Superelastic/shape memory tissue stabilizers and surgical instruments
US7338441B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 6, 2002 |
| Grant date | Mar 4, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 10, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F2007/101
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A surgical instrument is used for temporary use in a medical procedure in a mammalian body. The surgical instrument is configured to be changed between two shapes upon application of one or both of heating and cooling. The instrument includes a first member, a second member having a surface configured to contact tissue, and a means to apply heating or cooling to one or both of the first member and the second member to change the shape between a first shape and a second shape. A surgical instrument also may be configured to be changed between two shapes upon removal of a constraining force. The surgical instrument includes a first member, a second member having a surface configured to contact tissue, and a constraining means to apply a constraining force to one or both of the first member and the second member to cause one or both of the first member and the second member to be in a first constrained shape. The surgical instruments may be used in minimally invasive valve surgery.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.