US7160246B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for removing a protective cover from a medical instrument
Assignee: Microtek Medical Inc
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Filing: 2003-10-17
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Granted: 2007-01-09
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Expires: 2023-10-17
Abstract
Abstract According to one embodiment of the invention, a system for removing a cover from a medical instrument includes a flexible cover configured to cover at least a portion of a medical instrument, an insertion element coupled proximate a first end of the flexible cover, a pair of substantially parallel perforations formed in the insertion element, a pair of substantially parallel score lines formed in the cover and aligned with the pair of substantially parallel perforations. A portion of the insertion element between the pair of substantially parallel perforations is removable from the insertion element and a portion of the flexible cover between the pair of substantially parallel score lines is removable from the flexible cover when a force is applied to the portion of the insertion element between the pair of substantially parallel perforations.
Inventors
- 👤 Robin Charles Humble
- 👤 Alexander S. Withers
- 👤 Kathy W. Zachry
- 👤 Mark S. Dillon
- 👤 Michael A. Gil
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 01:40
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00142; A61B46/00; A61B46/10; A61B46/13; A61B46/17; A61B90/00; A61B90/03; A61B2090/037
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
A system for removing a cover from a medical instrument, comprising: a flexible cover having a general tubular configuration for covering at least a portion of an elongated medical instrument; an insertion element coupled proximate a first end of the flexible cover, the insertion element being selectively expandable from a closed position to an open position to facilitate insertion of the elongated medical instrument; a pair of substantially parallel perforations formed in the insertion element and separated by a distance of approximately one-half inch to one and one-half inches; a pair of substantially parallel score lines formed in the cover and aligned with the pair of substantially parallel perforations, the pair of substantially parallel score lines extending from the first end to a second end of the flexible cover and separated by a distance of approximately one-half inch to one and one-half inches; and a tab coupled to the insertion element proximate the pair of substantially parallel perforations, whereby the tab is adapted to remove a portion of the insertion element between the pair of substantially parallel perforations and a portion of the flexible cover between the pair of substantially parallel score lines when a pulling force is applied to the tab.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
202 words
A system for removing a cover from a medical instrument, comprising: a flexible cover having a general tubular configuration for covering at least a portion of an elongated medical instrument; an insertion element coupled proximate a first end of the flexible cover, the insertion element being selectively expandable from a closed position to an open position to facilitate insertion of the elongated medical instrument; a pair of substantially parallel perforations formed in the insertion element and separated by a distance of approximately one-half inch to one and one-half inches; a pair of substantially parallel score lines formed in the cover and aligned with the pair of substantially parallel perforations, the pair of substantially parallel score lines extending from the first end to a second end of the flexible cover and separated by a distance of approximately one-half inch to one and one-half inches; and a tab coupled to the insertion element proximate the pair of substantially parallel perforations, whereby the tab is adapted to remove a portion of the insertion element between the pair of substantially parallel perforations and a portion of the flexible cover between the pair of substantially parallel score lines when a pulling force is applied to the tab.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein a second end of the flexible cover distal the first end is closed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein a second end of the flexible cover distal the first end includes an aperture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein a second end of the flexible cover distal the first end includes a scored or perforated portion adapted to produce an aperture in the second end when a force is applied to the scored or perforated portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the insertion element is coupled within the first end of the flexible cover.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the insertion element is coupled on the outside of the first end of the flexible cover.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the medical instrument is selected from the group consisting of an endoscope, an ultrasound probe, a gamma probe, and a video camera.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
129 words
A system for removing a cover from a medical instrument, comprising: a flexible cover configured to cover at least a portion of a medical instrument; an insertion element coupled proximate a first end of the flexible cover; a pair of substantially parallel perforations formed in the insertion element; and a pair of substantially parallel score lines formed in the cover and aligned with the pair of substantially parallel perforations, whereby a portion of the insertion element between the pair of substantially parallel perforations is removable from the insertion element and a portion of the flexible cover between the pair of substantially parallel score lines is removable from the flexible cover when a force is applied to the portion of the insertion element between the pair of substantially parallel perforations.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
129 words
A system for removing a cover from a medical instrument, comprising: a flexible cover configured to cover at least a portion of a medical instrument; an insertion element coupled proximate a first end of the flexible cover; a pair of substantially parallel perforations formed in the insertion element; and a pair of substantially parallel score lines formed in the cover and aligned with the pair of substantially parallel perforations, whereby a portion of the insertion element between the pair of substantially parallel perforations is removable from the insertion element and a portion of the flexible cover between the pair of substantially parallel score lines is removable from the flexible cover when a force is applied to the portion of the insertion element between the pair of substantially parallel perforations.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
The system of claim 8 , further comprising a tab coupled to the insertion element proximate the pair of substantially parallel perforations, whereby the tab is adapted to remove the portion of the insertion element between the pair of substantially parallel perforations and the portion of the cover between the pair of substantially parallel score lines when a pulling force is applied to the tab.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the flexible cover is of a generally tubular configuration and is formed from a polymer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein a second end of the flexible cover distal the first end is closed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein a second end of the flexible cover distal the first end includes an aperture.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein a second end of the flexible cover distal the first end includes a scored or perforated portion adapted to produce an aperture in the second end when a force is applied to the scored or perforated portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the insertion element is formed from cardboard.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the insertion element is selectively expandable from a closed position to an open position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 8 , further comprising a pair of gripping apertures formed in the insertion element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the insertion element is coupled within the first end of the flexible cover.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the insertion element is coupled on the outside of the first end of the flexible cover.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the pair of substantially parallel perforations and the pair of substantially parallel score lines are each separated by a distance of approximately one-half inch to one and one-half inches.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the pair of substantially parallel score lines extend from the first end to a second end of the flexible cover.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the pair of substantially parallel score lines extend from the first end to an intermediate portion of the flexible cover.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the medical instrument is selected from the group consisting of an endoscope, an ultrasound probe, a gamma probe, and a video camera.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for removing a cover from a medical instrument, comprising: covering at least a portion of a medical instrument with a flexible cover, the flexible cover having an insertion element coupled proximate a first end of the flexible cover; removing a portion of the insertion element disposed between a pair of substantially parallel perforations formed in the insertion element by applying a force to the portion of the insertion element disposed between the pair of substantially parallel perforations; and removing an elongated portion of the flexible cover disposed between a pair of substantially parallel score lines formed in the flexible cover and aligned with the pair of substantially parallel perforations in the insertion element by continuing to apply the force to the portion of the insertion element disposed between the pair of substantially parallel perforations.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for removing a cover from a medical instrument, comprising: covering at least a portion of a medical instrument with a flexible cover, the flexible cover having an insertion element coupled proximate a first end of the flexible cover; removing a portion of the insertion element disposed between a pair of substantially parallel perforations formed in the insertion element by applying a force to the portion of the insertion element disposed between the pair of substantially parallel perforations; and removing an elongated portion of the flexible cover disposed between a pair of substantially parallel score lines formed in the flexible cover and aligned with the pair of substantially parallel perforations in the insertion element by continuing to apply the force to the portion of the insertion element disposed between the pair of substantially parallel perforations.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein the covering step comprises expanding the insertion element from a closed position to an open position, and inserting the portion of the medical instrument through the insertion element and into the flexible cover.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein the pair of substantially parallel perforations and the pair of substantially parallel score lines are each separated by a distance of approximately one-half inch to one and one-half inches.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein the pair of substantially parallel score lines extend from the first end to a second end of the flexible cover.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein the pair of substantially parallel score lines extend from the first end to an intermediate portion of the flexible cover.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein the medical instrument is selected from the group consisting of an endoscope, an ultrasound probe, a gamma probe, and a video camera.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
101 words
A system for removing a cover from a medical instrument, comprising: a flexible cover configured to cover at least a portion of a medical instrument; an insertion element coupled proximate a first end of the flexible cover; a pair of substantially parallel perforations formed in the insertion element; and whereby a portion of the insertion element between the pair of substantially parallel perforations is removable from the insertion element and a portion of the flexible cover is removable from the flexible cover when a force is applied to the portion of the insertion element between the pair of substantially parallel perforations.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
101 words
A system for removing a cover from a medical instrument, comprising: a flexible cover configured to cover at least a portion of a medical instrument; an insertion element coupled proximate a first end of the flexible cover; a pair of substantially parallel perforations formed in the insertion element; and whereby a portion of the insertion element between the pair of substantially parallel perforations is removable from the insertion element and a portion of the flexible cover is removable from the flexible cover when a force is applied to the portion of the insertion element between the pair of substantially parallel perforations.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of claim 29 , further comprising a tab coupled to the insertion element proximate the pair of substantially parallel perforations, whereby the tab is adapted to remove the portion of the insertion element between the pair of substantially parallel perforations and the portion of the cover when the force is applied to the tab.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 29 , wherein a second end of the flexible cover distal the first end is closed.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 29 , wherein a second end of the flexible cover distal the first end includes an aperture.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 29 , wherein a second end of the flexible cover distal the first end includes a scored or perforated portion adapted to produce an aperture in the second end when a force is applied to the scored or perforated portion.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 29 , wherein the insertion element is coupled within the first end of the flexible cover.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 29 , wherein the insertion element is coupled on the outside of the first end of the flexible cover.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 29 , wherein the pair of substantially parallel perforations are separated by a distance of approximately one-half inch to one and one-half inches.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 29 , wherein the medical instrument is selected from the group consisting of an endoscope, an ultrasound probe, a gamma probe, and a video camera.
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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) | 2010-01-08 | 2010-07-10 | 2011-01-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2014-01-08 | 2014-07-10 | 2015-01-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2018-01-08 | 2018-07-10 | 2019-01-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |