EP0288309A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Polyolefin sheath and silicone O-ring for medical instrument
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1988-04-22
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-04-22
Abstract
Abstract A polyolefin sheath (30) for the coiled wire housing (12) for an actuating wire (14) of a medical instrument such as forceps (24), (26), (28) associated with an endoscope (10) or the like. More specifically, the present invention involves the use of a polyolefin sheath (30) for the coiled wire housing (12) and O-ring seal (32) of silicone associated with the forceps and a supporting housing (16) in an endoscope (10) to eliminate migration of contaminants into the forked end of the housing (16) which supports the pivotal forceps (24), (26), (28) and preventing entry of contaminants between the convolutions of the coiled wire housing (12).
Inventors
- 👤 Hal P. Zinnecker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:41
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B10/00; A61B10/02; A61B10/06; A61B2017/2901; A61B2017/2905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
In an endoscope having forceps with pivotal jaws supported by a fork housing, a coiled wire housing connected to the support fork housing with the coiled wire housing enclosing a longitudinally movable control wire therein connected to a push rod slidable in the support fork housing with the push rod connected to the jaws through a linkage mechanism, a protective flexible plastic sheath enclosing the coiled wire housing and connected to the support fork housing to prevent entry of blood or other material into the coiled wire channel formed by the coiled wire housing, and a seal between the fork housing and sliding push rod to prevent entry of contaminants into the housing thereby eliminating cross-infection of patients due to residual contaminant material being retained in the support fork housing and coiled wire housing even with autoclaving.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
In an endoscope having forceps with pivotal jaws supported by a fork housing, a coiled wire housing connected to the support fork housing with the coiled wire housing enclosing a longitudinally movable control wire therein connected to a push rod slidable in the support fork housing with the push rod connected to the jaws through a linkage mechanism, a protective flexible plastic sheath enclosing the coiled wire housing and connected to the support fork housing to prevent entry of blood or other material into the coiled wire channel formed by the coiled wire housing, and a seal between the fork housing and sliding push rod to prevent entry of contaminants into the housing thereby eliminating cross-infection of patients due to residual contaminant material being retained in the support fork housing and coiled wire housing even with autoclaving.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
134 words
The combination of an endoscope with forceps on the end thereof in which the endoscope includes a housing having a forked end pivotally supporting a pair of jaws for use in taking tissue samples for analysis, said housing including a slidable push rod therein connected to the jaws through a linkage mechanism, an elongated actuating wire connected to the push rod, a flexible coil wire housing enclosing the control wire for the jaws and connected to the housing, a flexible plastic sheath enclosing the coiled wire housing and being sealed to the housing by heat shrinking, and a seal adjacent the forked end to prevent entry of contaminants into the spa e between the push rod and interior of the housing thereby enabling the endoscope to be reused without cross-contamination of patients after autoclaving.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
134 words
The combination of an endoscope with forceps on the end thereof in which the endoscope includes a housing having a forked end pivotally supporting a pair of jaws for use in taking tissue samples for analysis, said housing including a slidable push rod therein connected to the jaws through a linkage mechanism, an elongated actuating wire connected to the push rod, a flexible coil wire housing enclosing the control wire for the jaws and connected to the housing, a flexible plastic sheath enclosing the coiled wire housing and being sealed to the housing by heat shrinking, and a seal adjacent the forked end to prevent entry of contaminants into the spa e between the push rod and interior of the housing thereby enabling the endoscope to be reused without cross-contamination of patients after autoclaving.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
109 words
The method of preventing cross-infection of patients during reuse of an endoscope with forceps on the end thereof which are manually actuated through a coiled wire housing having a control member longitudinally movable therein for opening and closing the forceps consisting of the steps of enclosing the coiled wire housing with a thin liquid impervious polyolefin sheath and sealing the sheath to the endoscope by heat shrinking, and providing an O-ring seal between the control member and the interior of the endoscope to prevent entry of contaminants into the spaces formed by the flexible coiled wire housing and the interior of the endoscope which movably receives the control member.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
109 words
The method of preventing cross-infection of patients during reuse of an endoscope with forceps on the end thereof which are manually actuated through a coiled wire housing having a control member longitudinally movable therein for opening and closing the forceps consisting of the steps of enclosing the coiled wire housing with a thin liquid impervious polyolefin sheath and sealing the sheath to the endoscope by heat shrinking, and providing an O-ring seal between the control member and the interior of the endoscope to prevent entry of contaminants into the spaces formed by the flexible coiled wire housing and the interior of the endoscope which movably receives the control member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said sheath is constructed of polyolefin, said seal being a silicone O-ring seal positioned in a cavity in the support fork housing and disposed in sealing engagement with the outer periphery of the slidable push rod.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said sheath is constructed of polyolefin, said seal being a silicone O-ring seal positioned in a cavity in the support fork housing and disposed in sealing engagement with the outer periphery of the slidable push rod.
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