Claims
- 1. A surgical device comprising:
proximal and distal ends; at least one articulated member located at said distal end, wherein said articulated member comprises compression means for preventing hyperextension of said member; and a manual actuation means located at said proximal end for actuating said at least one articulated member.
- 2. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein said device comprises a plurality of articulated members.
- 3. The surgical device according to claim 2, wherein said device comprises two articulated members.
- 4. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein said device comprises a rigid elongate member separating said proximal and distal ends.
- 5. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein said device comprises a flexible elongate member separating said proximal and distal ends.
- 6. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one articulated member is retractable into a protective housing located at said distal end.
- 7. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one articulated member comprises joints that are not pinned hinges.
- 8. The surgical device according to claim 2, wherein said articulated member of said plurality is individually actuatable relative to any other articulated member of said plurality.
- 9. A surgical device comprising:
proximal and distal ends; at least one articulated member located at said distal end, wherein said articulated member comprises joints that are not pinned hinge joints; and a manual actuation means located at said proximal end for actuating said at least one articulated member.
- 10. The surgical device according to claim 9, wherein said device comprises a plurality of members.
- 11. The surgical device according to claim 10, wherein said device comprises two articulated members.
- 12. The surgical device according to claim 9, wherein said device comprises a rigid elongate member separating said proximal and distal ends.
- 13. The surgical device according to claim 9, wherein said device comprises a flexible elongate member separating said proximal and distal ends.
- 14. The surgical device according to claim 9, wherein said at least one articulated member is retractable into a protective housing located at said distal end.
- 15. The surgical device according to claim 10, wherein said articulated member of said plurality is individually actuatable relative to any other articulated member of said plurality.
- 16. The surgical device according to claim 9, wherein said at least one articulated member comprises compression means for preventing hyperextension of said member.
- 17. A surgical device comprising:
proximal and distal ends; a plurality of articulated members located at said distal end, wherein each articulated member of said plurality is individually actuatable relative to any other articulated member of said plurality; and a manual actuation means located at said proximal end for independently actuating each articulated member of said plurality.
- 18. The surgical device according to claim 17, wherein said device comprises two articulated members.
- 19. The surgical device according to claim 17, wherein said device comprises a rigid elongate member separating said proximal and distal ends.
- 20. The surgical device according to claim 17, wherein said device comprises a flexible elongate member separating said proximal and distal ends.
- 21. The surgical device according to claim 17, wherein said plurality is retractable into a protective housing located at said distal end.
- 22. The surgical device according to claim 17, wherein each articulated member of said plurality comprises compression means for preventing hyperextension of said member.
- 23. The surgical device according to claim 17, wherein each articulated member of said plurality comprises joints that are not pinned hinge joints.
- 24. A method for manipulating an object inside a body, said method comprising:
introducing the distal end of a surgical device comprising at least one articulated member according to claims 1, 9 or 17 into said body; and manipulating said object with said at least one articulated member; whereby said object is manipulated inside said body.
- 25. The method according to claim 24, wherein said device comprises a rigid elongate member separating said proximal and distal ends.
- 26. The method according to claim 24, wherein said device comprises a flexible elongate member separating said proximal and distal ends.
- 27. A kit for use in a method according to claim 24, said kit comprising:
a surgical device according to claims 1, 9 or 17; and instructions for using said device.
CROSS-REFERENCE
[0001] This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 09/574,446, filed May 19, 2000, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and to which application we claim priority under 35 USC §120.
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09574446 |
May 2000 |
US |
Child |
10192777 |
Jul 2002 |
US |