US4897079A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Polymeric sleeve for surgical instruments
Assignee: Allergan Sales LLC
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Filing: 1988-07-22
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Granted: 1990-01-30
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Expires: 2008-07-22
Abstract
Abstract A sleeve useful on a surgical instrument, in particular an instrument for treating the eye such as a vitrectomy cutter, is disclosed. Such sleeve includes a hollow elongated sleeve portion with at least one fluid outlet at or near its distal end portion, and a hub secured to the sleeve portion and adapted to receive at least a portion of the surgical instrument. The present sleeve is made of one or more organic polymeric materials and provides substantial benefits, e.g., providing effective fluid seals and being non-irrigating in use, and being disposable after use.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward R. Zaleski
- 👤 F. Richard Christ
- 👤 Jacob F. R. Louw
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:46
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/00736; A61M; A61M1/00; A61M1/84; A61M1/85; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/320068; A61B2017/320084
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A sleeve useful on a surgical instrument comprising: an elongated sleeve portion having a hollow interior space through which fluid is passed, and at least one fluid outlet at or near the distal end portion of said elongated sleeve portion to allow fluid to leave said interior space; and a hub secured to said elongated sleeve portion and adapted to receive at least a portion of said surgical instrument, said hub including one or more surfaces structured and adapted to contact said surgical instrument so as to substantially prevent fluid in said hub from passing out of said hub through the opening in said hub through which said surgical instrument enters said hub, said elongated sleeve portion and said hub each being made of one or more organic polymeric materials substantially free of silicon, and said elongated sleeve portion being harder than said hub.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
A sleeve useful on a surgical instrument comprising: an elongated sleeve portion having a hollow interior space through which fluid is passed, and at least one fluid outlet at or near the distal end portion of said elongated sleeve portion to allow fluid to leave said interior space; and a hub secured to said elongated sleeve portion and adapted to receive at least a portion of said surgical instrument, said hub including one or more surfaces structured and adapted to contact said surgical instrument so as to substantially prevent fluid in said hub from passing out of said hub through the opening in said hub through which said surgical instrument enters said hub, said elongated sleeve portion and said hub each being made of one or more organic polymeric materials substantially free of silicon, and said elongated sleeve portion being harder than said hub.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The sleeve of claim 1 wherein said elongated sleeve portion and said hub each have a hardness of about 90 Shore Hardness D or less.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The sleeve of claim 1 wherein said elongated sleeve portion has a hardness of about 70 Shore Hardness D or less.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The sleeve of claim 1 wherein said elongated sleeve portion is flexible at normal use conditions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The sleeve of claim 1 wherein said elongated sleeve is less than 10 times as hard as said hub.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The sleeve of claim 1 wherein said elongated sleeve is less than 5 times, based on relative Shore D values, as hard as said hub.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The sleeve of claim 1 wherein said organic polymeric materials are selected from the group consisting of elastomers, thermoplastics, plasticized thermoplastics and mixtures thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The sleeve of claim 1 wherein said organic polymeric materials are selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyesters, acrylonitrile-butadienestyrene copolymers, polyolefins, plasticized polyvinyl chloride and mixtures thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The sleeve of claim wherein said organic polymeric materials are selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polyurethanes and mixtures thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The sleeve of claim 11 wherein said thermoplastic polyurethanes are derived from one or more non-aromatic diisocyanates.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
The sleeve of claim 1 wherein said elongated sleeve portion further includes an outlet through which the distal end portion of said surgical instrument extends out of said interior space, said outlet being structured to substantially prevent fluid from said interior space from passing out of said interior space between said outlet and said surgical instrument.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The sleeve of claim 1 wherein said hub further includes a fluid inlet adapted to supply fluid to said interior space.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The sleeve of claim 1 wherein said elongated sleeve portion and said hub are separate parts and are bonded together.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The sleeve of claim 1 wherein said elongated sleeve portion and said hub are made of substantially the same organic polymeric material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The infusion sleeve of claim 1 wherein said elongated sleeve portion is substantially non-collapsible at normal use conditions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The infusion sleeve of claim 1 wherein said elongated sleeve portion has a substantially smooth outer surface which is substantially non-irritating.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus comprising: a surgical instrument useful for treating the eye of a patient; and a sleeve comprising an elongated sleeve portion having a hollow interior space through which fluid is passed, and at least one fluid outlet at or near the distal end portion of said elongated sleeve portion to allow fluid to leave said interior space, and a hub secured to said elongated sleeve portion and adapted to receive at least a portion of said surgical instrument, said hub including one or more surfaces structured and adapted to contact said surgical instrument so as to substantially prevent fluid in said hub from passing out of said hub through the opening in said hub through which said surgical instrument enters said hub, said elongated sleeve portion and said hub each being made of one or more organic polymeric materials substantially free of silicon, and said elongated sleeve portion being harder than said hub.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus comprising: a surgical instrument useful for treating the eye of a patient; and a sleeve comprising an elongated sleeve portion having a hollow interior space through which fluid is passed, and at least one fluid outlet at or near the distal end portion of said elongated sleeve portion to allow fluid to leave said interior space, and a hub secured to said elongated sleeve portion and adapted to receive at least a portion of said surgical instrument, said hub including one or more surfaces structured and adapted to contact said surgical instrument so as to substantially prevent fluid in said hub from passing out of said hub through the opening in said hub through which said surgical instrument enters said hub, said elongated sleeve portion and said hub each being made of one or more organic polymeric materials substantially free of silicon, and said elongated sleeve portion being harder than said hub.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said surgical instrument is a vitrectomy cutter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said surgical instrument is a surgical irrigation/aspiration instrument.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said surgical instrument is an emulsification instrument.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
146 words
A sleeve useful on a surgical instrument comprising: an elongated sleeve portion having a hollow interior space through which fluid is passed, and at least one fluid outlet at or near the distal end portion of said elongated sleeve portion to allow fluid to leave said interior space; and a hub secured to said elongated sleeve portion and adapted to receive at least a portion of said surgical instrument, said hub including one or more surfaces structure and adapted to contact said surgical instrument so as to substantially prevent fluid in said hub from passing out of said hub through the opening in said hub through which said surgical instrument enters said hub, said elongated sleeve portion and said hub each being made of one or more organic polymeric materials, said organic polymeric materials being selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polyurethane and mixtures thereof.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
146 words
A sleeve useful on a surgical instrument comprising: an elongated sleeve portion having a hollow interior space through which fluid is passed, and at least one fluid outlet at or near the distal end portion of said elongated sleeve portion to allow fluid to leave said interior space; and a hub secured to said elongated sleeve portion and adapted to receive at least a portion of said surgical instrument, said hub including one or more surfaces structure and adapted to contact said surgical instrument so as to substantially prevent fluid in said hub from passing out of said hub through the opening in said hub through which said surgical instrument enters said hub, said elongated sleeve portion and said hub each being made of one or more organic polymeric materials, said organic polymeric materials being selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polyurethane and mixtures thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The sleeve of claim 21 wherein said thermoplastic polyurethanes are derived from one or more nonaromatic diisocyanates.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The sleeve of claim 21 wherein said elongated sleeve portion is flexible at normal use conditions .
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
56 words
The sleeve of claim 21 wherein said elongated sleeve portion further includes an outlet through which the distal end portion of said surgical instrument extends out of said interior space, said outlet being structured to substantially prevent fluid from said interior space from passing out of said interior space between said outlet and said surgical instrument.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The sleeve of claim 21 wherein said hub further includes a fluid inlet adapted to supply fluid to said interior space.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The sleeve of claim 21 wherein said elongated sleeve portion and said hub are separate parts and are bonded together.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The sleeve of claim 21 wherein said elongated sleeve portion is substantially non-collapsible at normal use conditions.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The sleeve of claim 21 wherein said elongated sleeve portion has a substantially smooth outer surface which is substantially non-irritating.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
156 words
An apparatus comprising: a surgical instrument useful for treating the eye of a patient; and a sleeve comprising an elongated sleeve portion having a hollow interior space through which fluid is passed, and at least one fluid outlet at or near the distal end portion of said elongated sleeve portion to allow fluid to leave said interior space, and a hub secured to said elongated sleeve portion and adapted to receive at least a portion of said surgical instrument, said hub including one or more surfaces structured and adapted to contact said surgical instrument so as to substantially prevent fluid in said hub from passing out of said hub through the opening in said hub through which said surgical instrument enters said hub, said elongated sleeve portion and said hub each being made of one or more organic polymeric materials, said organic polymeric materials being selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polyurethanes and mixtures thereof.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
156 words
An apparatus comprising: a surgical instrument useful for treating the eye of a patient; and a sleeve comprising an elongated sleeve portion having a hollow interior space through which fluid is passed, and at least one fluid outlet at or near the distal end portion of said elongated sleeve portion to allow fluid to leave said interior space, and a hub secured to said elongated sleeve portion and adapted to receive at least a portion of said surgical instrument, said hub including one or more surfaces structured and adapted to contact said surgical instrument so as to substantially prevent fluid in said hub from passing out of said hub through the opening in said hub through which said surgical instrument enters said hub, said elongated sleeve portion and said hub each being made of one or more organic polymeric materials, said organic polymeric materials being selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polyurethanes and mixtures thereof.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said surgical instrument is a vitrectomy cutter.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said surgical instrument is a surgical irrigation/aspiration instrument.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said surgical instrument is an emulsification instrument.
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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) | 1993-01-29 | 1993-07-31 | 1994-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-01-29 | 1997-07-31 | 1998-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-01-29 | 2001-07-31 | 2002-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |