US4209017A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surgical instrument having self-regulating radiant heating of its cutting edge and method of using the same
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-03-14
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Granted: 1980-06-24
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Expires: 1995-03-14
Abstract
Abstract The cutting edge of a scalpel blade is heated to an elevated preselected constant operating temperature for cutting tissue with simultaneous hemostasis by radiant heating of the blade in the region along the cutting edge. Radiant energy is contained within the blade by a reflective coating over the transparent or translucent blade material. Heating along the cutting edge is provided by the disposition of a radiation-absorptive material beneath the reflective coating in the region along the cutting edge. Selective heating of regions of the cutting edge that are locally cooled by contact with tissues during surgical cutting is provided for by fabricating the radiation-absorptive element of the blade of a thermochromic material that exhibits a substantial increase in absorption coefficient for a temperature decrement within the operating temperature range.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert F. Shaw
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 19:00
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/08; A61B18/082; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/28; G; G05; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; G05D23/20; G05D23/24; G05D23/2401; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00107; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00666; A61B90/00; A61B90/08; A61B2090/0813
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
A blade comprising: cutting means including a cutting edge, said cutting means being substantially transparent to radiant energy applied through said cutting means to said cutting edge; a radiant energy obsorbtive means disposed in the region of said cutting edge; and means for altering the radiant energy applied through said cutting means for maintaining the cutting means temperature within a selected operating range.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
63 words
A blade comprising: cutting means including a cutting edge, said cutting means being substantially transparent to radiant energy applied through said cutting means to said cutting edge; a radiant energy obsorbtive means disposed in the region of said cutting edge; and means for altering the radiant energy applied through said cutting means for maintaining the cutting means temperature within a selected operating range.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A blade as in claim 1 comprising: source means of radiant energy disposed to irradiate the radiant-energy absorptive means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A hemostatic cutting device as in claim 2 wherein said source means of radiant energy includes an incandescent filament substantially linearly mounted along a portion of the length of the blade means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A hemostatic cutting device as in claim 2 comprising a reflector means coupling radiant energy from the source means toward the radiant-energy absorptive means disposed in the region of said cutting edge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A blade as in claim 2 wherein said source means includes a gas-discharge source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A blade as in claim 5 wherein said gas-discharge source includes a laser.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A blade as in claim 2 comprising: photoresponsive means disposed to produce a control signal in response to the level of radiant energy within the blade; and means coupled to said photoresponsive means and to said source means of radiant energy for altering the level of radiant energy produced thereby.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A blade as in claim 1 comprising radiant-energy scattering means disposed within the blade for dispersing therewith radiant energy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A hemostatic cutting device as in claim 1 wherein said radiant-energy absorptive means exhibits increased absorption in response to a decrease in temperature over a portion of the temperature range between approximately 300° C. and 1000° C.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A hemostatic cutting blade as in claim 1 comprising radiant-energy reflective means disposed on surfaces of the blade to contain radiant energy therein.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A hemostatic cutting blade as in claim 1 wherein the radiant-energy absorptive means exhibits increased reflectance for increased temperature over a portion of the temperature range between approximately 300° C. and 1000° C.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A hemostatic cutting instrument as in claim 1 wherein the radiant-energy absorptive means exhibits increased transmission of radiant energy for increased temperature over a portion of the temperature range between approximately 300° C. and 1000° C.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A hemostatic cutting blade instrument as in claim 1 comprising optical fibers for introducing radiant energy into said blade means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
68 words
A hemostatic cutting blade comprising: cutting means including a tissue cutting edge, said cutting means being substantially transparent to radiant energy applied through said blade means to said tissue cutting edge; and a radiant energy absorptive means which is characterized by an absorption which varies in response to temperature over a predetermined temperature range, said radiant energy absorptive means being disposed in the region of said cutting edge.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
68 words
A hemostatic cutting blade comprising: cutting means including a tissue cutting edge, said cutting means being substantially transparent to radiant energy applied through said blade means to said tissue cutting edge; and a radiant energy absorptive means which is characterized by an absorption which varies in response to temperature over a predetermined temperature range, said radiant energy absorptive means being disposed in the region of said cutting edge.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The hemostatic cutting blade claimed in claim 14 wherein said blade means is further defined as having radiant energy scattering means disposed therein.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
42 words
The method of cutting using a substantially transparent blade means having a cutting edge operating at an elevated temperature, the method comprising: introducing radiant energy into the substantially transparent blade means; and absorbing radiant energy in the region of the cutting edge.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
42 words
The method of cutting using a substantially transparent blade means having a cutting edge operating at an elevated temperature, the method comprising: introducing radiant energy into the substantially transparent blade means; and absorbing radiant energy in the region of the cutting edge.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of cutting as in claim 16 including automatically absorbing increased amounts of radiant energy in regions of the cutting edge in response to a cooling of the edge in said regions.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
40 words
The method of cutting using a blade means having a cutting edge operating at an elevated temperature the method comprising: introducing radiant energy into a substantially transparent blade means; and absorbing radiant energy in the region of the cutting edge.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
40 words
The method of cutting using a blade means having a cutting edge operating at an elevated temperature the method comprising: introducing radiant energy into a substantially transparent blade means; and absorbing radiant energy in the region of the cutting edge.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The blade as in claim 1 where the temperature in the region of the cutting edge is elevated in response to radiant energy applied thereto.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-06-24 | 1983-12-24 | 1984-06-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-06-24 | 1987-12-24 | 1988-06-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-06-24 | 1991-12-24 | 1992-06-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |