Importance

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Abstract

A surgical instrument assembly for use in snare cauterization operations includes a tubular sheath member, a cauterization loop, and a wire operatively connected to the loop, the wire passing longitudinally through the sheath. An electrical supply is connected to the wire for feeding an electrical current to the loop, while an actuatable shifter is connected to the wire for sliding the wire along the sheath. A flexible web member is removably attached to the loop to form a capture pocket. During use the loop is passed over a polyp to be removed so that the web member substantially surrounds the polyp. The loop is then closed to engage the polyp around a base region thereof and an electrical current is conducted through the loop to burn through the polyp at the base region. The severed polyp is automatically captured by the web member. The web member is substantially separated from the loop allowing the loop to be retracted into the sheath while allowing the web member and captured polyp to remain outside the sheath.

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First Claim