US5495286A — Sterile video microscope holder for operating room

Claim 1

Independent Claim 293 words

A sterilizable holder for supporting and positioning a non-illuminating video camera having a distal end for viewing a desired surgical area in a sterile operating field of an operating room and providing illumination to the desired surgical area, said sterilizable holder comprising: a flexible, heat sterilizable, tubular arm having first and second ends; at least one heat sterilizable optical fiber running through said arm, said at least one having first and second ends; means attached to said first end of said arm for supporting said arm in the sterile operating field of the operating room; a connector at said first end of said arm holding said first end of said at least one fiber in aligned position for connection to a light source; a tubular holder, having a longitudinal axis, a first proximal end through which the non-illuminating video camera extends and having a second distal end at which the distal end of the non-illuminating video camera is positionable for viewing the surgical area along said axis, said tubular holder attached to said second end of said arm for removably receiving and supporting the non-illuminating video camera, said tubular holder further including an outer sleeve having a first diameter and an inner sleeve having a second diameter, said inner sleeve concentrically mounted within said outer sleeve; adjustable means mounted on said tubular holder for selectively positioning the distal end of the non-illuminating video camera adjacent said distal end of said tubular holder; and said second end of said at least one optical fiber extending between said inner and outer sleeves of said tubular holder, said second end of said optical fiber having a distal tip positioned near said distal end of said tubular holder for providing circumferential illumination to the desired surgical area.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 293 words

A sterilizable holder for supporting and positioning a non-illuminating video camera having a distal end for viewing a desired surgical area in a sterile operating field of an operating room and providing illumination to the desired surgical area, said sterilizable holder comprising: a flexible, heat sterilizable, tubular arm having first and second ends; at least one heat sterilizable optical fiber running through said arm, said at least one having first and second ends; means attached to said first end of said arm for supporting said arm in the sterile operating field of the operating room; a connector at said first end of said arm holding said first end of said at least one fiber in aligned position for connection to a light source; a tubular holder, having a longitudinal axis, a first proximal end through which the non-illuminating video camera extends and having a second distal end at which the distal end of the non-illuminating video camera is positionable for viewing the surgical area along said axis, said tubular holder attached to said second end of said arm for removably receiving and supporting the non-illuminating video camera, said tubular holder further including an outer sleeve having a first diameter and an inner sleeve having a second diameter, said inner sleeve concentrically mounted within said outer sleeve; adjustable means mounted on said tubular holder for selectively positioning the distal end of the non-illuminating video camera adjacent said distal end of said tubular holder; and said second end of said at least one optical fiber extending between said inner and outer sleeves of said tubular holder, said second end of said optical fiber having a distal tip positioned near said distal end of said tubular holder for providing circumferential illumination to the desired surgical area.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 26 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one heat sterilizable optical fiber is positionable equidistantly around said second diameter of said inner sleeve.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 54 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said arm comprises: an inner articulated member which is bendable in all directions and will remain in any position to which said member is bent; and an outer heat sterilizable covering positionable over said inner articulated member to protect said member from moisture, body oils and chemicals.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 74 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connector comprises: a means for receiving and supporting said first end of said at least one optical fiber in said aligned position, said means for receiving and supporting having proximal and distal ends; and an adaptor locatable at said distal end of said means for receiving and supporting and connected to said first end of said at least one fiber for connection to said light source.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 39 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tubular holder further includes: a window means sealed at a distal end of said tubular holder for providing a transparent surface enabling light to be received by said non-illuminating video camera.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 60 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 5, further including: a plurality of spring detents positioned around said tubular holder and extending radially inward from said inner sleeve for releasable engagement with the non-illuminating video camera so that the video camera can be rotated within said inner sleeve for the desired orientation of an image to be observed on a visual monitor.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 25 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 6, further including: a locking device mounted on said tubular holder for locking said video camera in the desired orientation.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 114 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 22, further including: a window means at said distal end of said tubular holder for providing a transparent surface enabling light to be received by said non-illuminating video device; a plurality of spring detents positioned around said tubular holder in a common transverse plane and extending radially inward from said inner sleeve for releasable engagement with a mating surface of the non-illuminating video device so that the non-illuminating video device can be rotated within said inner sleeve for the desired orientation of an image to be observed on a visual monitor; and a locking device mounted on said tubular holder for locking said video device in the desired orientation.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 23 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 8, wherein said at least one segment is positionable equidistantly around said second diameter of said inner sleeve.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 53 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 8, wherein said arm comprises: an inner articulated member which is bendable in all directions and will remain in any position to which said member is bent; and an outer heat sterilizable covering over said inner articulated member to protect said member from moisture, body oils and chemicals.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 62 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 8, wherein said connector comprise: a means for receiving and supporting said first end of said at least one optical fiber in said aligned position; and an adaptor at a distal end of said means for receiving and supporting connected to said first end of said at least one fiber and being connectable to said light source.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 36 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said at least one optical fiber comprises a plurality of optical fibers arranged in a plurality of grouped segments between said inner and outer sleeves of said tubular holder.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 200 words

A sterilizable illuminated holding device for illuminating a desired surgical area and for positioning a distal end of a non-illuminating video camera for viewing the illuminated surgical area, said device comprising: a tubular holder having concentric inner and outer sleeves forming an annular space therebetween and mounted about a longitudinal axis of said holder, said holder having a distal end through which the video camera can view the surgical area and a proximal end for insertion of the video camera into said holder along said longitudinal axis; adjustable means mounted to said inner sleeve for selectively positioning the distal end of the video camera adjacent said distal end of said tubular holder; adjustable support means attached to said tubular holder for supporting said holder in a suitable adjusted position for the holder to illuminate the surgical area and for the video camera to view the illuminated surgical area; and a plurality of optical fibers positioned within and around said annular space, said plurality of optical fibers each having a first distal tip positioned at said distal end of said tubular holder for projecting light to the surgical area, and having a second proximal end connectable to a source of illumination.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 200 words

A sterilizable illuminated holding device for illuminating a desired surgical area and for positioning a distal end of a non-illuminating video camera for viewing the illuminated surgical area, said device comprising: a tubular holder having concentric inner and outer sleeves forming an annular space therebetween and mounted about a longitudinal axis of said holder, said holder having a distal end through which the video camera can view the surgical area and a proximal end for insertion of the video camera into said holder along said longitudinal axis; adjustable means mounted to said inner sleeve for selectively positioning the distal end of the video camera adjacent said distal end of said tubular holder; adjustable support means attached to said tubular holder for supporting said holder in a suitable adjusted position for the holder to illuminate the surgical area and for the video camera to view the illuminated surgical area; and a plurality of optical fibers positioned within and around said annular space, said plurality of optical fibers each having a first distal tip positioned at said distal end of said tubular holder for projecting light to the surgical area, and having a second proximal end connectable to a source of illumination.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 71 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 13, wherein said adjustable support means includes: a flexible, tubular arm having a first end connected to said outer sleeve and having a second end, said plurality of optical fibers extending through said tubular arm and into said annular space; means attached to said second end of said tubular arm for supporting said arm and said housing in the sterile operating field of the operating room.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 13, wherein: said first distal tip of each of said optical fibers is spaced around said longitudinal axis of said tubular holder.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 35 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 15, wherein: said first distal tip of each of said optical fibers is arranged in groups as spaced segments around said annular space at said distal end of said holder.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 281 words

A sterilizable illuminated holding device for illuminating a desired surgical area and for positioning a distal end of a non-illuminating video camera for viewing the illuminated surgical area, said device comprising: a tubular holder having concentric inner and outer sleeves forming an annular space therebetween and mounted about a longitudinal axis of said holder, said holder having a first distal end through which the video camera can view the surgical area and a second proximal end for insertion of the video camera into said holder along said longitudinal axis; adjustable means mounted to said inner sleeve for selectively positioning the distal end of the video camera adjacent said distal end of said tubular holder; a flexible, tubular arm attached to said holder for supporting said holder in a suitable adjusted position for the holder to illuminate the surgical area and for the video camera to view the illuminated surgical area, said arm having a first end connected to said outer sleeve and having a second end; means attached to said second end of said tubular arm for supporting said arm and said holder in the sterile operating field of an operating room; and a plurality of optical fibers extending through said tubular arm and into said annular space, said plurality of optical fibers each having a first distal tip positioned at said distal end of said holder for projecting light to the surgical area, said first distal tip of each of said plurality of optical fibers being arranged in groups as spaced segments around said annular space at said distal end of said holder, and said plurality of optical fibers each having a second end connectable to a source of illumination.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 281 words

A sterilizable illuminated holding device for illuminating a desired surgical area and for positioning a distal end of a non-illuminating video camera for viewing the illuminated surgical area, said device comprising: a tubular holder having concentric inner and outer sleeves forming an annular space therebetween and mounted about a longitudinal axis of said holder, said holder having a first distal end through which the video camera can view the surgical area and a second proximal end for insertion of the video camera into said holder along said longitudinal axis; adjustable means mounted to said inner sleeve for selectively positioning the distal end of the video camera adjacent said distal end of said tubular holder; a flexible, tubular arm attached to said holder for supporting said holder in a suitable adjusted position for the holder to illuminate the surgical area and for the video camera to view the illuminated surgical area, said arm having a first end connected to said outer sleeve and having a second end; means attached to said second end of said tubular arm for supporting said arm and said holder in the sterile operating field of an operating room; and a plurality of optical fibers extending through said tubular arm and into said annular space, said plurality of optical fibers each having a first distal tip positioned at said distal end of said holder for projecting light to the surgical area, said first distal tip of each of said plurality of optical fibers being arranged in groups as spaced segments around said annular space at said distal end of said holder, and said plurality of optical fibers each having a second end connectable to a source of illumination.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-02-26	1999-08-28	2000-02-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-02-26	2003-08-28	2004-02-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-02-26	2007-08-28	2008-02-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Sterile video microscope holder for operating room

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