Patent ID: 8133255
Filing Date: 2012-03-13
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A surgical method, comprising: obtaining a surgical assembly having (i) a hollow needle with a sharp distal end, and (ii) a surgical instrument having a shaft that extends through said hollow needle, said surgical instrument being movable relative to said hollow needle and including at an end of said shaft first and second end effectors that are biased toward an open position; with said first and second end effectors in a closed position inside said hollow needle wherein said first and second end effectors contact one another, using said sharp distal end of said hollow needle to puncture skin of a patient at an operative site and insert a distal portion of said surgical assembly into a cavity of said patient; moving said surgical instrument forward relative to said needle to cause said first and second end effectors to extend out of said needle and to automatically open relative to each other; moving said end effectors over an object in the cavity; and moving said needle forward relative to said surgical instrument to cause the sharp distal end of the hollow needle to directly contact both said first and second end effectors during forward movement of the needle relative to the first and second end effectors in order to close the first and second end effectors over said object.