Patent US5735792A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5735792A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surgical instrument including viewing optics and an atraumatic probe
Assignee: Transamerica Business Credit Corp
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Filing: 1996-04-29
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Granted: 1998-04-07
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Expires: 2016-04-29
Abstract
Abstract A surgical instrument incorporating visualizing optics is disclosed. The instrument comprises a handle supporting a rigid hollow shaft, an expanded tip is located on the distal end of the shaft providing a surface that will not tear or easily penetrate tissue. A fiber-optic assembly, containing at least one illumination transmitting fiber, a plurality of image-carrying fibers and an objective lens mounted near the distal end of the image fibers runs the length of the shaft. The objective lens is positioned relative to an opening in the tip allowing viewing. Light for illuminating the surgical site passes through one or more illumination fibers and through the opening in the tip of the probe. Light reflected from the tissue at the tip of the probe is focused onto the distal face of the image bundle by an objective lens and is then transmitted to the proximal end of the image bundle. Connectors on the proximal ends of the illumination fibers and image fibers facilitate their being coupled to an illumination source and a viewing device.
Inventors
- 👤 John C. Vanden Hoek
- 👤 Mark Francis Brown
- 👤 Victor Roy Blackledge
- 👤 Miles A. Finn
- 👤 Richard L. Shockey
- 👤 Thomas C. Barthel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:45
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00064; A61B1/00071; A61B1/0008; A61B1/00087; A61B1/00089; A61B1/00101; A61B1/00131; A61B1/00135; A61B1/00163; A61B1/00165; A61B1/00174; A61B1/04; A61B1/042; A61B1/12; A61B1/127; A61B1/313; A61B1/3135
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A surgical instrument for examining tissue comprising: (a) an elongated substantially rigid shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending between the ends; (b) a handle connected to the proximal end of the shaft, the handle including a longitudinal bore communicating with the lumen; (c) an expanded rigid atraumatic tip on the distal end of the shaft, the tip defining a surface opening that communicates with the lumen; and (d) a fiber-optic viewing assembly including a plurality of optical image fibers and having an objective lens mounted within the lumen for creating an optical image of tissue proximal to the opening, the assembly being mounted to extend and terminate within the lumen such that the tissue can be examined.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
A surgical instrument for examining tissue comprising: (a) an elongated substantially rigid shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending between the ends; (b) a handle connected to the proximal end of the shaft, the handle including a longitudinal bore communicating with the lumen; (c) an expanded rigid atraumatic tip on the distal end of the shaft, the tip defining a surface opening that communicates with the lumen; and (d) a fiber-optic viewing assembly including a plurality of optical image fibers and having an objective lens mounted within the lumen for creating an optical image of tissue proximal to the opening, the assembly being mounted to extend and terminate within the lumen such that the tissue can be examined.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the expanded tip forms an elevator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the expanded tip is a blade that arches from the shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The surgical instrument of claim 3 wherein the blade has an arcuate distal end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the expanded tip is bulbous.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The surgical instrument of claim 5 wherein the expanded tip and the shaft are formed from a single tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The surgical instrument of claim 5 wherein the proximal end of the shaft has an outer diameter and the expanded tip has an outer diameter which is less than the outer diameter of the shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the handle is detachably coupled to an endoscope connector, the connector including a passage in fluid communication with the bore of the handle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the handle is detachably coupled to a Y-connector forming a passage, the Y-connector attached to a hose including a lumen, the passage and lumen in fluid communication with the bore of the handle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the lumen and fiber-optic assembly define a space between them that is in fluid communication with the opening to allow a flushing fluid to be sent through the lumen and out the opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The surgical instrument of claim 10 wherein the fluid enters the lumen about the objective lens.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the fiber-optic viewing assembly extends from an endoscope connector, the endoscope connector being detachably connected to the handle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The surgical probe of claim 1 wherein the tip is generally spherical and symmetrically joined on the shaft and has a diameter about twice that of the shaft to permit tissue to close about the shaft and open in front of the opening.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the objective lens is recessed a predetermined distance from the opening such that tissue at the opening is in focus.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the shaft includes an arcuate bend proximal of the atraumatic tip.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the axis of the fiber-optic assembly is eccentric to the axis of the lumen.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1 further including at least one illumination fiber extending through the longitudinal bore and the lumen for transmitting light energy from an external source proximal of the handle and through the opening.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the fiber-optic assembly is removably mounted on the handle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
The surgical instrument of claim 18 including the cooperating connectors on the fiber-optic assembly and handle and wherein a distal portion of fiber optic assembly has a predetermined length to extend through the bore and lumen with the fiber-optic assembly terminating within the lumen spaced from the opening.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1 including a camera mounted on the handle operably associated with the fiber-optic assembly.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the opening in the tip is generally coaxial with the lumen.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the opening is located at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the lumen.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the shaft is malleable by a user.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
147 words
A surgical instrument comprising: (a) an elongated rigid shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending between the ends; (b) a handle affixed to the proximal end of the shaft, the handle including a longitudinal bore communicating with the lumen; (c) a rigid expanded tip on the distal end of the shaft and projecting from the diameter of the shaft, the tip defining an opening communicating with the lumen; (d) an optic harness assembly removably mounted on the handle with a fiber-optic assembly extending into the lumen for creating, at a remote location, a viewable image of tissue located proximal and exterior to the tip; and (e) an endoscope connector attached to the fiber-optic viewing assembly and detachably coupled to the handle, the fiber-optic viewing assembly extending a predetermined length from the endoscope connector such that the fiber-optic assembly terminates within the lumen.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
147 words
A surgical instrument comprising: (a) an elongated rigid shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending between the ends; (b) a handle affixed to the proximal end of the shaft, the handle including a longitudinal bore communicating with the lumen; (c) a rigid expanded tip on the distal end of the shaft and projecting from the diameter of the shaft, the tip defining an opening communicating with the lumen; (d) an optic harness assembly removably mounted on the handle with a fiber-optic assembly extending into the lumen for creating, at a remote location, a viewable image of tissue located proximal and exterior to the tip; and (e) an endoscope connector attached to the fiber-optic viewing assembly and detachably coupled to the handle, the fiber-optic viewing assembly extending a predetermined length from the endoscope connector such that the fiber-optic assembly terminates within the lumen.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The surgical instrument of claim 24 wherein the expanded tip is joined to the distal end of the shaft and forms an elevator.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
The surgical instrument of claim 24 wherein the expanded tip has a generally dovetailed shape and is joined to the distal end of the shaft, the tip arcing from the shaft and having a tapered terminal end.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The surgical instrument of claim 24 wherein the endoscope connector includes a longitudinal port in fluid communication with the bore of the handle.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
60 words
The surgical instrument of claim 24 wherein the fiber-optic assembly has a proximal end and a distal end and including at least one illumination fiber, a plurality of image fibers and an objective lens affixed to the distal end, the objective lens mounted in the tip to receive light traversing the illumination fiber and reflected from an object being viewed.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
The surgical instrument of claim 28 further including flushing means for injecting a flushing liquid through the lumen for maintaining the objective lens clean of blood and debris.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
The surgical instrument of claim 25 wherein the shaft is malleable by a user.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
33 words
The surgical instrument of claim 25 wherein an annular space is defined between the shaft, the tip and the fiber-optic assembly within the lumen and bore to provide flushing liquid to the tip.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
The surgical instrument of claim 25 wherein the shaft includes a flush lumen therein parallel to the fiber-optic assembly to provide liquid to the opening.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
167 words
A surgical instrument for elevating and viewing tissue comprising: (a) an elongated rigid shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending between the ends; (b) a handle connected to the proximal end of the shaft, the handle including a longitudinal bore communicating with the lumen; (c) a rigid spread atraumatic tip associated with the distal end of the shaft, the tip defining an opening that communicates with the lumen; and (d) a fiber-optic viewing assembly including a plurality of optical image fibers having a planar face at the distal end thereof, the assembly extending through the shaft and including an objective lens for creating an optical image of tissue proximal to the opening onto the fact of the image fibers, the assembly terminating within the lumen such that the tissue can be positioned and viewed simultaneously, the lumen being in fluid communication with the opening to allow a fluid to be sent through the lumen, about the objective lens and out the opening.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
167 words
A surgical instrument for elevating and viewing tissue comprising: (a) an elongated rigid shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending between the ends; (b) a handle connected to the proximal end of the shaft, the handle including a longitudinal bore communicating with the lumen; (c) a rigid spread atraumatic tip associated with the distal end of the shaft, the tip defining an opening that communicates with the lumen; and (d) a fiber-optic viewing assembly including a plurality of optical image fibers having a planar face at the distal end thereof, the assembly extending through the shaft and including an objective lens for creating an optical image of tissue proximal to the opening onto the fact of the image fibers, the assembly terminating within the lumen such that the tissue can be positioned and viewed simultaneously, the lumen being in fluid communication with the opening to allow a fluid to be sent through the lumen, about the objective lens and out the opening.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
The surgical instrument of claim 33 wherein the fiber-optic viewing assembly is disposed in the lumen.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
23 words
The surgical instrument of claim 33 further including an endoscope connector attached to the fiber-optic viewing assembly and detachably coupled to the handle.
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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) | 2001-04-06 | 2001-10-06 | 2002-04-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-04-06 | 2005-10-06 | 2006-04-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-04-06 | 2009-10-06 | 2010-04-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |