US5375589A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Unique cleaning catheter
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1993-10-18
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Granted: 1994-12-27
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Expires: 2013-10-18
Abstract
Abstract A unique cleaning catheter adapted for use in conjunction with a fiber optic surgical device comprising an elongate flexible casing having a cleaning brush or the like affixed adjacent its distal end. The cleaning brush or the like is adapted to remove bodily tissue which may accumulate on the distal end of the fiber optic surgical device, without having to completely remove the device from the patient.
Inventors
- 👤 Krishna M. Bhatta
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:02
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/12; A61B1/121; A61B1/122; A61B1/126; A61M2025/0019
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A self-cleaning surgical instrument insertable into a patient and comprising a catheter including: a. an elongate casing having a proximal and a distal end; b. optical fiber means having a proximal and a distal end for delivering a coherent beam of electromagnetic radiation to a target tissue adjacent the distal end of said casing, said optical fiber means carried within said casing and movable within said casing for positioning its distal end proximal to said target tissue; and c. mechanical cleaning means carried on the inside of the distal end of said casing, said cleaning means being adapted to remove bodily tissue from the distal end of said optical fiber means through wiping contact of said fiber means with said cleaning means by movement of said fiber means relative to said cleaning means in said catheter, without necessitating removal of said instrument from said patient.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A self-cleaning surgical instrument insertable into a patient and comprising a catheter including: a. an elongate casing having a proximal and a distal end; b. optical fiber means having a proximal and a distal end for delivering a coherent beam of electromagnetic radiation to a target tissue adjacent the distal end of said casing, said optical fiber means carried within said casing and movable within said casing for positioning its distal end proximal to said target tissue; and c. mechanical cleaning means carried on the inside of the distal end of said casing, said cleaning means being adapted to remove bodily tissue from the distal end of said optical fiber means through wiping contact of said fiber means with said cleaning means by movement of said fiber means relative to said cleaning means in said catheter, without necessitating removal of said instrument from said patient.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
An instrument according to claim 1, wherein said cleaning means comprises a brush.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An instrument according to claim 1, wherein said cleaning means is affixed to an interior surface of said casing and substantially fills said distal end of said casing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
An instrument according to claim 1 having a two way proximal converter, one for said optical fiber means and the other for irrigation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
An instrument according to claim 4, wherein the catheter is made of material that does not absorb the radiation being delivered by said fiber means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
An instrument according to claim 5, and further comprising means for delivering an irrigating fluid through said instrument to contact said target tissue.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
An instrument according to claim 6, wherein said cleaning means comprises a brush affixed to an interior surface of said casing and substantially filling said distal end of said casing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
An instrument according to claim 1, wherein said cleaning means comprises a flexible member extending circumferentially from the interior of said casing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
An instrument according to claim 8, wherein said flexible member substantially fills the distal end of said casing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a method of thermally treating a target tissue within a body by means of electromagnetic radiation delivered from an optical delivery fiber having a proximal and a distal end carried within a catheter having an elongate casing having a proximal and distal end, wherein tissue may accumulate on the distal end of the fiber, the improvement which comprises removing tissue from the distal end of said optical delivery fiber by frictionally engaging the optical delivery fiber with a cleaning means carried on an interior surface of the distal end of said casing of said catheter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a method of thermally treating a target tissue within a body by means of electromagnetic radiation delivered from an optical delivery fiber having a proximal and a distal end carried within a catheter having an elongate casing having a proximal and distal end, wherein tissue may accumulate on the distal end of the fiber, the improvement which comprises removing tissue from the distal end of said optical delivery fiber by frictionally engaging the optical delivery fiber with a cleaning means carried on an interior surface of the distal end of said casing of said catheter.
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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) | 1997-12-26 | 1998-06-27 | 1998-12-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-12-26 | 2002-06-27 | 2002-12-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-12-26 | 2006-06-27 | 2006-12-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |