FORM 2
THE PATENT ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENT RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10 and rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION: MEDICAL RETRIEVAL BASKET Applicant
(a) Name: Biorad Medisys Pvt. Ltd.
(b) Nationality: Indian
(c) Address: Survey No. 48/3 & 48/7
Pashan Sus Road, Sus Village Taluka Mulshi Pune – 411021
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to medical devices to remove stone, calculi or like from the biliary and urinary tracts. More particularly, the invention relates to stone baskets having grasping and releasing mechanism like configurations at distal end of the device that exhibit improved capabilities for sustained capture, controlled release and limited patient trauma.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
Medical instruments are currently in use that reduces the invasiveness and potential trauma previously associated with various medical procedures. One such procedure is the removal from the body of naturally occurring non-tissue objects referred to as stones, such as kidney stones and gall stones. Various medical retrieval devices are available which allow these stone-type objects to be removed from the body via the urinary tract, without requiring surgery. Typically, such instruments consist of two or more flexible elements. The flexible elements, such as wires, are formed in shape of a resiliently collapsible basket, cage grasper, or other entrapping mechanism. This basket is attached to a drive wire or actuation cable that passes through the lumen of flexible sheath having a said diameter and length. The sheath and drive wire are attached to a multi-part handle normally constructed of thermoplastic materials, which can typically be operated by the user with a single hand.
By manipulating the handle, the drive wire can be pulled back relative to the sheath, collapsing the basket as it retracts into the sheath. In this closed position, the sheath can be passed through the working channel of an endoscope to the proximity of the stone to be removed within the patient’s body. By again manipulating the handle, which remains outside the endoscope and the patient’s body, the basket is deployed from the end of the sheath, and expands to its open position. The device is then manipulated using the handle until the stone becomes enclosed within the basket. This manipulation may include advancing, withdrawing and rotating the basket in order to get the stone to pass between the flexible elements that comprise the basket. When the stone has been successfully engaged within the basket, the basket is partially closed to secure the stone within the basket wires, and the endoscope and the retrieval device containing the stone are then

simultaneously removed from the body. Generally the contour of known baskets is round or oval and is formed by a plurality of legs.
Retrieval of intra-corporeal fragments of urinary calculi can be problematic in that stones and/or stone fragments in the ureter often migrate within the body before, during, and after a lithotripsy procedure. Therefore a need exists in the art for a retrieval device that facilitates the initial smooth and capture of material as well as maintaining capture of material during further positioning and removal of the captured material and retrieval device that facilitates the controlled release of a stone or fragment during a surgical procedure. For example, controlled release of material is often required to reposition a target stone relative to lithotriptor or release of captured stone of a size too large for removal without fragmentation.
Thus, it is desirable to have configurations for medical retrieval devices that exhibit improved capabilities for sustained capture, controlled release, and limited patient trauma.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing problems are solved and a technical advance is achieved in an extractor for
capturing, extracting, retrieving or removing objects such as stones and calculi from human
body.
A medical device is provided. The device includes a body, an articulator movably connected to the body and set of wires having distal and proximal ends connected via a kink. The set of wires is in communication with the articulator. The device further includes a basket assembly disposed at the distal end of device, made of the said set of wires, wherein the articulator is capable of moving the basket assembly outside the longitudinal plane, and wherein the basket assembly is capable of being extended and retracted in a longitudinal plane simultaneously with movement outside the longitudinal plane.
Further, a method for retrieving a foreign object or calculi is provided. The method includes inserting the said medical device for removing the said foreign object or calculi into a patient, extending the basket assembly of the device out to the said foreign object or calculi, and articulating the basket assembly to encapsulate the object. The method further includes

retracting the basket assembly to retrieve the said foreign object or calculi, wherein the extending and the articulating are capable of being performed simultaneously or the articulating and retracting are capable of being performed simultaneously.
The invention relates to a single medical retrieval device that can function both as grasper and a basket type retrieval device. A combined grasper and basket device can easily grasp, release and transport stones or other calculi.
In one aspect, the invention involves a medical retrieval device that comprises a sheath and a multi-wire retrieval assembly. The multi-wire retrieval assembly has a first position, in which the multi-wire retrieval assembly extends from distal end of the sheath to form an open ended grasping device, and a second position, in which the multi-wire assembly extends from the distal end of the sheath to form a substantially closed ended basket-type retrieval device.
In one embodiment, the open ended grasping device is adapted to capture material by grasping a front portion of the material. The substantially close-ended basket type retrieval assembly is adapted to capture material by enclosing the stone or other calculi within the basket type retrieval device.
A medical device configured to be inserted into a patient’s body to retrieve material from the patient’s body includes a basket assembly. The basket assembly is configured to transition between various states including an expanded state and a collapsed state. The device may be inserted into the patient’s body while the basket assembly is in the collapsed state. While in the patient’s body, the basket assembly may be transitioned to the expanded state. Then a physician may manoeuvre material to be removed from the patient’s body into the basket assembly via expanding movement of the basket. Next, the basket assembly may be transitioned into the collapsed state or a partially collapsed state so that the basket assembly can be removed from the patient’s body.

Other features and aspects of the methods disclosed here will become more apparent from the following detailed description considered with reference to the accompanying drawings figures in which like elements are designated by like reference numerals.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
An object of the invention is to fulfil the need expressed above. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, this objective is achieved by providing a method of forming an annularly expanding and retracting gripping and releasing mechanism suitable for use as a stone grasper. The gripping and releasing mechanism comprises an annular array of fixed elements fixed together at proximal ends thereof and corresponding flexible elements. This method facilitate the movement of said flexible elements in one direction to extend the said flexible elements in flexed condition outwardly thus creating an expanded condition and a movement of said flexible elements in opposite direction to extend the said flexible elements in flexed condition inwardly thus creating a retracted condition.
The objective is also obtained by providing a medical grasper which comprises a set of tubular structures each including a wire receiving tubular elements and a movable wire associated with each wire receiving tubular element. Each wire comprising a short fixed section and a long movable section wherein each said short fixed section is connected with one end of the said long movable section of each wire by a kink. In the medical grasper the distal end of each of said tubular structure including each said wire receiving tubular elements, capable of retraction and expansion defined by long movable section of wire, resulting into flexible elements of this assembly, having a short fixed wire section extending exteriorly alongside each of said tubular element, further thermally annealed with each of the said tubular structure to retain said fixed wire section at proximal end of each of said tubular structure resulting into fixed elements of the said assembly
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the medical device.
Figure 2 is includes a perspective view and side view of the basket assembly of the medical
device.

Figure 3 is top view of the tubular structures arranged together in a basket of the medical
device.
Figure 4 is sectional view of the basket assembly of the medical device.
Figure 5 is perspective view of the medical device when the basket is in expanded position.
Figure 5(a) is progressive view of the opening of basket in relation to the handle assembly of
the medical device.
Figure 6 is perspective view of the medical device when the basket is in retracted position.
Figure 7 is perspective view of the handle assembly of the medical device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
As shown in FIG. 1, a medical device 10 is described, wherein the assembly comprises of a basket containing assembly 11 and a handle assembly 12. Medical device 10 may include a basket 111 disposed at distal end of the basket containing assembly 11, and may be configured to reciprocally move between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, basket 111 is in the expanded configuration. In the expanded configuration, a plurality of tubular structures 112 are provided, each including a wire receiving tubular element 113 and a movable wire 114 associated with each such tubular element 113. The set of said tubular structures 112 containing wire receiving tubular element 113, at their proximal end are further crimped with a crimping needle or like, allowing only movable flexible end 1141 of wire running through the said wire receiving tubular elements 113, shown in Fig 1(a) to move from distal end of the medical device 10 towards the proximal end of the device 10, further covered with braided sheath 15 connected to the distal end of the handle assembly 12.
The basket containing assembly 11 is connected to the handle assembly 12 through the said braided sheath 15, set of those tubular structures 112 including said tubular elements 113, having movable wires 114 capable of expansion and retraction, connected to . As shown, the basket assembly 11 of the medical extractor 10 is capable of being inserted through the

