ROBERT G LIPPITT, MD
Urology at Brightleaf Blvd, Smithfield, NC

6368327, Apr 9, 2002

Dec 22, 2000

09/745180

Raymond F. Lippitt - Bethesda MD 20817
Robert G. Lippitt - Smithfield NC 27577
Andrew R. Leopold - Lake Zurich IL

Raymond F. Lippitt - Bethesda MD
Robert G. Lippitt - Smithfield NC

A61B 1728

606110, 606207

A medical device comprising a canula assembly having a movable medical instrument assembly on the distal end thereof and a moving assembly on the proximal end thereof. The medical instrument assembly comprises a plurality of cooperating medical instrument structures having proximal ends confined peripherally at a position of confinement and distal ends movable toward and away from each other. Each cooperating medical instrument structure include a longitudinally stable tubular portion at the proximal confined end thereof having an open end spaced from the position of confinement. Each tubular portion has a movable elongated flexure element extending therethrough having a distal end disposed outwardly of the open end of the tubular portion and fixed with respect to a cooperating medical instrument structure at a position thereon spaced from the confined proximal end thereof. The moving assembly includes fixed structure having moving structure movably mounted thereon positioned and configured to be manually moved to effect movement of the distal ends of the movable medical instrument structure by the movement of the movable flexible elements.

5924175, Jul 20, 1999

Apr 29, 1998

9/069160

Robert G. Lippitt - Smithfield NC
Raymond F. Lippitt - Bethesda MD

A61B 1722, A61B 1750

24537

An annularly expanding and retracting gripping and releasing mechanism comprises an annular array of longitudinally fixed flexure elements and a corresponding number of longitudinally movable flexure elements. The arrangement is such that a longitudinally outward movement of the longitudinally movable flexure elements within the annular array of longitudinally fixed tubular flexure elements causes the fixed flexure elements to flex transversely outwardly and creates an annularly expanded condition defined by an annular series of transversely outwardly flexed fixed flexure elements interconnected at their flexure points by an annular series of arcuately outwardly flexed portions of the movable flexure elements. A manual movement in the opposite direction effects a longitudinally inward movement of the movable flexure elements to cause the expanded condition to progressively retract during which the outwardly flexed fixed flexure elements are progressively less flexed transversely outwardly and the arcuately flexed portions of the movable flexure elements have a progressively less arcuate extent.

5906622, May 25, 1999

Apr 29, 1998

9/069159

Robert G. Lippitt - Smithfield NC
Raymond F. Lippitt - Bethesda MD

A61B 1722

606127

A medical extractor comprising a cannula assembly having an annularly expanding and retracting gripping and releasing mechanism on the distal end thereof and a moving assembly on the proximal end thereof. The arrangement is such that a manual movement of the moving assembly in one direction effects a longitudinally outward movement of an annular array of longitudinally movable wire flexure elements within an annular array of longitudinally fixed tubular flexure elements to cause the fixed flexure elements to flex transversely outwardly and create an annularly expanded condition defined by an annular series of transversely outwardly flexed fixed flexure elements interconnected at their ends by an annular series of arcuately outwardly flexed portions of the movable flexure elements. A manual movement in the opposite direction effects a longitudinally inward movement of the movable flexure elements to cause the expanded condition to progressively retract during which the outwardly flexed fixed flexure elements are progressively less flexed transversely outwardly and the arcuately flexed portions of the movable flexure elements have a progressively less arcuate extent.

7210210, May 1, 2007

May 27, 2003

10/445086

Robert G. Lippitt - Smithfield NC, US
Raymond F. Lippitt - Bethesda MD, US
Andrew R. Leopold - Lake Zurich IL, US

Lippitt Extractor Company, LLC - Smithfield NC

A61B 17/22, B23P 11/02

29447, 29516, 606113, 606127

A method of forming an annularly expanding and retracting gripping and releasing mechanism providing a series of flexible tubes, comprising providing (1) a series of flexible tubes, (2) a corresponding series of wires, each of which includes a movable wire section and relatively short fixed wire section integrally connected with one end of the movable wire section by a kink configured so that the wire sections extend in longitudinally coextensive relation therefrom; (3) a series of tubular elements of thermoplastic material; and (4) a series of heat shrinkable sleeves assembling a distal end portion of each flexible tube with a fixed wire section, a tubular element and a heat shrinkable sleeve so that the fixed wire section extends along the exterior periphery of the flexible tube with the kink disposed outwardly of the distal end thereof. The tubular element is disposed in surrounding relation to the fixed wire section and the flexible tube and the heat shrinkable sleeve is disposed in surrounding relation to the tubular element. The method further comprises applying heat to the exterior of each heat shrinkable sleeve at a temperature sufficient to contract the sleeve and soften the thermoplastic material of the tubular element surrounded thereby so that the contraction of the sleeve molds the softened thermoplastic material into adhered contact with the exterior surfaces of the surrounded fixed wire section and flexible tube.

7041108, May 9, 2006

May 13, 2003

10/436445

Robert G. Lippitt - Smithfield NC, US
Raymond F. Lippitt - Bethesda MD, US
Andrew R. Leopold - Lake Zurich IL, US

Lippitt Extractor Company, LLC - Smithfield NC

A61B 17/22

606127, 606128, 606106, 606 25, 606110, 606113, 604264, 604265

An expansible and retractable mechanism of the type disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 5,924,175 and/or a medical grasper of the type disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 5,906,622 in which (1) the fixed flexure elements are self-biased to move into the expanded condition thereof. A handpiece for the medical grasper is constructed and arranged so that after a stone has been grasped, a further digital pull on the movable handpiece structure effects the application of a limiting resiliently yielding force to the gripping action.