US6004262A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Visually-positioned electrical monitoring apparatus
Assignee: Ad Tech Medical Instrument Corp
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Filing: 1998-05-04
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Granted: 1999-12-21
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Expires: 2018-05-04
Abstract
Abstract A visually-positioned electrical monitoring apparatus includes an electrical assembly comprising an elongate, flaccid dielectric body having at least one electrical contact, a passage and an open distal end. An endoscope extends through the passage and has its distal end substantially in registry with the distal end of the body. A method for placing an electrical monitoring assembly to coact with human tissue at a target site includes providing the aforedescribed monitoring assembly, extending an endoscope into the passage, aligning the distal end of the endoscope with the distal end of the body and visually guiding the assembly to the site.
Inventors
- 👤 David A. Putz
- 👤 David K. Dunn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:07
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/0551
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
52 words
A visually-positioned electrical monitoring apparatus including: an electrical assembly comprising an elongate, flaccid dielectric body having at least one electrical contact therearound, a passage therethrough and an open distal end; and an endoscope extending through the passage and having its distal end substantially in registry with the distal end of the body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
52 words
A visually-positioned electrical monitoring apparatus including: an electrical assembly comprising an elongate, flaccid dielectric body having at least one electrical contact therearound, a passage therethrough and an open distal end; and an endoscope extending through the passage and having its distal end substantially in registry with the distal end of the body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the passage is defined by a body wall; the distal end of the endoscope terminates in a distal section having an exterior surface extending therearound; and the exterior surface and the body wall contact one another when the distal end of the endoscope is substantially in registry with the distal end of the body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein: the body is generally cylindrical; the passage is concentric in the body; and the passage is the sole passage in the body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the body includes: a proximal end spaced from the body distal end; an exterior surface; and an opening located between the body proximal and distal ends and extending between the passage and the exterior surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein: an electrical wire extends from the contact along the passage; a first passage section is between the distal end of the body and the opening and has the endoscope and the wire therein; and a second passage section is between the opening and the proximal end of the body and has only the endoscope therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein: the wire extends from the contact through the opening; and the endoscope extends from the distal end of the body to the proximal end of the body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the body has a proximal end and a distal end; and the endoscope includes a stop surface abutting the body at the proximal end.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the endoscope includes a gripping hub and the stop surface is on the hub.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the endoscope includes an abutment member frictionally mounted thereon and the stop surface is on the abutment member.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for placing an electrical monitoring assembly to coact with human tissue at a target site and including the steps of: providing an electrical monitoring assembly comprising an elongate, flaccid body having at least one electrical contact therearound, a passage therethrough and an open distal end; extending into the passage an endoscope having a distal end; substantially aligning the distal end of the endoscope with the distal end of the body; and visually guiding the assembly to the site.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for placing an electrical monitoring assembly to coact with human tissue at a target site and including the steps of: providing an electrical monitoring assembly comprising an elongate, flaccid body having at least one electrical contact therearound, a passage therethrough and an open distal end; extending into the passage an endoscope having a distal end; substantially aligning the distal end of the endoscope with the distal end of the body; and visually guiding the assembly to the site.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 10 wherein: an electrical wire extends from the contact along the passage; and wherein: the extending step includes sliding the endoscope along the wire.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the body includes a proximal end spaced from the body distal end, and wherein: the extending step includes inserting the distal end of the endoscope into the proximal end of the body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the guiding step is followed, in either order, by the steps of: withdrawing the endoscope from the body; and connecting the wire to an electrical apparatus for monitoring electrical activity at the site.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the site is in the spinal column and the guiding step includes visually guiding the assembly to the epidural space of the spinal column.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the site is in the spinal column and the guiding step includes visually guiding the assembly to the subarachnoid space of the spinal column.
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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) | 2002-12-20 | 2003-06-21 | 2003-12-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-20 | 2007-06-21 | 2007-12-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-20 | 2011-06-21 | 2011-12-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |