Laser-surgical instrument with evacuation tip

Claim 2

A laser-surgical instrument comprising, in combination: a hollow tubular surgical tip having an opening at one end connectable to a laser beam generator for receiving a laser beam projectable therethrough to a surgical site at an open other end thereof, said surgical tip having an inlet nipple for connection to a source of a purge gas to keep a focusing head free of smoke and vapors during use, and an evacuation tool comprising a tubular member open at both ends and having one end removably fitted tightly on said surgical tip with a small clearance between said tubular member and surgical tip between the region of tight fit and the respective other ends of said tubular member and said surgical tip, said tubular member having an inlet nipple for connection to a source of vacuum, and means on said tubular member for effectively extending said other end thereof substantially beyond said other end of said surgical tip for application of vacuum inside the surgical side during use.

Claim 3

A laser-surgical instrument according to claim 1 in which said means for extending said other end of said tubular member comprises an extension sleeve slidably mounted thereon.

Claim 4

A laser-surgical instrument according to claim 2 in which said tubular member has a larger diameter portion at said one end having said tight fit on said surgical tip, and a smaller diameter portion at said other end with a stop shoulder therebetween, and said extension sleeve being slidably mounted on said smaller diameter portion.

Claim 5

A laser-surgical instrument according to claim 2 in which said tubular member has a larger diameter portion at said one end having said tight fit on said surgical tip, and a smaller diameter portion at said other end with a stop shoulder therebetween and a stop flange at said other end, said extension sleeve being slidably mounted on said smaller diameter portion and having an inturned stop flange, said extension sleeve having a retracted position abutting said stop shoulder and an extended position with said stop flanges abutting to prevent removal of said sleeve from said tubular member.

Claim 6

A laser-surgical instrument according to claim 2 in which said surgical tip has an enlarged body portion and a tapered tubular portion extending therefrom, said tubular member has a larger diameter portion at said one end having said tight fit on the larger end portion of said tapered surgical tip, and a smaller diameter portion at said other end with a stop shoulder therebetween, the clearance between said tubular member and the tapered surface of said surgical tip tapered portion providing a passage for gas flow from the open other ends of said tubular member and surgical tip to said inlet nipple to be connected to vacuum, and said extension sleeve being slidably mounted on said smaller diameter portion.

Claim 7

A laser-surgical instrument according to claim 2 in which said surgical tip has an enlarged body portion and a tapered tubular portion extending therefrom, said tubular member has a larger diameter portion at said one end having said tight fit on the larger end portion of said tapered surgical tip, and a smaller diameter portion at said other end with a stop shoulder therebetween, and a stop flange at said other end, the clearance between said tubular member and the tapered surface of said surgical tip tapered portion providing a passage for gas flow from the open other ends of said tubular member and surgical tip to said inlet nipple to be connected to vacuum, said extension sleeve being slidably mounted on said smaller diameter portion and having an inturned stop flange, and said extension sleeve having a retracted position abutting said stop shoulder and an extended position with said stop flanges abutting to prevent removal of said sleeve from said tubular member.

Claim 8

A laser-surgical instrument according to claim 2 in which said tubular member and extension sleeve are each of optically clear plastic.

Claim 9

A laser-surgical instrument according to claim 2 in which said tubular member and extension sleeve are each of optically clear plastic, said tubular member has a larger diameter portion at said one end having said tight fit on said surgical tip, and a smaller diameter portion at said other end with a stop shoulder therebetween, and said extension sleeve being slidably mounted on said smaller diameter portion.

Claim 10

A laser-surgical instrument according to claim 2 in which said tubular member and extension sleeve are each of optically clear plastic, said tubular member has a larger diameter portion at said one end having said tight fit on said surgical tip, and a smaller diameter portion at said other end with a stop shoulder therebetween and a stop flange at said other end, said extension sleeve being slidably mounted on said smaller diameter portion and having an inturned stop flange, said extension sleeve having a retracted position abutting said stop shoulder and an extended position with said stop flanges abutting to prevent removal of said sleeve from said tubular member.

Claim 11

An evacuation tool for use with a laser-surgical instrument comprising: a hollow tubular surgical tip having an opening at one end connectable to a laser beam generator for receiving a laser beam projectable therethrough to a surgical site at an open other end thereof, said surgical tip having an inlet nipple for connection to a source of a purge gas to keep a focusing head free of smoke and vapors during use, said evacuation tool comprising a tubular member open at both ends and having one end adapted to be removably fitted tightly on said surgical tip with a small clearance between said tubular member and surgical tip between the region of tight fit and the respective other ends of said tubular member and said surgical tip, said tubular member having an inlet nipple for connection to a source of vacuum, and means on said tubular member for effectively extending said other end thereof substantially beyond said other end of said surgical tip when installed thereon for application of vacuum inside the surgical site during use, said means for extending the open end of said tubular member comprising an extension sleeve slidably mounted thereon.

Claim 12

An evacuation tool for use with a laser-surgical instrument comprising: a hollow tubular surgical tip having an opening at one end connectable to a laser beam generator for receiving a laser beam projectable therethrough to a surgical site at an open other end thereof, said surgical tip having an inlet nipple for connection to a source of a purge gas to keep a focusing head free of smoke and vapors during use, said evacuation tool comprising a tubular member open at both ends and having one end adapted to be removably fitted tightly on said surgical tip with a small clearance between said tubular member and surgical tip between the region of tight fit and the respective other ends of said tubular member and said surgical tip, said tubular member having an inlet nipple for connection to a source of vacuum, and means on said tubular member for effectively extending said other end thereof substantially beyond said other end of said surgical tip when installed thereon for application of vacuum inside the surgical site during use, said means for extending the open end of said tubular member comprising an extension sleeve slidably mounted thereon.

Claim 13

An evacuation tool for a laser-surgical instrument according to claim 10 in which said tubular member has a larger diameter portion at said one end adapted to have said tight fit on said surgical tip, and a smaller diameter portion at said other end with a stop shoulder therebetween, and said extension sleeve being slidably mounted on said smaller diameter portion.

Claim 14

An evacuation tool for a laser-surgical instrument according to claim 10 in which said tubular member has a larger diameter portion at said one end adapted to have said tight fit on said surgical tip when installed thereon, and a smaller diameter portion at said other end with a stop shoulder therebetween and a stop flange at said other end, said extension sleeve being slidably mounted on said smaller diameter portion and having an inturned stop flange, said extension sleeve having a retracted position abutting said stop shoulder and an extended position with said stop flange abutting to prevent removal of said sleeve from said tubular member.

Claim 15

An evacuation tool for a laser-surgical instrument according to claim 10 for use with a surgical tip having an enlarged body portion and a tapered tubular portion extending therefrom, in which said tubular member has a larger diameter portion at said one end having said tight fit on the larger end portion of said tapered surgical tip portion when installed thereon, and a smaller diameter portion at said other end with a stop shoulder therebetween, the clearance between said tubular member and the tapered surface of said surgical tip tapered position when installed thereon providing a passage for gas flow from the open other ends of said tubular member and surgical tip to said inlet nipple to be connected to vacuum, and said extension sleeve being slidably mounted on said smaller diameter portion.

Claim 16

An evacuation tool for a laser-surgical instrument according to claim 10 for use with a surgical tip having an enlarged body portion and a tapered tubular portion extending therefrom, in which said tubular member has a larger diameter portion at said one end having said tight fit on the larger end portion of said tapered surgical tip portion when installed thereon, and a smaller diameter portion at said other end with a stop shoulder therebetween, and a stop flange at said other end, the clearance between said tubular member and the tapered surface of said surgical tip tapered portion when installed thereon providing a passage for gas flow from the open other ends of said tubular member and surgical tip to said inlet nipple to be connected to vacuum, said extension sleeve being slidably mounted on said smaller diameter portion and having an inturned stop flange, and said extension sleeve having a retracted position abutting said stop shoulder and an extended position with said stop flanges abutting to prevent removal of said sleeve from said tubular member.

Claim 17

An evacuation tool for a laser-surgical instrument according to claim 10 in which said tubular member and extension sleeve are each of optically clear plastic.

Claim 18

An evacuation tool for a laser-surgical instrument according to claim 10 in which said tubular member and extension sleeve are each of optically clear plastic, said tubular member has a larger diameter portion at said one end adapted to have said tight fit on said surgical tip when installed thereon, and a smaller diameter portion at said other end with a stop shoulder therebetween, and said extension sleeve being slidably mounted on said smaller diameter portion.

Claim 19

An evacuation tool for a laser-surgical instrument according to claim 10 in which said tubular member and extension sleeve are each of optically clear plastic, said tubular member has a larger diameter portion at said one end adapted to have said tight fit on said surgical tip when installed thereon, and a smaller diameter portion at said other end with a stop shoulder therebetween and a stop flange at said other end, said extension sleeve being slidably mounted on said smaller diameter portion and having an inturned stop flange, said extension sleeve having a retracted position abutting said stop shoulder and an extended position with said stop flanges abutting to prevent removal of said sleeve from said tubular member.