Patent US4628928A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4628928A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Robotic implantable medical device and/or component restoration system
Assignee: LOWELL D JAMES
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Filing: 1984-12-21
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Granted: 1986-12-16
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Expires: 2004-12-21
Abstract
Abstract In combination with a device adapted for at least partial implantation in a living body to perform a function with respect to that body such as introducing a material into the body, relieving the body of a material, monitoring a condition within the body, or introducing electrical stimulus into the body, servicing apparatus is provided in association with the device for maintaining the device in effective operating condition. The device and servicing apparatus may be arranged in a single housing such that a portion of the device extends from the housing into operable position in the body, in separate but operably connected housings, or the servicing apparatus may be split between the device and a separate housing. The actual servicing of the device may be done within a service housing where the portion of the device to be serviced is drawn into the service housing and mechanically or chemically serviced, the servicing instrumentality may be moved from a service housing to the device to be serviced when servicing is necessary, or a portion of the servicing instrumentality may be built in or permanently positioned with respect to the device and operated by the remainder of the servicing apparatus located in a common housing with the device or in a separate housing. Circuiting is preferably provided to initiate and control the servicing operation.
Inventors
- 👤 DeWitt J. Lowell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:46
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M5/00; A61M5/14; A61M5/142; A61M5/14244; A61M5/14276; A61M25/00; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/0002; A61B5/145; A61B5/14532; A61F; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0001; A61F2250/0002; A61M2025/0019
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
In combination with a device adapted for at least partial implantation in a living body to perform a function with respect to such living body, and having a housing and a portion of such device extending from the housing through a hole therein into operative position in the body, such portion periodically needing servicing to maintain it in effective operating condition; positioning means for drawing said portion of the device that extends from the housing into the housing for periodic servicing and for reextending said portion into operating position in the body when servicing is complete; servicing means associated with said device and located within said housing for maintaining effective operation of the device, said servicing means including servicing fluid, means for contacting, during servicing, the portion of the device to be serviced with said servicing fluid, reservoir means within said housing for storing said servicing fluid between servicings of said device, and means within said housing for treating the servicing fluid between servicings to help maintain its effectiveness for servicing purposes; and means for exercising control of said servicing means and said positioning means so as to periodically carry out a servicing function with respect to said device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
In combination with a device adapted for at least partial implantation in a living body to perform a function with respect to such living body, and having a housing and a portion of such device extending from the housing through a hole therein into operative position in the body, such portion periodically needing servicing to maintain it in effective operating condition; positioning means for drawing said portion of the device that extends from the housing into the housing for periodic servicing and for reextending said portion into operating position in the body when servicing is complete; servicing means associated with said device and located within said housing for maintaining effective operation of the device, said servicing means including servicing fluid, means for contacting, during servicing, the portion of the device to be serviced with said servicing fluid, reservoir means within said housing for storing said servicing fluid between servicings of said device, and means within said housing for treating the servicing fluid between servicings to help maintain its effectiveness for servicing purposes; and means for exercising control of said servicing means and said positioning means so as to periodically carry out a servicing function with respect to said device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A combination according to claim 1, wherein the servicing fluid is in an inorganic chemical solution for servicing the portion of the device being serviced.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A combination according to claim 1, wherein the servicing fluid is an organic chemical solution for servicing the portion of the device being serviced.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A combination according to claim 1, wherein the servicing fluid is an enzyme solution for servicing the portion of the device being serviced.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A combination according to claim 1, wherein the servicing fluid is treated by a surface within the housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A combination according to claim 5, wherein the treating surface is of a geometry to maximize surface area.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A combination according to claim 5, wherein the reservoir has walls and the treating surface is located on walls of the reservoir.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A combination according to claim 7, wherein the treating surface binds and holds material removed from the serviced portion of the device to thereby remove it from the servicing fluid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A combination according to claim 5, wherein the treating surface is provided by material placed in the reservoir.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A combination according to claim 9, wherein the material in the reservoir is an adsorptive material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A combination according to claim 9, wherein the material in the reservoir is an absorptive material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A combination according to claim 9, wherein the material in the reservoir is an ion exchange material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A combination according to claim 9, wherein the material is in the form of microbeads.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A combination according to claim 11, wherein the fluid is circulated about the device being serviced.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A combination according to claim 14, wherein the circulation of the fluid causes agitation of the fluid about the device being serviced.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A combination according to claim 14, wherein a pump is provided within the housing to circulate fluid from the reservoir about the device being serviced.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A combination according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir includes means for communicating therewith outside the body to replace the servicing fluid when required.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
A combination according to claim 17, wherein the means for communicating with the reservoir from outside the body is a septum in the reservoir through which a hollow needle may be inserted.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
192 words
In combination with a device adapted for at least partial implantation in a living body to perform a function with respect to such living body and having a housing and a portion of such device extending from the housing through a hole therein into operative position in the body, such portion periodically needing servicing to maintain it in effective operating condition; servicing means associated with said device and located within said housing for maintaining effective operation of the device; positioning means for drawing said portion of the device that extends from the housing into the housing for servicing and for re-extending said portion into its operating position in the body when servicing is complete; septum means for closing and sealing the opening through the housing when the device is withdrawn into the housing and for re-opening the opening when the device is re-extended from the housing, said septum means including a lasso-like cable means extending about the septum to ensure closure of the opening therethrough when the device is withddrawn; and means for exercising control of said servicing means so as to carry out a servicing function with respect to said device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
192 words
In combination with a device adapted for at least partial implantation in a living body to perform a function with respect to such living body and having a housing and a portion of such device extending from the housing through a hole therein into operative position in the body, such portion periodically needing servicing to maintain it in effective operating condition; servicing means associated with said device and located within said housing for maintaining effective operation of the device; positioning means for drawing said portion of the device that extends from the housing into the housing for servicing and for re-extending said portion into its operating position in the body when servicing is complete; septum means for closing and sealing the opening through the housing when the device is withdrawn into the housing and for re-opening the opening when the device is re-extended from the housing, said septum means including a lasso-like cable means extending about the septum to ensure closure of the opening therethrough when the device is withddrawn; and means for exercising control of said servicing means so as to carry out a servicing function with respect to said device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
185 words
In combination with a device adapted for at least partial implantation in a living body to perform a function with respect to such living body and having a housing and portion of such device extending from the housing through a hole therein into operative position in the body, such portion periodically needing servicing to maintain it in effective operating condition; positioning means for drawing said portion of the device that extends from the housing into the housing for servicing and for re-extending said portion into its operating position in the body when servicing is complete; servicing means associated with said device and located within said housing for maintaining effective operation of the device, said servicing means including means for contacting, during servicing, the portion of the device to be serviced with a servicing fluid to remove material from said device, and means for discharging the material removed from said device into the body to be disposed of by natural processes; and means for exercising control of said servicing means and positioning means so as to carry out a servicing function with respect to said device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
185 words
In combination with a device adapted for at least partial implantation in a living body to perform a function with respect to such living body and having a housing and portion of such device extending from the housing through a hole therein into operative position in the body, such portion periodically needing servicing to maintain it in effective operating condition; positioning means for drawing said portion of the device that extends from the housing into the housing for servicing and for re-extending said portion into its operating position in the body when servicing is complete; servicing means associated with said device and located within said housing for maintaining effective operation of the device, said servicing means including means for contacting, during servicing, the portion of the device to be serviced with a servicing fluid to remove material from said device, and means for discharging the material removed from said device into the body to be disposed of by natural processes; and means for exercising control of said servicing means and positioning means so as to carry out a servicing function with respect to said device.
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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) | 1989-12-15 | 1990-06-16 | 1990-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-12-15 | 1994-06-16 | 1994-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-12-15 | 1998-06-16 | 1998-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |