Tissue and organ extractor

A tissue and organ extractor is provided for use during laparoscopic surgical procedures. The tissue and organ extractor has a handle, an elongated shank, and a flexible collapsible working end. The handle includes lock for locking a grasping instrument, such as forceps, securely in place in relation to the tissue and organ extractor. The extractor is inserted through a cannula into an abdominal cavity and the tissue or organ to be removed is manipulated into the working end by a grasping instrument. The extractor, grasping instrument and tissue are removed from the abdominal cavity through the cannula. The working end envelops the tissue and, during removal, compresses the enveloped tissue.

Background of the Invention 
This invention relates generally to the field of surgical instruments. In 
particular, this invention relates to a surgical instrument for use in 
laparoscopy wherein the instrument may be used to envelop an organ or 
tissue to facilitate its removal from a patient through a small puncture 
orifice. 
Laparoscopy is a form of surgery that involves visualizing the interior of 
the abdominal cavity using an illuminating optical instrument, a 
laparoscope. The laparoscope and other instruments are introduced into the 
abdominal cavity through small puncture orifices in the abdominal wall. 
Laparoscopic procedures are commenced by using a device known as a trocar. 
The trocar comprises a cannula or trocar sleeve (a hollow sheath or sleeve 
with a central lumen) and an obturator. The obturator is a solid metal rod 
with an extremely sharp three-cornered tip that is received in the 
cannula. The trocar is used to penetrate the abdominal wall. The obturator 
is withdrawn from the cannula after the intra-abdominal end of the trocar 
is in the abdominal cavity. The cannula remains in the abdominal wall 
throughout the surgical procedure. This allows surgical instruments used 
during laparoscopic procedures to be introduced in the abdominal cavity 
through the cannula. Trocars are available in different sizes to 
accommodate various instruments. 
Laparoscopy traditionally has been used almost exclusively for 
gynecological surgery. However, physicians specializing in other fields 
have begun to recognize the diagnostic and operative value of laparoscopy. 
The advantages of laparoscopic surgery include: procedures may be performed 
on an outpatient basis; surgeons are given the opportunity to view 
intra-abdominal viscera without performing a laparotomy, a large incision 
of the abdominal wall; small puncture wounds are created rather than large 
incisions, lessening trauma; incision sites for laparotomies may be 
determined; patient and insurer medical costs are reduced by shorter 
hospital stays; and postoperative patient discomfort, with recovery times 
measured in days as opposed to weeks, is lessened. 
Thus, there is a substantial interest in and need for providing task 
specific surgical instruments particularly adapted to general surgical 
procedures now being performed laparoscopically. Because laparoscopy is an 
evolving specialty within the field of general surgery, currently 
available instruments inadequately meet the needs of laparoscopic 
surgeons. 
One of the problems associated with existing instruments used in 
laparoscopy is that when soft tissue or organs are removed through the 
cannula, the tissue or organ being removed can tear. If parts of the 
tissue or organ to be removed during the procedure are left in the 
abdominal cavity, infection may result. In order to avoid this result, the 
surgeon would have to create a relatively large incision in the abdominal 
wall to remove the tissue or organ. However, such a procedure would defeat 
the purpose and benefit of performing laparoscopic surgery. 
It would, therefore, be desirable to provide a tissue and organ extractor 
that can be used to extract tissue and organs safely and completely from 
the abdominal cavity of a patient without tearing the tissue and organs. 
It would also be desirable to provide a tissue and organ extractor that can 
be used during laparoscopic surgery. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of this invention to provide a tissue and organ extractor 
that can be used to extract tissue or organs safely and completely from 
the abdominal cavity of a patient without tearing the tissue or organs. 
It is another object of this invention to provide a tissue and organ 
extractor that can be used during laparoscopic surgery for extracting 
tissue, organs or the like, and for implanting or inserting prostheses. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a partially 
disposable tissue organ extractor for use in laparoscopic surgical 
procedures wherein the extractor includes a reusable handle portion. 
In accordance with this invention there is provided a tissue and organ 
extractor for use during laparoscopic surgery having a handle, with a 
central bore, connected to one end of a hollow shank. The other end of the 
shank is adapted to be connected releasably to one end of tubular plunger 
rod. A flexible self-deploying enveloping means with a free open end is 
connected to the other end of the plunger rod. A tubular extractor 
introducing shroud is coaxially and concentrically positioned about the 
enveloping means. When aligned and connected together, the handle, shank, 
rod, enveloping means and shroud define a central passageway through the 
tissue and organ extractor. This passageway allows an instrument such as a 
forceps or damp to be inserted through the tissue or organ extractor and 
extend past the open end of the enveloping means. The instrument thus 
inserted can be used to grasp the tissue or organ for removal from the 
abdominal cavity. The handle of the extractor includes a lock for locking 
the forceps in place relative to the extractor. 
In use, the enveloping means is contained in the shroud, with the end of 
the rod extending therefrom for connection to the shank. The assembled 
tissue extractor is inserted through a cannula into a patient's abdomen. 
The enveloping means is deployed by pushing it from the shroud, whereupon 
it expands into its fully deployed cone shape with a large open end, the 
smaller end of the cone-shaped enveloping means being connected to the rod 
and having an inner diameter approximately equal to the inner diameter of 
the rod. The enveloping means is moved dose to the organ or tissue to be 
removed. The surgeon inserts a forceps through the hollow passageway 
running the length of the extractor, past the open end of the enveloping 
means to grasp the tissue or organ to be removed. The tissue or organ is 
then drawn inside the enveloping means. The surgeon may lock the forceps 
in place relative to the tissue and organ extractor. The enveloping means 
is withdrawn into the shroud by pulling outwardly, causing the enveloping 
means to collapse around the tissue and return to its pre-deployment, 
multilayer generally cylindrical tubular configuration inside the shroud, 
compressing the tissue therein. The extractor may then be drawn out of the 
cannula, or the forceps, the tissue and organ extractor containing the 
tissue and the cannula, if desired, can all be removed from the patient's 
abdomen through the small puncture orifice originally created by the 
trocar. 
An advantage of the extractor of the present invention is that it prevents 
the traumatic manipulation of the organ or tissue as it passes into the 
cannula or through the puncture orifice, allowing the organ or tissue to 
be removed safely and completely from the abdominal cavity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
One embodiment of the tissue and organ extractor of the present invention 
is shown in FIGS. 1-9. The tissue and organ extractor 10 includes a hollow 
handle 20, an elongated, generally central shank 30, a ring 40 and an 
enveloping means 50. 
The handle 20 includes an upper end, a lower end, circumferentially cut 
grooves 22, a recess 24 and a hollow chamber 25. The grooves 22 are 
designed to permit the surgeon to grasp and manipulate the tissue and 
organ extractor 10 more easily. The handle 20 has an outer diameter larger 
than the outer diameter of the shank 30. This prevents the tissue and 
organ extractor 10 from falling completely through the cannula 4 inserted 
through the abdominal wall 6. Preferably, the handle 20 is made from an 
elastomeric synthetic resin or some other suitable hand graspable 
material. 
The hollow chamber 25 includes a top portion 26 and a lower portion 27. The 
diameter of the lower portion 27 of the hollow chamber 25 is about the 
same as the outer diameter of the shank 30. This allows one end of the 
shank 30 to be received within the lower portion 27 of the handle 20. The 
hollow portion 31 of the shank 30 is thus in communication with the top 
portion 26 of the hollow chamber 25 of the handle 20. This allows a 
surgical instrument such as a forceps to be inserted through the handle 20 
and shank 30 and into the enveloping means 50. Preferably, the top portion 
26 of the hollow chamber 25 is flared outwardly toward the upper end of 
the handle 20. This facilitates the insertion of an instrument into the 
hollow chamber 25 of the handle 20. 
A locking lever 32 is pivotally connected to the shank 30 adjacent the 
distal end thereof. The locking lever 32 includes a cam like head 33 and a 
finger-tip grasping end 34. The locking lever 32 pivots to allow the head 
33 to extend into the hollow portion 31 and engage the shaft of an 
instrument inserted through the hollow portion 31 of the shank 30. The 
locking lever 32 is received in the recess 24 and is generally shorter 
than the recess 24 to permit the surgeon to easily grasp the finger-tip 
grasping end 34. 
A plurality of longitudinally cut grooves 38 are formed at one end of the 
shank 30. The grooves 38 are preferably equally spaced from one another 
about the circumference of the shank 30. A plurality of flexible wires 39 
extend from one end of the shank 30 to the open end of the enveloping 
means 50. One of these wires 39 is received in each of the grooves 38 
formed at one end of the shank 30. 
The enveloping means 50 includes a neck 51 that is attached to the proximal 
end of the shank 30 and a flexible web 52 for enveloping the tissue or 
organ to be removed from a patient. Preferably, the inner diameter of the 
neck 51 is about the same as the outer diameter of the shank 30. This 
facilitates the attachment of the neck 51 to the proximal end of the shank 
30 and also facilitates the travel of an instrument through the shank 30 
to the enveloping means 50. The enveloping means 50 flares outwardly from 
the neck 51. The amount of this outward flare may be varied depending on 
the diameter of the tissue or organ to be removed from the abdominal 
cavity 2. 
The web 52 preferably is attached to a portion of the shank 30 so that the 
web 52 covers the wires 39 extending along the grooves 38. The web 52 may 
be attached to the outside of the wires 39 by threading, heat pressing or 
other suitable means. The web 52 thus holds the wires 39 flush against the 
grooves 38 in the shank 30. Of course, the wires 39 could also be held 
flush against the grooves 38 by soldering, plastic adhesive, resin or some 
other suitable adhesive means. The wires 39 are biased outwardly to ensure 
that the web 52 is flared outwardly. 
The web 52 is preferably made from a sturdy waterproof, stain resistant 
fabric such as treated sail cloth or duck cloth. One end of the web 52 is 
connected to one end of the shank 30 by screws, snaps or other suitable 
fastening means. The other end of the web 52 is folded over and joined to 
itself by threading, heat pressing, plastic adhesive or other suitable 
fastening means. 
A cable 57 is located inside the folded portion of the web 52 adjacent to 
the apex of the folded over portion of the web 52. The cable 57 is 
received through the eye ends of the outwardly biased wires 39. The cable 
57 should be long enough so that the open end of the enveloping means 50 
can open sufficiently wide to allow access thereto by tissue or organs to 
be removed from the patient. 
The ring 40 is slidably positioned over the neck 51 when the enveloping 
means 50 is in its outwardly flared position. Prior to the insertion of 
the tissue and organ extractor 10 into the cannula 4, the ring 40 is slid 
down from the neck 51 toward the open end of the enveloping means 50. This 
collapses the enveloping means 50 to facilitate the insertion of the 
tissue and organ extractor 10 into the cannula 4. After the open end of 
the enveloping means 50 has entered the cannula 4, the ring 40 engages the 
top of the cannula 4. This prevents the ring 40 from traveling any further 
through the cannula 4. Once the ring 40 engages the top of the cannula 4, 
the tissue and organ extractor 10 can still travel through the cannula 4 a 
distance equal to the distance that the ring 40 can travel along the 
length of the web 52. This distance should be sufficiently long so that 
the enveloping means 50 can emerge from the end of the cannula 4 and flare 
outwardly to present an open area for insertion of tissue or organs into 
the enveloping means 50. 
The inner diameter of the ring 40 is preferably about the same as the outer 
diameter of the neck 51. The outer diameter of the ring 40 is preferably 
larger than the inner diameter of the cannula 4. This precludes the ring 
40 from entering the cannula 4 when the tissue and organ extractor 10 is 
inserted therein. Of course, a shoulder means could be used inside the 
cannula 4 and a small ring 40 could be used to achieve the same result. 
The operation of the tissue and organ extractor 10 will now be described. 
Referring to FIG. 4, an auxiliary cannula 5 is introduced into the 
abdominal cavity 2. A laparoscope (not shown) is introduced into the 
abdominal cavity 2 through the cannula 5. The laparoscope, which is an 
illuminating optical instrument, is used to visualize the interior of the 
abdominal cavity 2. A camera (not shown) is placed over the eyepiece of 
the laparoscope and the laparoscopic procedure is monitored on a 
television screen. The cannula 4 is introduced into the abdominal cavity 2 
to provide the passageway for the laparoscopic instruments necessary to 
perform any particular laparoscopic surgical procedure, including any 
procedure in which the present invention may be utilized. 
Prior to the insertion of the tissue and organ extractor 10 into the 
cannula 4, the enveloping means 50 is collapsed as shown in FIG. 4 by 
lowering the ring 40 over the web 52. The tissue and organ extractor 10 is 
then introduced through the cannula 4 into the abdominal cavity 2. 
The open end of the web 52 is placed in dose proximity to the tissue or 
organ 100 to be removed from the abdominal cavity 2. Once the open end of 
the web 52 is properly positioned, the tissue and organ extractor 10 is 
locked into place by set screws 8 and 9 located on the cannula 4. A 
forceps 102 is introduced into the abdominal cavity 2 through the hollow 
portion of the tissue and organ extractor 10. The surgeon manipulates the 
forceps 102 to grasp the tissue or organ 100 and draw it into the open end 
of the web 52. 
