Patent · US Expired

Surgical method and apparatus for positioning a diagnostic or therapeutic element within the body

US6152920A · kind A · utility

417Cited by
73References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 10, 1997
Grant dateNov 28, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 10, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2018/1475
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A surgical device including a relatively short shaft, a bendable spline assembly associated with the distal end of the shaft and having a predetermined configuration, the spline assembly being adapted to collapse in response to an application of an external force and to expand to the predetermined configuration in response to a withdrawal of the external force, and an operative element associated with the bendable spline assembly.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.