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US5509921A
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US
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Safe ear wax remover
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1994-06-13
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Granted: 1996-04-23
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Expires: 2014-06-13
Abstract
Abstract A Safe Ear Wax Remover is composed of three parts; a wax extractor (26), a safety stopper (10), and an adjuster (30) whereby the three parts combine together making a functional unit. The unit is then placed into the ear canal with stopper resting outside. Once the unit is inserted into the canal, the handle (20) is rotated, wax is caught in the extractor and then the unit is removed from the canal. Wax is thereby safely extracted from the ear canal. Repetitious insertion done, moving the adjuster and stopper to allow increased depth of insertion of extractor, until all wax is extracted. Wax is thereby extracted without visualization of ear drums and thereby can be accomplished by oneself and/or by lay persons.
Inventors
- 👤 Manuel L. Karell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 08:10
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/50; A61B1/00; A61B1/227; A61F; A61F11/00; A61F11/006; A61B17/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
An apparatus to remove wax from the ear comprising: a shaft having distal and proximal ends, wherein said distal end has a means to extract wax and said proximal end has a handle for manipulation; a stopper positioned between distal end and handle, surrounding said shaft and wherein said stopper has a slit ending in a central hole to allow said means to extract wax to be inserted into and through said slit thereby allowing shaft to rest in central hole an adjuster, positioned between stopper and handle, slidable, surrounding said shaft and having a hole sufficiently small to cause increased friction onto said shaft, thereby requiring an external force to move adjuster position on shaft; wherein, said means to extract wax, said stopper and said adjuster will act as a functional unit when inserted into the ear canal, preventing said means to extract wax from being inserted too far into the ear canal, thereby preventing ear drum injury as the wax is removed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
164 words
An apparatus to remove wax from the ear comprising: a shaft having distal and proximal ends, wherein said distal end has a means to extract wax and said proximal end has a handle for manipulation; a stopper positioned between distal end and handle, surrounding said shaft and wherein said stopper has a slit ending in a central hole to allow said means to extract wax to be inserted into and through said slit thereby allowing shaft to rest in central hole an adjuster, positioned between stopper and handle, slidable, surrounding said shaft and having a hole sufficiently small to cause increased friction onto said shaft, thereby requiring an external force to move adjuster position on shaft; wherein, said means to extract wax, said stopper and said adjuster will act as a functional unit when inserted into the ear canal, preventing said means to extract wax from being inserted too far into the ear canal, thereby preventing ear drum injury as the wax is removed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means to extract wax is a loop curette.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means to extract wax is a hook curette.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means to extract wax is a spoon curette.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means to extract wax is a brush.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means to extract wax is a cotton swab.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus of claim 1 wherein said shaft has screw-like protrusions and said adjuster has nut-like indentations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus of claim 1 wherein said shaft and said adjuster have protrusions and indentations such that shaft and adjuster fit a male/female arrangement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus of claim 1 wherein said shaft and said adjuster have protrusions and indentations such that shaft and adjuster fit a female/male arrangement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stopper and said adjuster are unitary.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus of claim 1 wherein said shaft has holes; and wherein said stopper and adjuster are unitary; and wherein a rod protrudes into a central hole for fitting into said shaft holes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stopper and adjuster are unitary and shaped into an otoscopic speculum wherein a wall of said otoscopic speculum has a slit and hole for passage of said shaft.
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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) | 1999-04-23 | 1999-10-23 | 2000-04-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-04-23 | 2003-10-23 | 2004-04-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-04-23 | 2007-10-23 | 2008-04-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |