Integrated medical apparatus for non-traumatic grasping, manipulating and closure of tissue

Abstract

The integrated medical apparatus includes an operator handle end and a multi-prong grasping member positioned within and movable relative to a grasper lumen that extends from the handle end, wherein the grasping prongs are moved between an open and closed position by relative axial movement between the prongs of the grasping member and the grasper lumen. The medical apparatus includes a contractible snare and a plurality of axially moveable snare pushing arms. At least two of the snare pushing arms include a snare holding and release mechanism, wherein the snare pushing arms are configured to advance the snare in an open, encircling position to a final deployed position where the snare can be released through the activation of the holding and release mechanism of the pushing arms, and finally tightened in a conventional fashion, such as pulling on an end of the snare at the handle end.

1 . An integrated medical apparatus for grasping, manipulation and closure of tissue comprising:
 An operator handle end;   A grasper lumen extending from the operator handle end;   A grasping member having multiple prongs positioned within and movable relative to the grasper lumen;   An axial moveable contractible snare; and   At least one axially moveable snare pushing arm, wherein at least one pushing arm includes a snare holding and release mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The integrated medical apparatus for grasping, manipulation and closure of tissue according to  claim 1 , wherein the grasping prongs are moved between an open and closed position by relative axial movement between the prongs of the grasping member and the grasper lumen and wherein the prongs of the grasping member are formed as wire members having a memory of the open position. 
     
     
         3 . The integrated medical apparatus for grasping, manipulation and closure of tissue according to  claim 1 , wherein the grasping prongs are moved between an open and closed position by relative axial movement between the prongs of the grasping member and the grasper lumen and wherein the prongs of the grasping member are wire members including gripping ends designed to maximize tissue gripping function and minimize tissue damage. 
     
     
         4 . The integrated medical apparatus for grasping, manipulation and closure of tissue according to  claim 1 , wherein the grasping prongs are moved between an open and closed position by relative axial movement between the prongs of the grasping member and the grasper lumen and wherein the prongs of the grasping member are three wire members positioned approximately 120 degrees apart. 
     
     
         5 . The integrated medical apparatus for grasping, manipulation and closure of tissue according to  claim 1  wherein the snare is a looped flexible material having a slip-knot and a control end extending to the distal handle end of the apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . The integrated medical apparatus for grasping, manipulation and closure of tissue according to  claim 1  wherein the snare further includes a band of material at a looped end thereof for distributing the forces of the snare as it is tightened and deployed around the tissue, whereby tissue damage is minimized. 
     
     
         7 . The integrated medical apparatus for grasping, manipulation and closure of tissue according to  claim 1  further including a sliding control knob on the handle end for opening and closing the grasping member, and wherein the grasping prongs are moved between an open and closed position by relative axial movement between the prongs of the grasping member and the grasper lumen. 
     
     
         8 . The integrated medical apparatus for grasping, manipulation and closure of tissue according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one snare pushing arm is configured to advance the snare in an open, encircling position to a final deployed position. 
     
     
         9 . The integrated medical apparatus for grasping, manipulation and closure of tissue according to  claim 8  further including a plurality of said snare pushing arms and an axially sliding pushing arm containment sleeve which is adapted to hold the pusher arms in a retracted position for insertion of the apparatus. 
     
     
         10 . The integrated medical apparatus for grasping, manipulation and closure of tissue according to  claim 9  wherein the containment sleeve is configured to slide axially rearward toward the handle end to open the snare and the pusher arms for snare deployment. 
     
     
         11 . The integrated medical apparatus for grasping, manipulation and closure of tissue according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one snare pushing arm is configured to advance the snare in an open, encircling position to a final deployed position and wherein each pushing arm is formed as a lumen with the snare holding and release mechanism of each pushing arm formed as a wire loop at the end of the lumen and extending through the lumen. 
     
     
         12 . The integrated medical apparatus for grasping, manipulation and closure of tissue according to  claim 11  wherein the snare holding and release mechanism is configured whereby the wire forming the snare holding and release mechanism may be pulled through the lumen forming the pushing arms and the holding loop at the end will uncoil thereby releasing the snare for deployment. 
     
     
         13 . The integrated medical apparatus for grasping, manipulation and closure of tissue according to  claim 1  further including a plurality of said axially moveable snare pushing arm, wherein at least one pushing arm includes a snare holding and release mechanism, wherein the snare pushing arms are configured to advance the snare in an open, encircling position to a final deployed position and wherein at least one of the pushing arms is a hollow lumen that contains a control end of the snare. 
     
     
         14 . The integrated medical apparatus for grasping, manipulation and closure of tissue according to  claim 1  further including a plurality of said axially moveable snare pushing arms, wherein at least one pushing arm includes a snare holding and release mechanism, wherein the snare pushing arms are configured to advance the snare in an open, encircling position to a final deployed position and wherein at least one of the pushing arms includes a mechanism for trimming a trailing end of the snare following final snare deployment. 
     
     
         15 . The integrated medical apparatus for grasping, manipulation and closure of tissue according to  claim 1  wherein the apparatus is can be guided and manipulated by the user by selectively curving an end of the grasper lumen. 
     
     
         16 . A medical apparatus for remote grasping, manipulation or release of an object comprising:
 At least one hollow lumen extending from an operator end; and   A wire extending through the lumen and axially moving through the lumen, wherein the lead end of the wire extending out of a distal end of the lumen will form at least one loop for the grasping, manipulation and/or release of a desired object, wherein the wire has sufficient memory and is sufficiently flexible such that at least one loop will be selectively coiled and uncoiled as the wire is advanced and retracted relative to the lumen.   
     
     
         17 . The medical apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the loop is formed of at least two complete revolutions of the wire when in a fully closed position. 
     
     
         18 . The medical apparatus of  claim 16  wherein a plurality of lumens and wires are provided. 
     
     
         19 . A medical apparatus for remote grasping, manipulation or release of an object comprising:
 A grasping lumen; and   multiple prongs positioned within and movable relative to the grasper lumen, wherein the grasping prongs are moved between an open and closed position by relative axial movement between the prongs of the grasping member and the grasper lumen, wherein the prongs of the grasping member are formed as members having a memory of the open position.   
     
     
         20 . The medical apparatus for remote grasping, manipulation or release of an object according to  claim 19  wherein the prongs are wire members including separate gripping ends designed to maximize tissue gripping function and minimize tissue damage.