central passage of a conventional scope deployed with a patient with the gripping and releasing mechanism extending within the patient outwardly of the distal end of the scope and the basket assembly 11 disposed inwardly of the proximate end of the scope exteriorly of the patient.
The basket assembly 11 and the gripping and releasing mechanism include a series of three elongated wire receiving tubular elements 113 and corresponding number of wires 114. Each wire includes a relatively long movable wire section 1141 and a relatively short fixed wire section 1142 by a kink 116. The starting materials also include a corresponding number of tubular structures 112 of PET material.
The tubular elements 113 shown in Fig 1 and Fig 2 are tubes made of a flexible, thin walled plastic material capable of stably withstanding relatively high temperatures and of resisting longitudinal stretch. The tubular elements 113 are sized to provide an interior diameter to slidably receive and closely confine an associated movable wire section 1141 therein. A preferred example of material which can be utilized to form the wire receiving tubular elements 113 is polyamide having a diameter of 0.16 to 0.30mm. Another exemplary material is PEEK (polyethyl ethyl keystone).
The distal end of each of said tubular structure 112 including each said wire receiving tubular elements 113, capable of retraction and expansion is defined by long movable section of wire 1141, resulting into flexible elements of this assembly 118, having a short fixed wire section 1142 extending exteriorly alongside each of said tubular element 113, further thermally annealed with each of the said tubular structure 112 to retain said fixed wire section 1142 at proximal end of each of said tubular structure 112 resulting into fixed elements 119 of the said assembly 11. The distal end of long movable wire 1141 sections extending from the proximal end of each of said tubular element 113 are held together by hollow needle or a holding tube 13 and a longitudinal spring like covering sheath 14 as shown in Fig 2. Further to complete the assembly, a braided sheath 15 covers a portion of flexible elements 118 of the said assembly 11 and whole of long movable wire section 1141 of the said wire receiving tubular elements 113 thermally annealed with proximal ends of

fixed elements 119 through a shrink tube 16 to facilitate the movement of the flexible elements outwardly and inwardly.
The wires 114 are preferably made of a kink resistant metal, preferably a shape memory metal such as nitinol. Preferably, the kink 116 is formed in memory as an acute included angle between the fixed 1142 and movable wire section 1141 which extend co-extensively to form the kink 116.
The braided sheath 15 is preferably formed in a tubular shape and made of flexible material such as fluorocarbon resin of FEP, PTFE, PFA, ETFE, polyamide or the like. Alternatively, the sheath 15 can be fabricated of a substantially rigid material, such as stainless steel, or a rigid plastic, a rigid plastic, a rigid synthetic resin, or the like
The tubular structure 112 is shown in Fig 3. A preferred material is high density polyethylene. The interior diameter size of the surrounding tubular elements 112 are oversize with respect to exterior diameter size of the wire receiving tubular elements 113. The braided sheath 15 is preferably oversize in the diameter with respect to the tubular structure 112 and is formed of a material having a relatively high shrink temperature. A preferred material is PET-polyester resin, although other suitable material may be utilized.
Ultimately, the kinked wires, the distal end portions of the wire receiving tubular elements 113, the surrounding tubular structures 112, and they are assembled so as to form the gripping and releasing mechanism. In the assembly, a movable wire section 1141 is disposed within each tubular element 113 and a proximal end portion of each tubular structure 112 is assembled together with a fixed wire section 1142, a tubular element 113 , and a longitudinal hollow needle or holding tube 13 so that (1) the fixed wire section 1142 extends along the interior periphery of the flexible tubular structure 112 with the kink 116 disposed outwardly of the distal end thereof, (2) the tubular element 113 is disposed in surrounding relation to the fixed wire section 1142, including the flexible movable end 1141 of the wire through, (3) the longitudinal hollow needle or hollow tube 13 is disposed in a relation to the tubular structure 112 and tubular elements 113 so that the movable end of 1141 of the

three consecutive wires running through the said tubular elements 113 are held together that extends beyond the proximal end of the said tubular structure 112.
Preferably, as shown in Fig 2, each flexible tubular structure 112 is assembled with a fixed wire section 1142, a tubular element 113 in the positions indicated, heat is applied progressively to the exterior of these elements of the assembly 11 at a temperature and for a time sufficient to cause the tubular element 113 to shrink or contract around the coextensive portion of the associated surrounding tubular structure 112. The heat preferably is applied by a hot air blast at a temperature which will soften the thermoplastic material of the coextensive portion of the surround tubular structure 112 causing it to flow into adhered contact with the exterior peripheries of the fixed wire section 1142 and the exterior periphery of the tubular element 112. Once the heat is removed and the components are allowed to cool, the thermoplastic material of the coextensive portions of the surround tubular structure 112 serves to adhere each fixed wire section 1142 to the exterior periphery of the associated wire receiving tubular element 113
The sequential heating of each tubular structure 112 and associated components as it is assembled, is, as aforesaid, preferred because only one assembly need be maintained in position at one time and then fixed in that position by the application of heat. However, it is within the broadest aspects of the present invention to complete all three assemblies and then affect the heating.
The subassembly resulting from the above procedures includes parts of the basket assembly 11 with the gripping and releasing mechanism connected at its distal end. The fixed and movable ends of wire 1142 and 1141 constitute fixed and movable parts of the gripping and releasing mechanism. The main extent of the tubular structures 112 are next contained together in coextensive relation to form the fixed elements 119 of the basket assembly 11 while the main extend of the flexible wire sections 1141, running through the wire receiving tubular elements 113 constitute the flexible elements 118 of the assembly 11 as shown in Fig 4. Thus, the connections of both the fixed elements 119 and the flexible elements 118 between the distal end of the assembly 11 and gripping and releasing mechanism are essentially automatically made integral connections in that the portions of the flexible

tubular structures 112 of the assembly 11 form extensions of the distal portions forming the fixed element 119 of the gripping and releasing mechanism and the main portions of the flexible wire sections 1141 form extensions of the distal portions forming the movable flexible elements 118 of the gripping and releasing mechanism.
It is noted that at the proximal end portion of tubular structure 112 of the assembly 11, the three movable wire sections 1141 extend outwardly of the proximal end of the wire receiving tubular elements 113, wherein the movable flexible ends run throughout the length of the assembly, preferably the length is 130-135 cm, wherein the said three movable flexible ends 1141 of the wire are first held together with a hollow needle or a holding tube 13, wherein 3-4 mm of the said flexible ends 1141 are held together with the said needle or holding tube 13 to facilitate the gripping and releasing mechanism, further the running length of the said flexible ends 1141 of the three wire are surrounded by a body of longitudinal spring 17 of stainless steel material with PTFE Coating to hold left over length of the flexible ends of 1141 of wire are held together at the distal end of the handle assembly 12 by another crimping needle 18. This whole of the assembly is surrounded by a braided sheath 15, covering the whole basket assembly 11, wherein a outer shrink tube 19 is provided over the said braided sheath 15 covering upto a 40mm length of the said basket assembly 11 from the proximal end of the tubular elements 113 to allow the stable movement of the gripping and releasing mechanism and hold together the fixed 119 and flexible elements 118 while operating the same with the said handle assembly 12 in order to facilitate the connection between the gripping and releasing mechanism of the basket containing assembly 11 and the handle assembly 12 of the medical device 10, as shown in Fig 1, Fig 2 and Fig 5.
In the expanded state of the basket including assembly as shown in Fig 5, the exposed portion of flexible element 118 form kinked type bridge structure 1181, extending distally from the distal end of a given flexible element 118, wherein every such bridge structure is supported by movable flexible element 118 at one end of corresponding tubular element 113 and by fixed element 119 at another end of consecutive tubular structure 112. Three bridge like structures, as shown in Fig 5, are assembled in a manner, so as to facilitate the expansion of the device 10, wherein the user, is able to push the assembly through the

handle assembly 12, by sliding the knob 127 over the slider 124, in a forward direction allowing the movable flexible elements 118 of the basket including assembly 11, in co-ordination with the braided sheath 15, wherein the movable flexible elements 118 held together by crimping needle 18 at the proximal end locked in a position by the locking needle 1221 connected to the slide structure 124 further lockably connected to knob 127, expand in their periphery and accordingly allow the opening or expansion of the basket 111, as shown in Fig 5(a).
In the retracted state of the basket including assembly as shown in Fig 6, the exposed portion of flexible element 118 retract back into its own periphery, wherein the said portion of flexible element 118 were in an expanded state extending distally from the distal end of a given flexible element 118, wherein every such bridge structure is supported by movable flexible element 118 at one end of corresponding tubular element 113 and by fixed element 119 at another end of consecutive tubular structure 112. Three bridge like structures, as shown in Fig 6, are assembled in a manner, so as to facilitate the retraction of the device 10, wherein the user, is able to push the assembly through the handle assembly 12, by sliding the knob 127 over the slider 124, in a backward direction allowing the movable flexible elements 118 of the basket including assembly 11, in coordination with the braided sheath 15, wherein the movable flexible elements 118 held together by crimping needle 18 at the proximal end locked in a position by the locking needle 1221 connected to the slide structure 124 further lockably connected to knob 127, retract in their periphery and accordingly allow the retraction of the basket 111.
While the handle assembly 12 may assume any know configuration, one embodiment, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, which may be utilized is shown in Figs 1 and 7. As shown, the fixed part or fixed structure of the moving assembly 12 includes a cylindrical housing member 121 having a longitudinal slot 122 extending substantially there through from a distal or forward end thereof, including a locking needle 1221 to facilitate the movement of the crimping needle 18 in order to facilitate the expansion and retraction mechanism of the basket assembly 11, and a cap assembly generally indicated at 123, fixed at the distal end of the housing member 121 which serves to connect the fixed part of the handle assembly 12 with the fixed part of the

proximal end of the basket including assembly 11 having sheath at its proximal end. The movable part of the handle assembly 12 includes a slide structure, generally indicated at 124, mounted within the cylindrical housing member 121 for longitudinal sliding movement in opposite directions.
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a motion transmitting mechanism, serves to connect the moving parts of the handle assembly 12 and basket including assembly 11. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the motion transmitting mechanism is constructed and arranged to enable (1) a manual movement of the moving part of the handle assembly 12 in one direction through an opening stroke to effect movement of the movable part of the gripping and releasing mechanism through an opening stroke into a stone receiving open position, and (2) a manual movement of the moving part of the handle assembly 12 in an opposite direction through a gripping stroke to effect movement of the movable part of the gripping and releasing mechanism through a gripping stroke toward a closed limiting position to establish a gripping relation with a stone and (3) further a manual movement of the moving part of the handle assembly 12 toward the closed limiting position to effect the application of a limiting resiliently yielding force to the movable part of the gripping and releasing mechanism to maintain the gripping relation with the stone.
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the slide structure 124 includes a releasable locking mechanism, generally indicated at 125, which cooperates with structure of the housing member 121 to releasably lock the moving part of the handle assembly 12 against movement in the aforesaid one direction when the moving part has been moved a predetermined distance in the opposite direction beyond the gripping stroke to maintain the gripping relation by the applied limiting force without the necessity to maintain manual engagement of the moving part of the handle assembly 12.
The connection between the movable parts of the handle assembly 12 and the proximal end of the basket including assembly 11 includes an elongated uro tip 126 of hypodermic needle stock which forms the proximal end of the movable part of the basket including assembly 11 and a locking needle 1221 provided within the longitudinal slot 122. As shown, the uro tip

126 preferably constitutes the inner to receive the proximal end of the braided sheath 15 wherein the proximal end of the said braided sheath 15 further runs through the locking needle 1221 provided within the longitudinal slot 122, of the basket including assembly 11. The uro tip 126 and locking needle 1221 is configured to receive therein the outwardly extending proximal ends of the three movable wire sections 1141, held together in place by the said braided sheath 15, and to have the wire sections fixedly secured with respect thereto. While the mode of securement could be by a mechanical fastener arrangement, rest other preferred mode are known to the person skilled in the art.
As previously indicated, the medical device 10 is made to cooperate with a scope. When used as a kidney stone extractor, typically, the scope will be entered into the kidney through the urinary canal. The medical device 10 with the gripping and releasing mechanism and handle assembly 12 in the closed positions thereof, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is fed through the central passageway of the scope. When the gripping and releasing mechanism extends outwardly of the distal end of the passageway of the scope, the operator grasping the housing member 121 in one hand move the knob 127, by placing fingers in finger engaging loops 128(1) and 128(2) and thumb in the thumb engaging surface 129. Since the movable flexible elements 118 are fixed within the uro tip 126, they, in turn, are moved forwardly. Since each movable flexible element 118 is contained throughout its length by a braided sheath 15, the distal end portions of the movable wire sections constituting the movable flexible section of wire 1141 of the gripping and releasing mechanism move outwardly of the distal ends of the wire receiving tubular elements 113 into an expanded condition as defined by an annular series of transversely outwardly flexed fixed flexible section of wire 1141 interconnected by an annular series of arcuately flexed portions of the movable flexible elements 118.
With the gripping and releasing mechanism in its expanded condition, as shown in Fig 5, the physician can then manipulate the open gripping and releasing mechanism into surrounding relation to the stone within the kidney to be extracted. As soon as this stone surrounding relationship is established, the physician engages fingers in finger engaging loops 128(1) and 128(2) and thumb in the thumb engaging surface 129 of the slide structure 124 to pull it rearwardly within the housing member 121. The rearward movement of the proximal end

portions of the movable flexible elements 118 with the housing member 121 causes the movable flexible end of the wire 1141 to progressively retract the gripping and releasing mechanism from its expanded condition into gripping relation to the stone, as shown in Fig 6.
After withdrawal, the gripped stone can be released by simply digitally moving forwardly on the finger engaging loops 128(1), 128(2) and thumb engaging surface 129 to expand the gripping and releasing mechanism and release the stone, after which the slide structure 124 can be returned to its closed limiting position.
It thus will be seen that the objects of this invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It will be realized, however, that the foregoing preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the structural and functional principles of the present invention and are subject to change without departure from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

