Abstract: The present invention concerns a rongeur which includes a moveable arm and a stationary arm linked in a sliding relationship by a pair of spaced apart guides located on one of the arms and a pair of spaced apart passageways located on the other of the arms. A stationary handle is connected to the stationary arm and a moveable handle is coupled to the moveable arm to permit the moveable arm to operate between open and closed positions. Also provided are at least two removable cutting tips which are releasably secured to the arms. The tips may be removed for sharpening and replaced by a replacement tip.

Abstract: A remotely steerable catheter having an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, a remotely manipulable length, and a wall defining a lumen and first and second wires slidably retained by the wall and extending proximally beyond the proximal end of the tubular member, the first wire having a distal end thereof in controllable contact with the wall at a first node located along the manipulable length and the second wire having a distal end thereof in controllable contact with the wall at a second node located along the manipulable length, the second node being located distally of the first node along the manipulable length of the tubular member.

Abstract: An intraluminal retrieval device includes an outer catheter insertable by its distal end region into an artery or other body lumen that contains an unwanted object. The catheter supports two spaced apart expandable balloons, and is alignable to position the balloons on opposite sides of the object, whereupon the balloons when inflated secure the catheter and isolate a segment of the artery containing the object. The outer catheter includes at least one window between the balloons. An inner catheter is contained within the outer catheter and is movable relative to the outer catheter to alternatively open and close each window. With the outer catheter fixed in the artery and with the window open, a snare, vacuum or positive irrigation flow is used to retrieve the object by conveying it through the window into a retrieval chamber formed by the outer catheter either alone or in cooperation with the inner catheter.