Surgical instrument and method for retraction of an anatomic structure defining an interior lumen
US5624381A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 9, 1994 |
| Grant date | Apr 29, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 9, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2217/005
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An instrument and method for retracting an anatomic structure defining a lumen to facilitate an endoscopic procedure in an insufflated workspace. The method includes advancing the distal end of variform intraluminal member in a rigid or semi-rigid linear shape through a lumen in an anatomic structure (e.g., the colon) to the region of an insufflated workspace, making the variform member flexible and retracting the anatomic structure with accessory instruments while the variform member is within the lumen, and then making the variform member rigid in an articulated shape within the lumen to maintain the anatomic structure in the retracted position to facilitate a surgical procedure in the region of the retracted structure.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.