. This hub also serves to increase contact points with the object to be retrieved and to stabilize the orientation of the basket wires. The substantially tipless configuration of the distal end of the basket permits the basket to retrieve objects from difficult to reach locations and reduces tissue trauma caused by the basket tip. The basket wires have varying cross sectional shapes and sizes in different sections of the basket to optimize the performance to the needs of each section within the basket.

Abstract: A medical retrieval basket used for entrapping and extracting objects such as urinary and biliary calculi from the body comprising a handle assembly, a flexible shaft, and a basket. The basket comprises a plurality of outwardly disposed shape memory wires and is bulbous in shape at its distal end. Located at the intersection point of the wires at the distal end of the basket is a hub that restricts the degree of relative movement between the wires. This hub also serves to increase contact points with the object to be retrieved and to stabilize the orientation of the basket wires. The substantially tipless configuration of the distal end of the basket permits the basket to retrieve objects from difficult to reach locations and reduces tissue trauma caused by the basket tip. The basket wires have varying cross sectional shapes and sizes in different sections of the basket to optimize the performance to the needs of each section within the basket.

Abstract: A medical retrieval device used to remove objects such as urinary and biliary calculi from the body comprising a handle assembly with an independent rotational means, a sheath, and an object entrapping assembly. In preferred embodiments, the handle assembly comprises a longitudinally stationary base portion with a handle base and a rotating means and a thumb slide actuation means located between the distal and proximal ends of the handle base portion. Actuation of the thumb slide relative to the handle base causes the object entrapping assembly to be actuated between the open and closed positions. Rotation of the rotating means relative to the handle base causes precise rotation of the object entrapping assembly. The thumb slide actuation means and rotating means are separate and independent of each other, preventing inadvertent adjustment of the degree of actuation during rotation and preventing inadvertent adjustment of rotational position during actuation.

Abstract: A medical retrieval device used to remove objects such as urinary and biliary calculi from the body comprising a handle assembly with an independent rotational means, a sheath, and an object entrapping assembly. In preferred embodiments, the handle assembly comprises a longitudinally stationary base portion and a thumb slide actuation means. The longitudinally stationary portion comprises a handle base and a rotating means. In a preferred embodiment, a portion of the thumb slide actuation means is located between the distal and proximal ends of the handle base portion during the complete actuation cycle. Actuation of the thumb slide relative to the handle base causes the object entrapping assembly to be actuated between the open and closed positions. Rotation of the rotating means relative to the handle base causes precise rotation of the object entrapping assembly.

Abstract: A medical retrieval basket for removing objects such as urinary and biliary calculi from the body. The basket comprises an elongated flexible tube and a cage which is extendible from the distal end of the tube and can be collapsed by withdrawing into the tube by means of an actuation cable which passes through the tube. The cage consists of a plurality of flexible elements which are outwardly disposed to form a space for entrapping objects. The flexible elements are constructed of a shape memory material, allowing the cage to resume its original configuration when extended from the tube. The configuration of the cage is such that by means of rotating the cage, differing sizes, cross sectional shapes and/or spacing of the flexible elements may be presented to a given portion of the object to be removed. Rotation of the cage is controlled more precisely using an actuation cable constructed of nickel titanium.

Abstract: A medical forceps jaw assembly for obtaining biopsy specimens or grasping objects. The forceps has a jaw assembly which incorporates a clevis pivot. The clevis pivot has a cross hole which is parallel to the center line of the jaw assembly. This cross hole, along with the lumens of the clevis and the shaft comprise a passageway. A diagnostic or procedural member can be passed through this passageway. By incorporating the diagnostic or procedural member into the passageway of the medical forceps, the need for two separate devices is eliminated for procedures which require both. By locating the cross hole appropriately in the clevis pivot, the diagnostic or procedural member can be centered between the two jaws. When used with an endoscope, the device allows two functions to be simultaneously accomplished using an endoscope with only one working channel. The design of the device is simple and cost effective.

Abstract: A tissue removing device and brush construction, and more particularly, a cytology brush construction which is intended to be utilized in conjunction with a specimen sampling device for the collection of microbiological biopsy specimen from a body cavity. The brush construction is attained by the provision of at least one initially flat element which may have at least one or opposing longitudinal outer edges in either a wavy-linear configuration, rectilinear form, or which may incorporate a multiplicity of closely spaced, parallel slits cut in from at least one longitudinal edge so as to leave a central longitudinal connecting web in the element.