Importance

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Abstract

The present invention is directed to a catheter hand-piece apparatus for use in surgical procedures to control the positioning and functioning of a catheter assembly. The catheter hand-piece apparatus includes a handle, which is connected to a catheter assembly, and a fastener module located within the handle. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the handle comprises a clear molded lid that is pivotally attached between two molded enclosures, a tubular axle located between the enclosure sections and attached thereto by a snap ring, and a nosepiece, which is attached to a catheter sheath of the catheter assembly. The interchangeable fastener module may be replaced mid-procedure and includes an irrigation port and a flexible sheath, which is attached to the port and has a tubular adjustment knob slidably positioned about it. The knob may be interchangeably mounted to the handle. The module further includes a sheath-protected optical fiber for selectively ablating an area within a vessel and a fastener-pusher. Two o-rings are included for creating fluid-tight seals in the module. Furthermore, at least one fastening means is loaded over, within, or in conjunction with the optical fiber of the fastener module to be deployed at the surgical site.

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First Claim