What is claimed is:
1. A vacuum grabber device for insertion into a body cavity via an insertion device, the insertion device having a working channel extending therethrough from a proximate end to a distal end thereof, the vacuum grabber device comprising:
a vacuum line slidable within the working channel, the vacuum line having a distal end insertable in the insertion device;
a substantially transparent and airtight flexible cup attached to the distal end of the vacuum line, the flexible cup being foldable to fit within the working channel and, wherein when deployed from the working channel, the flexible cup is expandable into a funnel having a maximum diameter greater than that of the working channel; and
means for positioning the deployed flexible cup adjacent to a selected portion of tissue within the body cavity.
2. The vacuum grabber device according to claim 1, further comprising means for controlling a pressure within the vacuum line.
3. The vacuum grabber device according to claim 2, wherein, when the flexible cup is positioned adjacent to the selected portion of tissue, a vacuum pressure is introduced into the vacuum line by the pressure controlling means to draw the selected portion of tissue into the flexible cup.
4. The vacuum grabber device according to claim 3, wherein, when the selected portion of tissue is drawn in the flexible cup by the vacuum pressure, withdrawing the vacuum line proximally through the working channel places the selected portion of tissue into a desired operating position relative to the insertion device.
5. The vacuum grabber device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible cup is formed of a clear flexible polymer.
6. The vacuum grabber device according to claim 5, wherein the clear flexible polymer is a plasticized silicon.
7. The vacuum grabber device according to claim 1, wherein the maximum diameter of the flexible cup is predetermined based on a size of the selected portion of tissue, plus a safety margin portion of tissue.
8. The vacuum grabber device according to claim 1, further comprising a sample catcher disposed between the flexible cup and the means for applying a vacuum.
9. The vacuum grabber device according to claim 8, wherein the sample catcher is a mesh disposed in the vacuum line.
10. The vacuum grabber device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible cup is biased so that, when not constrained within the working channel, the flexible cup expands to a substantially funnel shaped configuration.
11. The vacuum grabber device according to claim 10, wherein the flexible cup further comprises resilient elastic elements to bias the cup to the substantially funnel shaped configuration.
12. The vacuum grabber device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure applied by the pressure controlling means is variable.
13. The vacuum grabber device according to claim 12, wherein the pressure controlling means may selectively provide one of a positive pressure and a vacuum.
14. The vacuum grabber device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible cup comprises a membrane adapted to prevent contamination of the selected portion of tissue drawn in the flexible cup.
15. The vacuum grabber device according to claim 1, wherein, when the flexible cup is not constrained within the working channel, the body cavity is observable by a vision device through the substantially transparent flexible cup.
16. A method for removing a selected portion of tissue from a surface of a body cavity, comprising the steps of:
inserting into the body cavity an insertion device;
advancing through the insertion device a substantially transparent flexible cup in a folded configuration within the insertion device;
deploying from the insertion device the flexible cup in a substantially funnel shaped configuration;
visually positioning the deployed flexible cup adjacent to the selected portion of tissue by observing the selected portion of tissue through the substantially transparent flexible cup;
applying a vacuum pressure through the flexible cup to draw the selected portion of tissue into the flexible cup; and
at least partially withdrawing the flexible cup proximally into the insertion device to draw the selected portion of tissue into a desired position relative to the insertion device.
17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of cutting the selected portion of tissue from the body cavity.
18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the insertion device comprises an endoscope and wherein the step of visually positioning the deployed flexible cup includes the sub steps of:
positioning the endoscope to view the selected portion of tissue; and
maneuvering the transparent flexible cup and observing the suspect area through the substantially transparent flexible cup so that the suspect area and a safety margin area surrounding the suspect area are substantially centered within the transparent flexible cup.
19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of, after applying the vacuum pressure, providing a positive pressure to the flexible cup to at least partially eject from the flexible cup the selected portion of tissue.
20. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of closing a wound resulting from cutting the selected portion of tissue.
21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the wound is closed by stapling.
22. A vacuum grabber device for insertion into a body cavity via an insertion device, the insertion device having a working channel extending therethrough from a proximate end to a distal end thereof, the vacuum grabber device comprising:
a vacuum line slidable within the working channel, the vacuum line having a distal end insertable in the insertion device;
a substantially transparent flexible cup attached to the distal end of the vacuum line, the flexible cup being foldable to fit within the working channel and, wherein when deployed from the working channel, the flexible cup is expandable into a funnel; and
means for visually positioning the deployed flexible cup adjacent to a selected portion of tissue within the body cavity, such that the body cavity is observable by a vision device through the substantially transparent flexible cup.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A drinking vessel locating system comprising:
a drinking vessel;
a drinking vessel locator assembly affixed to said drinking vessel and including a receiver assembly;
a transmittercharger base including a transmitter assembly transmitting a radio signal to said receiver assembly; and
a rechargeable battery which is charged when said drinking vessel is placed on said transmittercharger base;
wherein an audible sound is activated when said receiver assembly is activated for a predetermined time period.
2. The drinking vessel locating system of claim 1, wherein said drinking vessel locator assembly comprises:
a male first threaded region; and
a female second threaded region located along a bottom perimeter edge of said drinking vessel and being removably engaged to said male first threaded region.
3. The drinking vessel locating system of claim 1, wherein said drinking vessel locator assembly comprises: a locator body including a cup-shaped enclosure provided with a speaker and an illuminating member disposed through a wall portion thereof respectively.
4. The drinking vessel locating system of claim 1, wherein said drinking vessel locator assembly further comprises:
a circular first receiver connector;
a first insulator; and
a second receiver connector arranged in a circumscribed circular manner along a convex bottom surface of said drinking vessel locator assembly;
wherein said first and second receiver connectors are electrically isolated from each other by said first insulator.
5. The drinking vessel locating system of claim 4, wherein said transmittercharger base comprises a first base connector and a second base connector contacting said first receiver connector and second receiver connector respectively;
wherein said first and second receiver connectors and said corresponding first and second base connectors include matching cup-shaped profiles nested within each other during battery charging procedures; and
wherein said circular shape of said first and second base connectors and said first and second receiver connectors provides a recharging current flow to said battery regardless of a rotational position of said drinking vessel when nested within said transmittercharger base.
6. The drinking vessel locating system of claim 1, wherein said transmittercharger base comprises a transmitter housing having a generally hemispherical shape with a flat anti-skid bottom surface to thereby providing a stable base on which to charge said drinking vessel locator assembly;
wherein said transmitter assembly is integrally molded to an inner surface of said transmittercharger base; and
wherein said transmitter assembly includes a transmitter and a second microprocessor electrically coupled thereto.
7. The drinking vessel locating system of claim 1, wherein said transmittercharger base further comprises:
a first base connector;
a second insulator; and
a second base connector contacting said first receiver connector and second receiver connectors;
wherein said first and second base connectors are arranged in a circumscribed circular manner along a concave top surface of said transmittercharger base; and
wherein said first and second base connectors provide a matching physical profile and thereby establish an efficient electrical connection with said first and second receiver connectors.
8. The drinking vessel locating system of claim 7, wherein said first and second base connectors provide a gravity-aided contact to charge said rechargeable battery.
9. The drinking vessel locating system of claim 1, wherein said drinking vessel locator assembly comprises:
a receiver;
a first microprocessor electrically coupled thereto;
a battery electrically coupled to said receiver;
a sound generator contained in said locator body and connected to said first microprocessor; and
a speaker in communication with said sound generator.
10. A drinking vessel locating system comprising:
a drinking vessel;
a drinking vessel locator assembly affixed to a base portion of said drinking vessel and including a receiver assembly;
a transmittercharger base including a transmitter assembly transmitting a radio signal to said receiver assembly; and
a rechargeable battery which is charged when said drinking vessel is placed on said transmittercharger base;
wherein an audible sound is activated when said receiver assembly is activated for a predetermined time period.
11. The drinking vessel locating system of claim 10, wherein said drinking vessel locator assembly comprises:
a male first threaded region; and
a female second threaded region located along a bottom perimeter edge of said drinking vessel and being removably engaged to said male first threaded region.
12. The drinking vessel locating system of claim 10, wherein said drinking vessel locator assembly comprises: a locator body including a cup-shaped enclosure provided with a speaker and an illuminating member disposed through a wall portion thereof respectively.
13. The drinking vessel locating system of claim 10, wherein said drinking vessel locator assembly further comprises:
a circular first receiver connector;
a first insulator; and
a second receiver connector arranged in a circumscribed circular manner along a convex bottom surface of said drinking vessel locator assembly;
wherein said first and second receiver connectors are electrically isolated from each other by said first insulator.
14. The drinking vessel locating system of claim 13, wherein said transmittercharger base comprises a first base connector and a second base connector contacting said first receiver connector and second receiver connector respectively;
wherein said first and second receiver connectors and said corresponding first and second base connectors include matching cup-shaped profiles nested within each other during battery charging procedures; and
wherein said circular shape of said first and second base connectors and said first and second receiver connectors provides a recharging current flow to said battery regardless of a rotational position of said drinking vessel when nested within said transmittercharger base.
15. The drinking vessel locating system of claim 10, wherein said transmittercharger base comprises a transmitter housing having a generally hemispherical shape with a flat anti-skid bottom surface to thereby providing a stable base on which to charge said drinking vessel locator assembly;
wherein said transmitter assembly is integrally molded to an inner surface of said transmittercharger base; and
wherein said transmitter assembly includes a transmitter and a second microprocessor electrically coupled thereto.
16. The drinking vessel locating system of claim 10, wherein said transmittercharger base further comprises:
a first base connector;
a second insulator; and
a second base connector contacting said first receiver connector and second receiver connectors;
wherein said first and second base connectors are arranged in a circumscribed circular manner along a concave top surface of said transmittercharger base; and
wherein said first and second base connectors provide a matching physical profile and thereby establish an efficient electrical connection with said first and second receiver connectors.
17. The drinking vessel locating system of claim 16, wherein said first and second base connectors provide a gravity-aided contact to charge said rechargeable battery.
18. The drinking vessel locating system of claim 10, wherein said drinking vessel locator assembly comprises:
a receiver;
a first microprocessor electrically coupled thereto;
a battery electrically coupled to said receiver;
a sound generator contained in said locator body and connected to said first microprocessor; and
a speaker in communication with said sound generator.
19. A method of utilizing a drinking vessel locating system, said method comprising the following steps:
providing a drinking vessel;
providing a drinking vessel locator assembly affixed to a base portion of said drinking vessel wherein said drinking vessel includes a receiver assembly;
providing a transmittercharger base including a transmitter assembly that transmits a radio signal to said receiver assembly;
providing and charging a rechargeable battery by placing said drinking vessel on said transmittercharger base; and
activating an audible sound when said receiver assembly is activated for a predetermined time period.