CLAIMS I/We Claim:
1. A medical retrieval device comprising:
(a) set of tubular structure each including a wire receiving tubular element and a movable wire associated with each such tubular element;
(b) each wire comprising a short fixed section, fixed at proximal end of said tubular structure and a long movable section movably extending within said wire receiving tubular element of each said tubular element;
(c) said short fixed section connected to said long movable section through a kink;
(d) distal end of each of said tubular structure including each said wire receiving tubular elements, capable of retraction and expansion defined by long movable section of wire, resulting into flexible elements of this assembly, having a short fixed wire section extending exteriorly alongside each of said tubular element, further thermally annealed with each of the said tubular structure to retain said fixed wire section at proximal end of each of said tubular structure resulting into fixed elements of the said assembly;
(e) distal end of long movable wire sections extending from the proximal end of each of said tubular structure held together by hollow needle and a longitudinal spring like covering sheath;
(f) a braided sheath covering portion of fixed flexure elements of the said assembly and whole of long movable wire section of each of the said wire receiving tubular elements thermally annealed with proximal ends of fixed elements through a shrink tube to facilitate the movement of the flexible elements outwardly and inwardly;
(g) a handle assembly connected at proximal end of the said assembly to facilitate the movement of the said flexible elements in one direction to extend the said flexible elements in flexed condition outwardly thus creating an expanded condition and a movement of said flexible elements in opposite direction to extend the said flexible elements in flexed condition inwardly thus creating a retracted condition.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each fixed wire section is thermally treated with the each of the said tubular structure to form a part of said fixed elements.
3. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said tubular structure is made of PET
4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the diameter of said tubular structure ranges between 0.3 to 0.5mm.
5. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the average length of the said tubular structure is 20mm.
6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said tubular element is made of polyamide.
7. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the average diameter of said tubular element ranges between 0.16 to 0.30mm.
8. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the average length of the said tubular element is 30mm.
9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the long movable wire sections extending from the proximal end of each of the said tubular structure are held and crimped together using a hollow needle to provide added stability and flexibility to the said flexible elements of the said assembly.
10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the braided sheath includes a length of tubing of material providing longitudinal stability and flexibility to the proximal portion of the long movable wire section extending from the proximal end of the said tubular structures thereof the said flexible elements in their retracted and expanded position.
11. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handle assembly comprises of a tip, a cap, a cylindrical housing assembly, a slider with a knob, thumb and finger engaging surface, to facilitate the opening and closing of the extracting and gripping mechanism of the said device.
12. A retracting and expanding releasing and gripping mechanism suitable for use as a stone extractor or like wherein,
fixed elements held together at proximal end of the said tubular elements and corresponding flexible elements fixed with respect to the distal end of the said fixed elements so that;

movement of said flexible elements outwardly causing said fixed elements to flex outwardly creating an expanded condition defined by set of flexed portions of said flexible elements with respect to distal end of said fixed elements movement of said flexible elements when in expanded condition, inwardly of the fixed element causing the expanded condition to progressively retract, said mechanism comprising:
providing a set of tubular structures, corresponding set of wire, each wire including short fixed section connected to movable wire section through kink, set of tubular elements and braided sheath,
each wire comprising short fixed section, fixed at proximal end of said tubular structure and a long movable section movably extending within said wire receiving tubular element of each said tubular element, distal end of each of said tubular structure including each said wire receiving tubular elements, capable of retraction and expansion defined by long movable section of wire, resulting into flexible elements of this assembly, having a short fixed wire section extending exteriorly alongside each of said tubular element, further thermally annealed with each of the said tubular structure to retain said fixed wire section at proximal end of each of said tubular structure resulting into fixed elements of the said assembly; distal end of long movable wire section extending from the proximal end of each of said tubular structure held together by hollow needle and a longitudinal spring like covering sheath; a braided sheath covering portion of fixed elements of the said assembly and whole of long movable wire section of each of the said wire receiving tubular elements thermally annealed with proximal ends of fixed elements through a shrink tube to facilitate the movement of the flexible elements outwardly and inwardly.