Patent US4185632A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4185632A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surgical instrument having self-regulated electrical skin-depth heating of its cutting edge and method of using the same
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-03-14
•
Granted: 1980-01-29
•
Expires: 1995-03-14
Abstract
Abstract The cutting edge of a scalpel blade is resistively heated to a preselected constant temperature range by conduction of high frequency electrical currents within variable skin depths of a ferromagnetic conductor that is disposed on the blade in the region of the cutting edge.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert F. Shaw
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 15:00
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; G05D23/20; G05D23/24; G05D23/2401; A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/08; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00107; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00666; A61B90/00; A61B90/08; A61B2090/0813
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
42 words
A blade comprising: a cutting means including a cutting edge; and electrical conductor means disposed near said cutting edge, said electrical conductor means including a material being capable of varying the skin depth of the conducting path for alternating electrical current therethrough.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
42 words
A blade comprising: a cutting means including a cutting edge; and electrical conductor means disposed near said cutting edge, said electrical conductor means including a material being capable of varying the skin depth of the conducting path for alternating electrical current therethrough.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A blade as in claim 1 wherein the material of said electrical conductor means exhibits a Curie point transition in permeability.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A blade as in claim 1 wherein said material of the electrical conductor means is ferromagnetic material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A blade as in claim 1 wherein said material of the electrical conductor means includes an element selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel and cobalt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A blade as in claim 1 comprising a layer of insulated material disposed over said electrical conductor means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The blade claimed in claim 1 wherein said blade includes a ceramic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A blade as in claim 1 further comprising an alternating signal source connected to said electrical conductor for supplying power thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
A blade as in claim 1 further comprising: means responsive to the temperature of a region along said cutting edge for producing a representative control signal; and means responsive to said control signal for altering a selected parameter of the alternating signal applied to said electrical conductor means from said source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A cutting instrument as in claim 1 wherein the frequency of the applied alternating signal is altering in response to the control signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
A blade comprising: a cutting edge and; electrical conductor means disposed near said cutting edge, wherein said material of said electrical conductor means includes an element selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel and cobalt and exhibits a Curie point transition in permeability within the range of temperatures from about 300° C. to about 1,000° C.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
A blade comprising: a cutting edge and; electrical conductor means disposed near said cutting edge, wherein said material of said electrical conductor means includes an element selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel and cobalt and exhibits a Curie point transition in permeability within the range of temperatures from about 300° C. to about 1,000° C.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The blade claimed in claim 10 further comprising a layer of insulating material disposed over said electrical conductor means.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
61 words
The method of cutting using a blade means having a cutting edge operating at an elevated temperature, the method comprising: heating the cutting edge by an alternating electrical current in a conduction path; and automatically reheating the cutting edge by decreasing the skin depth in regions of the conduction path in response to a cooling of the edge in said regions.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
61 words
The method of cutting using a blade means having a cutting edge operating at an elevated temperature, the method comprising: heating the cutting edge by an alternating electrical current in a conduction path; and automatically reheating the cutting edge by decreasing the skin depth in regions of the conduction path in response to a cooling of the edge in said regions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of cutting as in claim 12 wherein the conduction path includes a material which has a permeability that varies inversely with temperature to decrease the cross-sectional area of the conduction path.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of cutting as in claim 12 comprising altering the frequency of the alternating electrical current in response to changes in temperature along the cutting edge to vary the cross-sectional area of the conduction path.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
A hemostatic surgical blade comprising: a cutting means including a tissue cutting edge capable of operating at an elevated temperature; and electrical conductor means disposed near said cutting edge, said electrical conductor means including a material being capable of varying the skin depth of the conducting path for alternating electrical current therethrough.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
52 words
A hemostatic surgical blade comprising: a cutting means including a tissue cutting edge capable of operating at an elevated temperature; and electrical conductor means disposed near said cutting edge, said electrical conductor means including a material being capable of varying the skin depth of the conducting path for alternating electrical current therethrough.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
A surgical blade as in claim 15 wherein said electrical conductor means includes a material having a permeability which varies inversely with temperature over a selected temperature range.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
A surgical blade as in claim 15 wherein said material of said electrical conductor means exhibits a Curie point transition in permeability within the range of temperatures from about 300° C. to about 1000° C.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
A surgical blade as in claim 15 wherein said material of said electrical conductor is a ferromagnetic material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
A surgical blade as in claim 15 wherein said material of the electrical conductor means includes an element selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel and cobalt.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
A surgical blade as in claim 15 comprising a layer of insulated material disposed over said electrical conductor means to insulate tissued being cut from electrical shock.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
69 words
A surgical blade for cutting tissue with simultanoues hemostasis comprising: a cutting means including a tissue cutting edge; and electrical conductor means disposed near said tissue-cutting edge, wherein said material of said electrical conductor means includes an element selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel and cobalt and exhibits a Curie point transition in permeability within the range of temperatures from about 300° C. to about 1,000° C.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
69 words
A surgical blade for cutting tissue with simultanoues hemostasis comprising: a cutting means including a tissue cutting edge; and electrical conductor means disposed near said tissue-cutting edge, wherein said material of said electrical conductor means includes an element selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel and cobalt and exhibits a Curie point transition in permeability within the range of temperatures from about 300° C. to about 1,000° C.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The surgical blade claimed in claim 21 further comprising a layer of insulating material disposed over said electrical means to insulate tissue being cut from said surgical instrument.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
The surgical blade claimed in claim 21 herein said blade includes a ceramic.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
63 words
A surgical method of cutting tissue using a blade means having a cutting edge operating at an elevated temperature, the method comprising: heating the cutting edge by an alternating electrical current in a conduction path; and automatically reheating the cutting edge by decreasing the skin depth in regions of the conduction path in response to a cooling of the edge in said regions.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
63 words
A surgical method of cutting tissue using a blade means having a cutting edge operating at an elevated temperature, the method comprising: heating the cutting edge by an alternating electrical current in a conduction path; and automatically reheating the cutting edge by decreasing the skin depth in regions of the conduction path in response to a cooling of the edge in said regions.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
35 words
The surgical method of cutting tissue as in claim 24 wherein the conduction path includes a material which has a permability that varies inversely with temperature to decrease the skin depth of the conduction path.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
38 words
The surgical method of cutting tissue as in claim 24 comprising altering the frequency of the alternating electrical current in response to changes in temperature along the cutting edge to vary the skin depth of the conduction path.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
A blade as in claim 1 wherein said conduction path is utilized to elevate the temperature in the region of the cutting edge.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-01-28 | 1983-07-30 | 1984-01-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-01-28 | 1987-07-30 | 1988-01-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-01-28 | 1991-07-30 | 1992-01-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |