| abstract |
A medical retrieval device (10) is disclosed comprising an elongated cylindrical member (11) that includes a continuum of a material (40), preferably a metal such as stainless steel or nitinol, that forms both the resilient grasping members (13) of retrieval basket (54), snare (26), or grasper forceps (23), and the proximal portion (21) or shaft of the device. The elongated cylindrical member can include a metal cannula (60) or solid rod (62) into which a series of laterally adjacent longitudinal slots (15) are cut or formed in the distal portion (37) of the elongated cylindrical member to form a plurality of resilient grasping members. These slots may be cut in a spiral configuration to produce a helical basket (69). The resilient grasping members in the original compact shape (17) are formed into an enlarged shape (18) to create a workspace volume (28) for the capture, manipulation and/or retrieval of an object within a patient. An external constraining device (14), such as an outer sheath, is used for introducing of the device and to compress the resilient grasping members over a calculus (24) or other object into a substantially closed position (30). An internal actuating member (29) within the passage (12) of the elongated cylindrical member can provide an alternative method of opening and closing the retrieval device. |