Instrument for endoscopic-type procedures
US5607435A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 23, 1994 |
| Grant date | Mar 4, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 23, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B1/0058
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention is an instrument (10) which includes a tubular section (12) having a wall (13) made of a material exhibiting superelastic characteristics and a delivery tube (14) having a bore (15) through which the tubular section (12) passes. The instrument (10) may be adapted for use in medical/dental and non-medical procedures. The superelastic character of the wall material is used in combination with the delivery tube (14) to alternately restrict the shape of the wall (13) and allow it to change to its unconstrained shape. Thus, the wall (13) can be sufficiently deformed to permit the tubular section (12) to pass in and out of and through the delivery tube (14) while at the same time enabling the tubular section (12) to have a shape when extended outside of the delivery tube (14) that is sufficiently bent or curved to be suitable for performing a desired function, for example a medical or dental procedure inside a patient's body. In this way, the delivery tube (14) enables the tubular section (12) to reach the site of the procedure through more narrow insertion paths, and in the case of medical/dental applications, with less trauma to the surrounding tissue along the in…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.