Using the locking lever 32, the surgeon locks the forceps 102 in place in 
relation to the tissue and organ extractor 10. The tissue or organ 100 is 
thus held in place inside the web 52. The surgeon then removes the cannula 
4, tissue and organ extractor 10, forceps 102 and tissue or organ 100 
simultaneously through the small puncture orifice in the abdominal wall 
through which the cannula 4 was originally inserted. As all of these items 
are being removed through the small puncture orifice, the web 52 collapses 
from its outwardly flared configuration, to a collapsed configuration 
thereby compressing and enveloping the tissue or organ 100. The open end 
of web 52 constricts as it passes through the small puncture orifice and 
forms a seal preventing the tissue or organ 100 or parts that may break 
off from reentering the abdominal cavity 2. 
A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 10-12. This 
second embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in the 
construction and operation of the enveloping means. The other portions of 
this invention remain the same. 
In the second embodiment, the enveloping means 500 comprises a flexible, 
outwardly flared rib portion 510 and a flexible, waterproof web material 
520 attached thereto. The flexible, waterproof web material 520 has an 
opening mouth 530 located therein so that tissue or organs can enter the 
rib portion 510. 
The rib portion 510 is biased outwardly by the ribs 511 formed at the end 
of the shank 300. The ribs 511 are integral with the shank 300, being 
formed by portions of the shank between parallel, longitudinal cuts. As in 
the first embodiment, the shank 300 and the ribs 511 may be formed of 
appropriate metals, metal-alloys, plastics or vinyls. In both of the 
embodiments of the present invention, the enveloping means (50 or 500) is 
approximately 7 to 13 centimeters in length. Consequently, the angle at 
which the ribs 511 or wires 39 flare outwardly relative to the end of the 
shank (30 or 300) will range between 10 and 30 degrees, approximately 
10.degree.-15.degree. being preferred. Thus, in an enveloping means having 
a shank end opening diameter of approximately 10 mm, the opposite end, 
when fully flared open, will be approximately 2.5-3 cm in diameter. In the 
second embodiment of the present invention, the opening mouth 530 is 
approximately 2.5-4 cm in diameter. 
The web material 520 is preferably made from any flexible yet sturdy, 
generally waterproof or liquid resistant, stain resistant fabric-like 
material such as suitable nylons, including rip-stop nylon, plastics or 
vinyls, including polypropylene meshes, or treated sail cloth. The 
selected web material 520 may be attached to the ribs 511 adjacent to the 
free end thereof in suitable ways, including sewn, heat-treated or welded, 
or otherwise mechanically joined. If a suitable material is chosen, e.g., 
an appropriate plastic, it is possible that the shank (30 or 300), wires 
and ribs (39 and 511, respectively), and web material (52 or 520) may be 
formed entirely of the selected material as a single, unitary piece of 
varying thickness. 
Prior to insertion of the tissue and organ extractor into the cannula 4, a 
ring 540 is moved down over the rib portion 510 to collapse the rib 
portion 510. In this collapsed configuration, the rib portion 510 can fit 
through the cannula 4 to the interior of the abdominal cavity. Since the 
web material 520 is preferably formed from a flexible liquid proof fabric, 
it can collapse and easily fit through the cannula 4 with the rib portion 
510. 
As the tissue and organ extractor begins to travel through the cannula 4, 
the ring 540 engages either the top of the cannula 4 or a shoulder portion 
located in cannula 4. As discussed in connection with the first embodiment 
of this invention, the tissue and organ extractor will continue to travel 
through the cannula 4 resulting in the ring 540 traveling upwardly past 
the ribs 511. This allows the rib portion 510 to bias outwardly once it 
exits the cannula 4. An enlarged open area 530 is thus presented to the 
surgeon in the web material 520 and rib portion 510 to facilitate the 
insertion of a tissue or organ into the enveloping means 500. 
Once the enveloping means 500 is positioned so that the opening 530 is in 
close proximity to the tissue or organ to be removed from a patient, a 
forceps can be inserted through the tissue and organ extractor. The 
forceps is then manipulated by the surgeon so that the forceps extends 
through the opening 530 and can grasp the tissue or organ and pull it 
through the opening 530 into the web material 520, as depicted. Of course, 
the tissue or organ could also be pulled further into the rib portion 510. 
After this is accomplished, the forceps is locked in place in relationship 
to the tissue and organ extractor by means of the locking lever described 
in conjunction with the first embodiment. The forceps, the tissue and 
organ extractor and cannula can then all be simultaneously removed from 
the abdominal cavity through the small puncture orifice. 
As the tissue and organ extractor is removed through the puncture orifice, 
the web material 520 and rib portion 510 collapse and compress the tissue 
or organ located therein, generally elongating it so it may be extracted 
easily through the cannula or puncture wound. Thus, the extractor 
facilitates the removal of the tissue or organ from the body. Further, the 
enveloping means 500 as a whole provides a substantially sealed, 
leak-proof container that prevents the tissue or organ or parts thereof 
from breaking off and remaining in the abdominal cavity, as well as 
minimizes the escape of liquids associated with the tissue or organ into 
the abdominal cavity as the tissue or organ is extracted. 
A third embodiment of the tissue and organ extractor 600 of the present 
invention is depicted in FIGS. 13-23. Referring to FIGS. 13 and 17, this 
embodiment of the extractor 600 comprises a handle 602, a handle shank 
604, a plunger push rod 606 and a generally cone-shaped enveloping means 
608. The extractor 600 also includes an extractor introducing shroud 610. 
Referring to FIGS. 22 and 23, the handle 602 is generally cylindrical with 
a plurality of grip slots 612 evenly spaced about the outer surface 
thereof. A tissue clamp clearance hole 614 is axially centered in and 
extends through the handle 602. The handle 602 includes a base portion 616 
and a distal portion 618. The distal portion 618 is movable relative to 
the base portion 616, and provides a chuck-type instrument locking means 
620 including a collet 622 with a constriction surface 624. The 
constriction surface is manipulated by a constriction cam 626 driven by a 
collet chuck 628. The chuck 628 follows the collet draw cam 630 by means 
of a rider or follower pin 632. A constriction slot 634 is provided in the 
collet 622. 
The handle 602 and handle shank 604 are removably connected to the plunger 
rod 606 at a bayonet connection 636, as shown in FIG. 17. Referring to 
FIGS. 18 and 19, one end of the handle shank 604 has a head 638 and 
carries a pair of substantially identical receiving channels 640 
diametrically opposed to each other. At the end of each pin channel 640, 
the head 638 includes a pin stop area 642. As shown in FIG. 19, the pin 
channels 640 are designed to receive bayonet pins 644 carried by the 
plunger rod 606. The end of the plunger rod 606 also carries a coil spring 
646 sandwiched between a plunger shoulder 648 and a floating washer 650. 
The self-deploying, cone-shaped enveloping means 608 of the extractor 600 
is formed by a pair of enveloping means leaves 652. As shown in FIGS. 
14-16, before being connected to the extractor 600, the leaves 652 are 
generally thin, flat and triangularly shaped. The leaves 652 may be formed 
of a thin continuous piece of stainless steel, although other metallic 
foils, metallic alloys or plastics may be used. At its apex 654, each leaf 
652 carries a pair of retainer holes 656. Opposite the apex 654, a 
plurality of cutout or stamped finger tabs 658 are provided to form a 
organ restraint bead 660. At one of the generally opposed side edges, 
extending between the apex 654 and the bead 660, leading edge 662 is 
provided by doubling a portion of the leaf back on itself and, at the 
other side edge, a plurality of inline organ retaining tabs 664 are 
formed. The tabs 664 are cut or stamped in the individual leaves 652 and 
deflected from the plane of the leaves as shown in FIG. 16. 
The leaves 652 forming the cone shaped enveloping means 608 are connected 
to the plunger rod 606 as shown in FIGS. 13, 20 and 21. Specifically, at 
the end of the rod 606 opposite the end carrying the bayonet pins 644 (see 
FIG. 19), the plunger rod 606 carries a pair of diametrically opposed leaf 
retainer pins 670. Each pin 670 includes a pin shank 672 and a pin head 
674, and may be pressfit into the body of the plunger rod 606. A 
reinforcement ring 678, with an elongated portion 676 to facilitate 
attaching the ring 678 to the leaves 652, is received about the pins 670. 
