Patent US5274874A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5274874A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Endoscope cleaning and defogging apparatus
Assignee: Medtronic Xomed LLC
•
Filing: 1992-03-13
•
Granted: 1994-01-04
•
Expires: 2012-03-13
Abstract
Abstract A device for cleaning and defogging an endoscope. A sponge is impregnated with a composition of water, a glycol and a water soluble wetting agent. The impregnated sponge is packaged in a container designed to facilitate cleaning and defogging of the endoscope. In one embodiment, the impregnated sponge is provided in an open container, and the endoscope is wiped against the impregnated sponge. In another embodiment, the impregnated sponge is provided in a tubular container, into which the endoscope is inserted. In yet another embodiment, the impregnated sponge is provided in a device designed to be attached onto an endoscopic trocar cannula. In yet another embodiment, the impregnated sponge is attached to the surface of a flapper valve in an endoscopic trocar cannula, such that the sponge in contacted by the endoscope when the endoscope is inserted in the cannula.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald J. Cercone
- 👤 Mark K. Adams
- 👤 Dom L. Gatto
- 👤 Douglas R. Valentine
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:38
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/12; A61B1/127; A61B1/121; A61B1/122; A61B1/126; A61B90/00; A61B90/70; A61B2090/701
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
An apparatus for cleaning and defogging a medical instrument, comprising: a) a sponge impregnated with a defogging and cleaning composition; and b) a container for said sponge; wherein said sponge has a uniform pore geometry and pore size distribution throughout its volume and comprises an inorganic acid-catalyzed reaction product of formaldehyde and polyvinyl alcohol, said sponge having an initial water absorption and a wicking point of a maximum of 10 seconds of contact with fluid and a variation in the size of the diameter of the pores of less than about 8 to 1 as determined by a stereoscopic microscope eyepiece.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
101 words
An apparatus for cleaning and defogging a medical instrument, comprising: a) a sponge impregnated with a defogging and cleaning composition; and b) a container for said sponge; wherein said sponge has a uniform pore geometry and pore size distribution throughout its volume and comprises an inorganic acid-catalyzed reaction product of formaldehyde and polyvinyl alcohol, said sponge having an initial water absorption and a wicking point of a maximum of 10 seconds of contact with fluid and a variation in the size of the diameter of the pores of less than about 8 to 1 as determined by a stereoscopic microscope eyepiece.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said defogging and cleaning composition comprises: a) water; b) a glycol; and c) a water soluble wetting agent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said glycol comprises glycerol.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said wetting agent is a polyethylene/propylene block polymer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for attaching said container to a support.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said container is a plastic container provided with an opening whereby one side of said sponge is exposed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said container comprises a tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said sponge is secured to said tube with an adhesive.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said sponge comprises two portions disposed within said container.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising means for securing said sponge portions together.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a funnel-shaped insert for guiding insertion of said medical instrument into said tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said funnel-shaped insert includes means for securing said sponge in said tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a cap for sealing said tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said tube is formed of a flexible material.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
82 words
An apparatus for cleaning and defogging a medical instrument, comprising: a) a first sponge impregnated with a defogging and cleaning composition; b) a first plastic container for said first sponge, said plastic container being provided with an opening whereby one side of said sponge is exposed; and c) a second sponge impregnated with a saline solution contained in a second plastic container provided with an opening, said second sponge being disposed in a side-by-side proximate position with respect to said first sponge.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
82 words
An apparatus for cleaning and defogging a medical instrument, comprising: a) a first sponge impregnated with a defogging and cleaning composition; b) a first plastic container for said first sponge, said plastic container being provided with an opening whereby one side of said sponge is exposed; and c) a second sponge impregnated with a saline solution contained in a second plastic container provided with an opening, said second sponge being disposed in a side-by-side proximate position with respect to said first sponge.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1735046A
Cited
US2229071A
Cited
US2923020A
Cited
US3150406A
Cited
US3413229A
Cited
US3583016A
Cited
US4098728A
Cited
US4282891A
Cited
US4282891B1
Cited
US4237641A
Cited
US4533399A
Cited
US4517702A
Cited
US4504994A
Cited
US4559662A
Cited
US4779300A
Cited
US4752983A
Cited
US5016401A
Cited
WO1990005771A1
Cited
US5018237A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-01-03 | 1997-07-05 | 1998-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-01-03 | 2001-07-05 | 2002-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-01-03 | 2005-07-05 | 2006-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |