Granted Patent B2

US 8,900,251 · App. 12/941,763 · Granted Dec 2, 2014

Abstract

Claims (22)

1. A method of using a radial deployment surgical tool comprising:

providing a radial deployment surgical tool comprising an outer shaft, an inner shaft and a functional head, the outer shaft having a distal end and a proximal end and the inner shaft having a distal end and a proximal end;

operably attaching the functional head to the distal end of the inner shaft, wherein the functional head comprises a plurality of cleaning head arms, wherein each cleaning head arm comprises a main arm portion and a tip portion, wherein the main arm portion has a first arm section and a second arm section and wherein the tip portion is oriented at an angle with respect to a part of the main arm portion to which the tip portion is attached;

inserting at least a portion of an inner shaft in the outer shaft;

positioning the functional head in a refracted position substantially within the outer shaft;

placing the distal end of the outer shaft in an opening in a patient;

moving the functional head to an extended position where at least a portion of the functional head extends outside of the outer shaft so that the cleaning head arms extend to a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the outer shaft, wherein when the functional head is in the extended position, the first arm section is oriented in a distal direction and the second arm section is oriented in a proximal direction;

rotating the inner shaft to cause the tip portions to engage tissue;

moving the functional head to the retracted position, wherein the tip portions retain the engaged tissue in engagement as the functional head moves to the retracted position; and

withdrawing the radial deployment surgical tool from the patient to remove the engaged tissue from the patient.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising positioning the distal end of the outer shaft less than about ½ of an inch away from a surgical obstacle, wherein at least a portion of the functional head has a diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the outer shaft when in the extended position.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising attaching a stop mechanism to the outer shaft intermediate the proximal and distal ends thereof, wherein the stop mechanism limits a distance to which the outer shaft may be inserted into the opening.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising providing a cannula that at least partially receives the outer shaft, wherein the stop mechanism engages the cannula.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning head arms are stamped to a curved configuration.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the functional head comprises between about 10 and 20 cleaning head arms.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising axially rotating the functional head, wherein the cleaning head arms resist axial bending as the functional head is rotated while being bendable between a retracted position and an extended position.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the angle is less than about 90 degrees.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising forming each of the cleaning head arms with at least two tip portions extending therefrom.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising attaching a plurality of the functional heads to the distal end of the inner shaft.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the outer shaft has a bore extending therethrough and wherein the inner shaft is positionable at least partially within the bore.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising attaching a first gripping mechanism to the outer shaft proximate the proximal end thereof.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising attaching a second gripping mechanism to the inner shaft proximate the proximal end thereof.

Assignments (11)