US4903837A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for dispensing and accounting absorbent surgical articles
Assignee: Kimberly Clark Corp
•
Filing: 1988-08-16
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Granted: 1990-02-27
•
Expires: 2008-08-16
Abstract
Abstract A dispenser which may be sealed and sterilized, containing surgical absorbent pads for use during surgical operations, each surgical pad associated with an indicator strip rigidly affixed at one end to the inner wall of the dispenser such that removal of the absorbent pad extends the indicator strip to the exterior of the dispenser, the strip being of a length sufficient to prevent it inadvertent reintroduction into the dispenser, the spent absorbent pads reassociated with the exterior indicator strips to provide a visual positive accounting of absorbent pads used during the operation, the dispenser biased with a weighted flange extending from the bottom surface to land on a sterile field in a dispensing position when tossingly directed from a container towards the sterile field.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard E. Duello
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 10:01
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F15/00; A61F15/001
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A dispenser for absorbent surgical sponges, comprising: a dispenser having an opening to its interior; and at least one elongated flexible strip rigidly secured at a first end to an interior surface of the dispenser and a distal end associated with an absorbent surgical pad sized to fit with the strip within the dispenser, the pad and the distal end of the strip having means for reassociating the pad with the strip.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
72 words
A dispenser for absorbent surgical sponges, comprising: a dispenser having an opening to its interior; and at least one elongated flexible strip rigidly secured at a first end to an interior surface of the dispenser and a distal end associated with an absorbent surgical pad sized to fit with the strip within the dispenser, the pad and the distal end of the strip having means for reassociating the pad with the strip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A dispenser as recited in claim 1, further comprising a container having side and bottom walls and a removable seal to close an open end of the container, the container sized to house the dispenser.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A dispenser as recited in claim 1, wherein the distal end of the strip is detachably connected to the pad.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A dispenser as recited in claim 1, wherein the strip is of a length sufficient to permit substantially the entire length of the strip to be pulled outside the dispenser.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A dispenser as recited in claim 1, wherein the dispenser includes a substantially planar bottom surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A dispenser as recited in claim 5, wherein the bottom surface extends longitudinally and latitudinally beyond the sidewalls of the dispenser to define a flange.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A dispenser as recited in claim 6, wherein the thickness of the flange is greater than the thickness of the sidewalls.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A dispenser as recited in claim 1, further comprising a detachable seal to close the opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
A dispenser as recited in claim 8, wherein the detachable seal is perforated.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
84 words
A dispenser comprising: a container having a bottom surface; a flange extending around the perimeter of the bottom surface; a strip of metal embedded in the flange; and at least one elongated flexible strip rigidly secured at a first end to the interior surface of the dispenser an a distal end associated with an absorbent surgical pad sized to fit with the strip within the dispenser, the pad and the distal end of the strip having means for reassociating the pad with the strip.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
84 words
A dispenser comprising: a container having a bottom surface; a flange extending around the perimeter of the bottom surface; a strip of metal embedded in the flange; and at least one elongated flexible strip rigidly secured at a first end to the interior surface of the dispenser an a distal end associated with an absorbent surgical pad sized to fit with the strip within the dispenser, the pad and the distal end of the strip having means for reassociating the pad with the strip.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A dispenser as recited in claim 10 wherein the strip is of a length sufficient to permit substantially the entire length of the strip to be pulled outside the dispenser.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
86 words
A dispenser comprising: a container having a substantially planar bottom surface; a flange extending around the perimeter of the bottom surface; at least one projection extending from the flange; and at least one elongated flexible strip rigidly secured at a first end to an interior surface of the dispenser and a distal end associated with the absorbent surgical pad sized to fit with the strip within the dispenser, the pad and the distal end of the strip having means for reassociating the pad with the strip.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
86 words
A dispenser comprising: a container having a substantially planar bottom surface; a flange extending around the perimeter of the bottom surface; at least one projection extending from the flange; and at least one elongated flexible strip rigidly secured at a first end to an interior surface of the dispenser and a distal end associated with the absorbent surgical pad sized to fit with the strip within the dispenser, the pad and the distal end of the strip having means for reassociating the pad with the strip.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A dispenser as recited in claim 12, wherein the strip is of a length sufficient to permit substantially the entire length of the strip to be pulled outside the dispenser.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
75 words
A dispenser for absorbent surgical sponges, comprising: a dispenser having an opening to its interior and a detachable seal to close the opening; an instrument attached to an exterior surface of the dispenser to sever the seal; and at least one elongated flexible strip rigidly secured at a first end to an interior surface of the dispenser and a distal end associated with an absorbent surgical pad sized to fit the strip within the dispenser.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
75 words
A dispenser for absorbent surgical sponges, comprising: a dispenser having an opening to its interior and a detachable seal to close the opening; an instrument attached to an exterior surface of the dispenser to sever the seal; and at least one elongated flexible strip rigidly secured at a first end to an interior surface of the dispenser and a distal end associated with an absorbent surgical pad sized to fit the strip within the dispenser.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
94 words
A dispenser for absorbent surgical sponges, comprising: a dispenser having an opening to its interior; and at least one elongated flexible strip rigidly secured at a first end to an interior surface of the dispenser and a distal end associated with an absorbent surgical pad sized to fit with the strip within the dispenser, the pad further defining a button hole in one end of the pad and a button attached to the distal end of the strip, the button engaging the button hole of the pad to associate the pad and the strip.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
94 words
A dispenser for absorbent surgical sponges, comprising: a dispenser having an opening to its interior; and at least one elongated flexible strip rigidly secured at a first end to an interior surface of the dispenser and a distal end associated with an absorbent surgical pad sized to fit with the strip within the dispenser, the pad further defining a button hole in one end of the pad and a button attached to the distal end of the strip, the button engaging the button hole of the pad to associate the pad and the strip.
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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) | 1993-02-26 | 1993-08-28 | 1994-02-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-02-26 | 1997-08-28 | 1998-02-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-02-26 | 2001-08-28 | 2002-02-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |