Patent ID: 11963685
Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 15:
16. An apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
(a) a handle assembly, wherein the handle assembly comprises:
(i) a handle body, including a plurality of windows positioned along a first side of the handle body, the plurality of windows being longitudinally spaced apart from each other, and
(ii) an actuator, wherein the actuator comprises a user input feature that is configured to be driven by a finger of a hand that grasps the handle body;

(b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the handle assembly, wherein the shaft assembly comprises:
(i) an external sheath fixedly secured to the handle body,
(ii) an inner shaft coupled to the actuator, wherein the inner shaft is configured to slide longitudinally relative to the external sheath and thus the handle body in response to actuation of the actuator, and
(iii) an indicator, wherein the indicator is configured to move relative to the plurality of windows in response to movement of the inner shaft relative to the handle body, wherein longitudinal spacing of the windows of the plurality of windows is configured to indicate a longitudinal relationship between the indicator and the external sheath, wherein the indicator is positioned to be viewable through the plurality of windows of the handle body; and

(c) a bi-directional translation resistance feature including a first resistance feature fixedly secured to the inner shaft and a second resistance feature fixedly secured to the handle body, wherein the second resistance feature is configured to permit distal and proximal translation of the first resistance feature and thus the inner shaft relative to the handle body while the user input feature is being driven, wherein the second resistance feature is further configured to maintain a longitudinal position of the first resistance feature and thus the inner shaft relative to the external sheath and thus the handle body at a plurality of predetermined longitudinal positions; and
(d) an end effector configured to encompass a bodily lumen, wherein the end effector comprises:
(i) a flexible member comprising a distal tip, wherein the flexible member extends distally from the inner shaft,
(ii) a first coupling element fixed to the distal tip of the flexible member, and
(iii) a second coupling element fixed to the external sheath, wherein the first and second coupling elements are configured to be magnetically attracted to each other, wherein the first and second coupling elements are biased toward each other such that the flexible member defines an adjustable loop, wherein the actuator is operable to adjust the size of the loop in response to movement of the user input feature.