Patent ID: 7708756

Claim:
A medical device comprising: a flexible shaft comprising a pulling member movable therein, the flexible shaft having sufficient flexibility to be formed into an operable, looped configuration during use; an actuating mechanism operatively associated with a proximal end of the flexible shaft; an end effector associated with the distal end of the flexible shaft, wherein the end effector is operatively associated with a distal end of the pulling member; wherein the actuator mechanism has a first configuration in which the actuator mechanism is decoupled from the pulling member, and a second configuration wherein the actuator mechanism becomes operatively coupled to the pulling member to operate the end effector; wherein the actuator mechanism comprises an actuator movable from a first position wherein the actuator mechanism is decoupled from the pulling member to a second member wherein the actuator mechanism becomes operatively coupled to the pulling member; wherein the actuator is movable from the first position to the second position by squeezing with a single hand; wherein the actuator is movable from the second position to a third position wherein the end effector is operated.