Abstract: A laparoscopic sterilization instrument comprises an excisor for excising a portion of a patient's oviduct and a receptacle for holding the excised oviduct portion until the instrument has been withdrawn from the patient's abdomen. The excised oviduct portion constitutes a full circumference biopsy that can be examined to confirm proper performance of the sterilization procedure, for the protection of patient and physician alike. The instrument includes first and second elongate parts attached to each other for relative movement parallel to their longitudinal axes to operate the excisor means. The first part is a rod and the second part is a sleeve within which the rod can move, the rod sliding longitudinally within the sleeve. The instrument is operable by a physician to work the excisor means and an applicator for applying a clip in a single action.

Abstract: A cervical biopsy instrument comprises a shaft defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end and a distal end; an arm extending laterally from the shaft; a cutting portion of cutting wire being supported at an outer end by the arm and being inclined relative to the longitudinal axis; and means for adjusting and setting the inclination and/or length of the cutting portion. This enables a single instrument to deal effectively with differently-sized, shaped and positioned cervical lesions, while tailoring the profile of the excision to the lesion concerned. In the embodiments described, two opposed arms support two cutting portions, requiring 180° of angular movement during excision as opposed to the 360° movement of the prior art. The arms are mounted on a carriage for longitudinal adjustment, and can be bent individually to vary their length and hence the width of cut, which may be asymmetric.

Abstract: A laparoscopic sterilization instrument comprises an excisor for excising a portion of a patient's oviduct and a receptacle for holding the excised oviduct portion until the instrument has been withdrawn from the patient's abdomen. The excised oviduct portion constitutes a full circumference biopsy that can be examined to confirm proper performance of the sterilization procedure, for the protection of patient and physician alike. The instrument includes first and second elongate parts attached to each other for relative movement parallel to their longitudinal axes to operate the excisor means. The first part is a rod and the second part is a sleeve within which the rod can move, the rod sliding longitudinally within the sleeve. The instrument is operable by a physician to work the excisor means and an applicator for applying a clip in a single action.

Abstract: A cervical biopsy instrument comprises a shaft defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end and a distal end; an arm extending laterally from the shaft; a cutting portion of cutting wire being supported at an outer end by the arm and being inclined relative to the longitudinal axis; and means for adjusting and setting the inclination and/or length of the cutting portion. This enables a single instrument to deal effectively with differently-sized, shaped and positioned cervical lesions, while tailoring the profile of the excision to the lesion concerned.