Abstract: A method of engaging tissue is provided. The method includes: providing a forceps including a housing, a first jaw and a second jaw slidably and pivotably connected to a distal portion of the housing, and a driver; advancing the forceps in a closed configuration through a body lumen until the forceps are near a target tissue site; moving the driver in a distal direction relative to the housing to move the first and second jaws to an open configuration; positioning the first and second jaws adjacent to the target tissue site; and securing a tissue sample within the first and second jaws by moving the driver in a proximal direction relative to the housing to rotate the first and second jaws relative to the housing from the open configuration towards the closed configuration, which also moves the first and second jaws longitudinally in a proximal direction.

Abstract: A forceps is provided that includes a housing defining an internal passageway and a longitudinal axis, first and second jaws slidably and pivotably connected to the housing, a first connection member having a first end pivotably attached to the first jaw, a second connection member having a first end pivotably attached to the second jaw; and a driver pivotably connected to the other ends of the first connection member and the second connection member, wherein the jaws have an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein longitudinal movement of the driver in a first direction rotates the first and second jaws relative to the housing from the open configuration towards the closed configuration, wherein longitudinal movement of the driver in the first direction also moves the first and second jaws longitudinally along the longitudinal axis of the housing from the open configuration towards the closed configuration.

Abstract: A forceps is provided that includes a housing defining an internal passageway and a longitudinal axis, first and second jaws slidably and pivotably connected to the housing, a first connection member having a first end pivotably attached to the first jaw, a second connection member having a first end pivotably attached to the second jaw; and a driver pivotably connected to the other ends of the first connection member and the second connection member, wherein the jaws have an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein longitudinal movement of the driver in a first direction rotates the first and second jaws relative to the housing from the open configuration towards the closed configuration, wherein longitudinal movement of the driver in the first direction also moves the first and second jaws longitudinally along the longitudinal axis of the housing from the open configuration towards the closed configuration.

Abstract: A forceps is provided that includes a housing defining an internal passageway and a longitudinal axis, first and second jaws slidably and pivotably connected to the housing, a first connection member having a first end pivotably attached to the first jaw, a second connection member having a first end pivotably attached to the second jaw; and a driver pivotably connected to the other ends of the first connection member and the second connection member, wherein the jaws have an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein longitudinal movement of the driver in a first direction rotates the first and second jaws relative to the housing from the open configuration towards the closed configuration, wherein longitudinal movement of the driver in the first direction also moves the first and second jaws longitudinally along the longitudinal axis of the housing from the open configuration towards the closed configuration.

Abstract: A steerable-catheter handle includes an outer housing with a multilumen catheter body extending generally distally therefrom. An internal track, including at least one track-defining lateral edge element, is disposed between distal and proximal terminal ends of the outer housing, which also houses a manifold engaged with the catheter body, a working-channel port member in fluid and mechanical communication with at least a first catheter lumen, a vacuum channel port member in fluid communication with at least one catheter lumen via one or both of the working channel port member and the manifold, and a generally proximal catheter port open to the internal track, where a distal endmost portion of the catheter mechanically communicates with one or more control surfaces so that the distal endmost portion of the catheter is deflectable along at least two intersecting axes, and where a portion of the catheter body extends removably through the internal track.

Abstract: A secure attachment method and structure for a wire (including non-metallic fiber, yarn, cable, etc.) is provided within a steerable catheter that includes a proximal end, a distal end, and an intermediate catheter body length therebetween, with at least a first catheter lumen extending longitudinally through the catheter body, at least a first elongate wire disposed longitudinally through the first catheter lumen, and a first adhesive having a first viscosity, the first adhesive disposed substantially within, and securing the wire to, the first longitudinal catheter lumen, where at least a lengthwise portion of the wire is frayed or otherwise at least partially disaggregated. The structure and method provides for robustly secure affixation that will allow steering/deflection control by manipulation of another portion of the wire.

Abstract: A spool and gear mechanism for tensioning and manipulating the steering/deflection control wires of a steerable catheter device provides for a desired level of tension that will allow operation of the device without too little or too much tension in those wires. In a wire-tensioning mechanism for a steerable catheter, the mechanism includes at least a first and second steering/deflection control wire each attached to the spool by winding around its own detent-engaged rotatable gear in the spool and extending out through a radial wall of the spool to engage into a steerable catheter body. In a multi-spool system, the wire-tensioning/winding gears of each spool preferably are accessible for adjustment via apertures of an adjacent spool.

Abstract: A spool and gear mechanism for tensioning and manipulating the steering/deflection control wires of a steerable catheter device provides for a desired level of tension that will allow operation of the device without too little or too much tension in those wires. In a wire-tensioning mechanism for a steerable catheter, the mechanism includes at least a first and second steering/deflection control wire each attached to the spool by winding around its own detent-engaged rotatable gear in the spool and extending out through a radial wall of the spool to engage into a steerable catheter body. In a multi-spool system, the wire-tensioning/winding gears of each spool preferably are accessible for adjustment via apertures of an adjacent spool.

Abstract: A secure attachment method and structure for a wire (including non-metallic fiber, yarn, cable, etc.) is provided within a steerable catheter that includes a proximal end, a distal end, and an intermediate catheter body length therebetween, with at least a first catheter lumen extending longitudinally through the catheter body, at least a first elongate wire disposed longitudinally through the first catheter lumen, and a first adhesive having a first viscosity, the first adhesive disposed substantially within, and securing the wire to, the first longitudinal catheter lumen, where at least a lengthwise portion of the wire is frayed or otherwise at least partially disaggregated. The structure and method provides for robustly secure affixation that will allow steering/deflection control by manipulation of another portion of the wire.

Abstract: A steerable-catheter handle includes an outer housing with a multilumen catheter body extending generally distally therefrom. An internal track, including at least one track-defining lateral edge element, is disposed between distal and proximal terminal ends of the outer housing, which also houses a manifold engaged with the catheter body, a working-channel port member in fluid and mechanical communication with at least a first catheter lumen, a vacuum channel port member in fluid communication with at least one catheter lumen via one or both of the working channel port member and the manifold, and a generally proximal catheter port open to the internal track, where a distal endmost portion of the catheter mechanically communicates with one or more control surfaces so that the distal endmost portion of the catheter is deflectable along at least two intersecting axes, and where a portion of the catheter body extends removably through the internal track.

Abstract: A secure attachment method and structure for a wire (including non-metallic fiber, yarn, cable, etc.) is provided within a steerable catheter that includes a proximal end, a distal end, and an intermediate catheter body length therebetween, with at least a first catheter lumen extending longitudinally through the catheter body, at least a first elongate wire disposed longitudinally through the first catheter lumen, and an adhesive substantially within, and securing the wire to, a dilated distalmost length of the first longitudinal lumen, where at least a lengthwise portion of the wire is frayed or otherwise at least partially disaggregated. The structure and method provides for robustly secure affixation that will allow steering/deflection control by manipulation of another portion of the wire.

Abstract: A forceps is provided that includes a housing defining an internal passageway and a longitudinal axis, first and second jaws slidably and pivotably connected to the housing, a first connection member having a first end pivotably attached to the first jaw, a second connection member having a first end pivotably attached to the second jaw; and a driver pivotably connected to the other ends of the first connection member and the second connection member, wherein the jaws have an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein longitudinal movement of the driver in a first direction rotates the first and second jaws relative to the housing from the open configuration towards the closed configuration, wherein longitudinal movement of the driver in the first direction also moves the first and second jaws longitudinally along the longitudinal axis of the housing from the open configuration towards the closed configuration.

Abstract: An improved device for the management of a patient's uterine hemorrhage has improvements that include: (a) an inlet valve for controlling the flow of fluid into an expandable vessel, (b) an adapter having a free end and a connection end that connects to the third opening in a tube that has openings at each of its ends, (d) a pressure release component that connects to the adapter's free end and provides for the automatic release of a quantity of fluid sufficient to maintain an approximate, steady state, uniform operating pressure within the device, and (e) an attachment means that affixes the free end of the expandable vessel to the tube at a point that is distal from a tube end so that a portion of the tube extends into the expandable vessel and can be used as a core to assist with the placement of the vessel into the patient's uterine cavity prior to its inflation.

Abstract: An improved device for the management of a patient's uterine hemorrhage has improvements that include: (a) an inlet valve for controlling the flow of fluid into an expandable vessel, (b) an adapter having a free end and a connection end that connects to the third opening in a tube that has openings at each of its ends, (d) a pressure release component that connects to the adapter's free end and provides for the automatic release of a quantity of fluid sufficient to maintain an approximate, steady state, uniform operating pressure within the device, and (e) an attachment means that affixes the free end of the expandable vessel to the tube at a point that is distal from a tube end so that a portion of the tube extends into the expandable vessel and can be used as a core to assist with the placement of the vessel into the patient's uterine cavity prior to its inflation.