The leaves 652 of the enveloping means 608 are permanently carried at the 
ends of the plunger 606 as depicted in FIG. 13 and 21. Specifically, the 
leaves 652 are curled or rolled into a generally circular configuration 
with the leading edge 662 of one leaf 652 generally adjacent to the barb 
carrying edge of the other leaf 652. The aligned retainer pin holes 656 
are aligned with the borings in the plunger 606 for receiving the retainer 
pins 670. Pins 670 are inserted into the pinholes 656 of both leaves 652, 
then into the borings in the plunger 606. The reinforcing ring 678 around 
each pin shank 672 under the pin head 674 helps hold the leaves 652 in 
place. Because each leaf 652 is pinned into the inside of the generally 
cylindrical axial body of the plunger 606 at two spaced locations, they 
resiliently retain their curled shape. The beads 660 are formed by the 
spaced finger tabs 658 to allow the leaves curl. 
To prepare the extractor for sale or use, the free end of the plunger rod 
606, with the enveloping means 608 attached thereto, is inserted into the 
free open end of the shroud 610 and pushed into it while rotating in a 
clockwise direction until the spring carrying end of the plunger rod 606 
extends past the shroud gib 611. Thus, the enveloping means 608 is moved 
into and carried in the shroud, the leaves 652 sliding against each other 
and being automatically compressed or wound into an overlaid, 
multi-layered cylindrical shape inside the shroud 610. Then, the plunger 
rod 606 carrying the enveloping means 608, surrounded by the shroud 610, 
is connected to the handle shank 604 by inserting the head 638 of the 
handle shank into the end of the rod 606 and pushing inwardly against the 
tension provided by the spring 646 until the bayonet pins 644 travel 
inwardly as far as possible into the pin channels 640, giving a quarter 
turn to the handle shank 604 and releasing it so that the spring 646 
biases the bayonet pins 644 against the pin stops 642. 
The extractor 600 of the third embodiment may be sold as a complete 
disposable unit assembled as outlined in the preceding paragraph. The 
extractor 600 also may be sold without the shroud 610, or the enveloping 
means 608 (mounted on the rod 606) may be sold as a unit for a single use, 
then disposal. 
To use the extractor 600, the shroud 610, in place around the enveloping 
means 608, as depicted in FIG. 17, may be inserted into a typical cannula. 
To deploy the enveloping means 608, the extractor 600 is pushed inwardly 
(relative to the shroud 610, cannula and abdomen) while rotating in a 
clockwise direction. The resiliency of the leaves 652 causes the 
enveloping means 608 to self-deploy automatically as the leaves 652 are 
extended from the end of the introducer shroud 610. When fully deployed 
(as depicted in FIG. 13), the surgeon may insert a grasping instrument 
through the hollow passage running the length of the extractor 600, past 
the open end of the enveloping means 608, and draw the tissue to be 
removed inside the deployed cone-shaped enveloping means 608. The grasping 
instrument may be locked in place relative to the extractor 600 with the 
tissue inside the enveloping means 608 by rotating the upper half 618 of 
the handle 602 a quarter turn in a clockwise direction. The extractor 600 
carrying the grasping instrument and the tissue inside the enveloping 
means 608 may be then withdrawn through the cannula, or the extractor 600 
and cannula can be removed simultaneously from the patient's abdomen. 
The third embodiment of the extractor 600 may be used with a flexible, 
substantially liquid-proof fluid containment web material 682 (similar to 
web material 520) attached thereto, as shown in FIGS. 24 and 25. FIG. 24 
is intended to diagram representationally that the containment web takes 
the form of a "baggie" and to depict the position of the containment web 
682 with respect to the extractor 600 generally, and more specifically, to 
the enveloping means 608 and plunger rod 606. Referring to FIG. 25, the 
web 682 is attached to the rod 606 between the spring carrying end thereof 
and the leaf retaining pins 670. A bushing 684 is connected to the rod 
606. The bushing 684 has a slot 686 in the end adjacent to the spring 
carrying end of the rod 606. The web 682 is pulled through the bushing 
686, laid over the slot 686, and a retaining ring 688 is pushed into the 
slot 686 capturing the web 682 between the slot 686 and ring 688. The 
large, free open end of the web 682 carries a draw string 690 which may be 
tightened to dose the end after a tissue is inside. 
The preferred thickness of the leaves 652 is 0.002 inch, although a range 
of 0.001-0.003 inch may be used. The leaf retaining pins 670 may be welded 
to the plunger 606. Only a single row of tissue retaining barbs or teeth 
664 is depicted, but more than one row may be used and the shape can be 
changed as long as they do not interfere with the collapse or expansion of 
the leaves 652. The instrument lock 620 is broadly a cam operated 
compressible surface that narrows the inside diameter of the passageway 
extending the length of the extractor 600. 
Having thus described the invention, it is to be understood that the scope 
of the invention is limited only by the following claims.