US4747820A — Irrigation/aspiration manifold and fittings for u…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 99 words

In an ultrasonic surgical system of the type which comprises a handpiece which includes the combination of an ultrasonically-vibrating tip, a handle, a nosecone secured to said handle about said tip, and a vibrating means for vibrating said tip, the improvement comprising: a nosecone extension means comprising a nosecone extension body having a first end and a second end, a rotation joint means at said first end for connection of said body to an outward side of said nosecone, and an articulating joint means at said second end for connection of said body to a flue enveloping said tip.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 99 words

In an ultrasonic surgical system of the type which comprises a handpiece which includes the combination of an ultrasonically-vibrating tip, a handle, a nosecone secured to said handle about said tip, and a vibrating means for vibrating said tip, the improvement comprising: a nosecone extension means comprising a nosecone extension body having a first end and a second end, a rotation joint means at said first end for connection of said body to an outward side of said nosecone, and an articulating joint means at said second end for connection of said body to a flue enveloping said tip.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 25 words

The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body defines an irrigation cowl having an irrigation port for receiving an irrigation fitting therein.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 39 words

The improvement as set forth in claim 2 further including an irrigation tubing connector structurally adapted for insertion at one end into an irrigation port of said handpiece and at its other end for connection to an irrigation tubing.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 58 words

The improvement as set forth in claim 3 wherein said irrigation tubing connector includes a tapered generally cylindrical portion for insertion in said irrigation port in said irrigation cowl of said nosecone extension means, a shoulder portion limiting the insertion of said irrigation connector therein, and a barbed cylindrical portion for receiving an end of said irrigation tubing.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 117 words

The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said nosecone extension means includes a nosecone extension adapter defining at one end said rotating joint means and at its other end a means for cooperating with an extender sheath, said nosecone extension means further includes a flue adapter defining at its outer end said articulating joint and at its inner end a means for cooperating with the other end of said extender sheath so that said nosecone extension adapter, said extender sheath, and said flue adapter are combined to envelop an extender and a portion of said tip, and said nosecone extension adapter defines an irrigation cowl having an irrigation port for receiving an irrigation fitting thereon.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 36 words

The improvement as set forth in claim 5 further including an irrigation tubing connector structurally adapted for insertion at one end into said irrigation port and at its other end for connection to said irrigation tubing.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 58 words

The improvement as set forth in claim 6 wherein said irrigation tubing connector includes a tapered generally cylindrical portion for insertion in said irrigation port in said irrigation cowl of said nosecone extension means, a shoulder portion limiting the insertion of said irrigation connecter therein, and a barbed cylindrical portion for receiving an end of said irrigation tubing.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 38 words

The improvement as set forth in claim 1 further including an aspiration tubulation connector defining an inlet port for connection with an aspiration port of said tip and an outlet port structurally adapted for connection to aspiration tubing.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 68 words

The improvement as set forth in claim 8 wherein said aspiration tubulation connector is further defined in that the axis of its outward port is axially offset from the axis of its inward port so that, when connected, said aspiration tubing lies along the outside of the handle of said handpiece, and said aspiration tubulation connector further defines a passage from said inward port to said outward port.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 67 words

The improvement as set forth in claim 9 wherein said aspiration tubulation connector includes a transition portion structurally adapted to frictionally engage a slot on said nosecone and said nosecone extension means, when assembled, so that when said transition portion is securely inserted in said slot, said outward port engages an aspiration port of said tip and said inward port lies along the outside of said handpiece.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 53 words

The combination as set forth in claim 8 further including a seal member for connection to a T-valve assmebly in said aspiration tubing, said seal being structurally adpated for irrigation at one end into said T-valve assembly and at its other end for receiving tubing connected to a vacuum port on a console.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 29 words

The improvement as set forth in claim 1 further including a resilient clip means for providing an ergonomic and independent positioning of irrigation and aspiration ports on said handpiece.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 119 words

For use in an ultrasonic surgical aspiration system of the type which includes a handle assembly providing a source of ultrasonic vibrations to a tip, and a nosecone secured to said handle assmebly for enveloping a connection between said tip and said vibration source, a nosecone extension comprising: a body comprising a first portion which includes a cooperating means for cooperating with said nosecone to provide a rotating connection therewith and a bore therethrough for passage of said ultrasonically vibrating tip, a second portion into which said first portion merges and which is generally cylindrical and defines at its outer end an articulating joint means structurally adapted for receiving a portion of a flue thereon in an articulating relationship.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 119 words

For use in an ultrasonic surgical aspiration system of the type which includes a handle assembly providing a source of ultrasonic vibrations to a tip, and a nosecone secured to said handle assmebly for enveloping a connection between said tip and said vibration source, a nosecone extension comprising: a body comprising a first portion which includes a cooperating means for cooperating with said nosecone to provide a rotating connection therewith and a bore therethrough for passage of said ultrasonically vibrating tip, a second portion into which said first portion merges and which is generally cylindrical and defines at its outer end an articulating joint means structurally adapted for receiving a portion of a flue thereon in an articulating relationship.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 50 words

The nosecone extension as set forth in claim 13 further including an irrigation cowl defining an irrigation passage having an axis oblique to an axis of said nosecone extension, said irrigation cowl defining at its inward end an irrigation port structurally adapted for receiving a fitting connected to irrigation tubing.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 39 words

The nosecone extension as set forth in claim 14 wherein said first body portion defines an inwardly extending semi-circular bead which circumferentially extends about an inward end of said nosecone extension for engaging a mating recess on said nosecone.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 57 words

The nosecone extension as set forth in claim 14 wherein said articulating joint means is defined by an arcuate portion having a diameter the center of which lies on an axis of said nosecone extension and a recess in said arcuate portion for receiving an O-ring therein for articulatingly securing said flue thereon in a fluid-tight relationship.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 56 words

The nosecone extension as set forth in claim 16 in further combination with a flue having an elongated tapered body and defining a bore therein for passing said tip therethrough and defining at its inward end an arcuate portion having a contour which is structurally complementary with the contour of said articulating joint on said nosecone.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 42 words

The nosecone extension as set forth in claim 16 in further combination with a flexible flue having an elongated body portion terminating at its inward end in a radially extending flange for connection with said articulating joint means in a fluid-tight relationship.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 33 words

The nosecone extension as set forth in claim 18 wherein said flexible flue includes an elongated body defining a bore, said bore including at least one axially extending rib for strengthening said body.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 31 words

The nosecone extension as set forth in claim 18 wherein said flexible flue includes a plurality of axially extending ribs spaced about the circumference of the interior of said flexible flue.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 18 words

The nosecone extension as set forth in claim 18 wherein said flexible flue is made from plastic material.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 105 words

For use in an ultrasonic surgical system of the type which includes the combination of a subassembly of a handpiece, a nosecone, and a source of ultrasonic vibration for an extended tip, with an elongated extender enveloping a portion of said tip, an assembly comprising: an extender sheath structurally contoured to envelope said extender and said tip, and having a sheath end, and a nosecone extension adapter defining at its inward end a rotating joint for connection with said nosecone and an axially extending circumferential portion for connection to said sheath end of said extender sheath, and said nosecone extension adapter defining an irrigation port.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 105 words

For use in an ultrasonic surgical system of the type which includes the combination of a subassembly of a handpiece, a nosecone, and a source of ultrasonic vibration for an extended tip, with an elongated extender enveloping a portion of said tip, an assembly comprising: an extender sheath structurally contoured to envelope said extender and said tip, and having a sheath end, and a nosecone extension adapter defining at its inward end a rotating joint for connection with said nosecone and an axially extending circumferential portion for connection to said sheath end of said extender sheath, and said nosecone extension adapter defining an irrigation port.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 43 words

The assembly as set forth in claim 22 further including a flue adapter having an inward end structurally adapted to connect with the outward end of said extender sheath and defining at its outward end an articulating joint for connection to a flue.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 96 words

An ultrasonic surgical system comprising: an ultrasonic surgical system nosecone having a nosecone end, an ultrasonically-vibrated surgical tip connected to said nosecone, a nosecone extension means having an extension inward end rotatably attached via a rotatable attachment to said noisecone outward end, and an extension outward end, and a flue having a flue outward end, and a flue inward end attached via an articulating joint means to said extension outward end to thereby provide angular adjustment of said flue relative to said nosecone extension means and said nosecone, and said flue receivig said surgical tip therein.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 96 words

An ultrasonic surgical system comprising: an ultrasonic surgical system nosecone having a nosecone end, an ultrasonically-vibrated surgical tip connected to said nosecone, a nosecone extension means having an extension inward end rotatably attached via a rotatable attachment to said noisecone outward end, and an extension outward end, and a flue having a flue outward end, and a flue inward end attached via an articulating joint means to said extension outward end to thereby provide angular adjustment of said flue relative to said nosecone extension means and said nosecone, and said flue receivig said surgical tip therein.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 20 words

The system of claim 24 including, said rotatable attachment providing a rotational adjustment of said flue relative to said nosecone.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system of claim 24 including, said rotatable attachment permitting said nosecone extension inward end to be snapped onto said nosecone end.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 29 words

The system of claim 24 including, said flue having a flue bore therethrough, and said articulating joint means permitting adjustment of said surgical tip centrally of said flue bore.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 35 words

The system of claim 24 including, said flue being an elongated, tapered rigid flue, and said articulating joint means including an O-ring recess and an O-ring fitted in said recess to thereby provide a seal.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 27 words

The system of claim 24 including, said flue defining a flue bore, and being an elongated, tapered, flexible flue having a rib configuration for said flue bore.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 40 words

The system of claim 24 including, said tip and said flue defining a passageway therebetween, and said nosecone extension means defining an irrigation cowl for receiving an irrigation fitting therein for communicating a source of irrigation fluid with said passageway.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 54 words

The system of claim 24 including, said tip having a tip aspiration port, said nosecone defining a nosecone outer surface and a nosecone opening engaging said nosecone outer surface, and an aspiration tubulation connector means adapted to pass through said nosecone opening for operatively connecting said tip aspiration port to a source of vacuum.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 56 words

The system of claim 24 including, a handle assembly conencted to said nosecone, and said aspiration tubulation connector means comprising an aspiration tubulation connector and an aspiration tube which lies against the outside surface of said handle assembly when said aspiration tubulation connector is fitted in said nosecone opening and secured to said tip aspiration port.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system of claim 24 including, said nosecone extension means having an irrigation port for receiving an irrigation connector through which irrigation fluid can pass to said flue.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 88 words

The system of claim 24 including, said nosecone extension means comprising a nosecone extension adapter having an adapter inward end for connection to said nosecone and an adapter outward end, an extender sheath having a sheath inward end for connection to said adapter outward end and a sheath outward end, and a flue adapter having an adapter inward end for connection to said sheath outward end, and an adapter inward end for connection to said sheath outward end and an adapter outward end for connection to said flue.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 65 words

The system of claim 34 including, said surgical tip including a tip extender disposable at least partially in said extender sheath and having an extender inward end connected to said nosecone and an extender outward end, and an extended tip for being received in said flue and having an extended tip inward end connected to said extender outward end and an extended tip outward end.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 15 words

The system of claim 35 including, said extender sheath and said extended tip being curved.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1991-05-31	1991-11-30	1992-05-31	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1995-05-31	1995-11-30	1996-05-31	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1999-05-31	1999-11-30	2000-05-31	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Irrigation/aspiration manifold and fittings for ultrasonic surgical aspiration system

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag