US5065757A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shielding to protect material from laser light
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1988-05-16
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Granted: 1991-11-19
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Expires: 2008-05-16
Abstract
Abstract A shield from a laser beam has an upper material which disperses the laser beam into a larger cross sectional area, and a lower material which reflects the dispersed laser beam back through the upper material. The upper material may be a woven fiberglass sheet and the lower material may be a sheet made of woven metallic wires. The shield may be made from cylindrical fiberglass and metallic fabric as a shield for an endotracheal tube for use during laser surgery of a patient`s throat region. The materials may be made in sheets to form protective drapes for protection of equipment from a laser beam during laser surgery. An umbrella having a reflective surface that unfolds under pressure from a balloon used to secure an endotracheal tube in a patient's throat protects the balloon from the laser beam during laser surgery.
Inventors
- 👤 Branislav M. Dragisic
- 👤 Finley W. Markley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:33
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M16/00; A61M16/04; A61M16/0402; A61M16/0422; A61M16/0434; A61M16/0445; A61M16/0447
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
An endotracheal tube comprising: a tube capable of supplying gas to a patient; means for protecting said tube from damage by light from a laser, said means including a woven metal shield encircling at least a portion of said tube; a woven fiberglass shield encircling said woven metal shield; said woven metal shield and said woven fiberglass shield constituting means for reflecting light from a laser and means for dispersing light from a laser, respectively.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
75 words
An endotracheal tube comprising: a tube capable of supplying gas to a patient; means for protecting said tube from damage by light from a laser, said means including a woven metal shield encircling at least a portion of said tube; a woven fiberglass shield encircling said woven metal shield; said woven metal shield and said woven fiberglass shield constituting means for reflecting light from a laser and means for dispersing light from a laser, respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
An endotracheal tube as in claim 1 further comprising: a balloon connected to said endotracheal tube near an end thereof and inflatable oppositely of said end to secure said endotracheal tube in said patient's trachea; an umbrella, secured to said endotracheal tube adjacent said balloon and being folded to cover said balloon during insertion of said endotracheal tube into said patients' trachea, and said umbrella opening to shield said balloon from said laser light as said balloon is inflated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
109 words
An endotracheal tube, comprising: a tube capable of supplying gas to a patient's lungs; a collapsed balloon mounted on said tube near an end thereof and inflatable to secure said tracheal tube in said patient's trachea; and an umbrella having a first open end free to move in response to inflation of said balloon and a second end mounted on said tube adjacent to said balloon and oppositely of said tube end said umbrella being folded over said balloon to cover said balloon during insertion of said endotracheal tube into said patient's trachea, said umbrella opening to shield said balloon from laser light responsive to inflation of said balloon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
109 words
An endotracheal tube, comprising: a tube capable of supplying gas to a patient's lungs; a collapsed balloon mounted on said tube near an end thereof and inflatable to secure said tracheal tube in said patient's trachea; and an umbrella having a first open end free to move in response to inflation of said balloon and a second end mounted on said tube adjacent to said balloon and oppositely of said tube end said umbrella being folded over said balloon to cover said balloon during insertion of said endotracheal tube into said patient's trachea, said umbrella opening to shield said balloon from laser light responsive to inflation of said balloon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
An endotracheal tube as in claim 3 wherein said umbrella is made of a flexible material having a flexible metal coating attached thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
An endotracheal tube as in claim 4 wherein said metal coating has its surface dulled so as to reduce the intensity of light reflecting from said metal layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
140 words
An endotracheal tube comprising: a plastic tube capable of supplying gas to a patient and formed of a material that will melt and/or oxidize and/or vaporize when struck by the beam of a laser; means for protecting said tube from damage by light from laser including a first substantially continuous thermally conductive and reflective tubular layer surrounding said tube along the length thereof and formed of a material that is both thermally conductive as well as reflective of laser light; and a second tubular diffusing layer surrounding said thermally conductive and reflective tubular layer oppositely of said tube and formed of a transparent material constructed to diffuse a beam of laser light impinging on said diffusing layer and having an exposed surface opposite of said thermally conductive and reflective layer that may be exposed to a beam of laser light.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
140 words
An endotracheal tube comprising: a plastic tube capable of supplying gas to a patient and formed of a material that will melt and/or oxidize and/or vaporize when struck by the beam of a laser; means for protecting said tube from damage by light from laser including a first substantially continuous thermally conductive and reflective tubular layer surrounding said tube along the length thereof and formed of a material that is both thermally conductive as well as reflective of laser light; and a second tubular diffusing layer surrounding said thermally conductive and reflective tubular layer oppositely of said tube and formed of a transparent material constructed to diffuse a beam of laser light impinging on said diffusing layer and having an exposed surface opposite of said thermally conductive and reflective layer that may be exposed to a beam of laser light.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The endotracheal tube of claim 6 wherein said thermally conductive and reflective layer is formed of metallic filaments.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The endotracheal tube of claim 6 wherein said diffusing layer is made up of glass-like filaments.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The endotracheal tube of claim 6 wherein said thermally conductive and reflective layer is formed of woven metallic filaments and said diffusing layer is made up of woven glass fibers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
78 words
The endotracheal tube of claim 6 further including a collapsed balloon mounted on said tube near an end thereof, means for selectively inflating said balloon, a collapsed umbrella-like shield mounted on said tube adjacent to said balloon on the side thereof opposite said tube end and having a free edge folded over said balloon, said collapsed shield being responsive to inflation of said balloon to cause said free end to spread to shield said balloon from laser light.
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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) | 1994-11-18 | 1995-05-20 | 1995-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-11-18 | 1999-05-20 | 1999-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-11-18 | 2003-05-20 | 2003-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |