Medical instrument and method for lubrication and sterilization thereof
US5716322A · kind A · utility
11Cited by
6References
16Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 13, 1996 |
| Grant date | Feb 10, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 13, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F2310/00574
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Medical instruments incorporating solid lubricants are shown to survive an oxidizing sterilization process if they employ solid lubricants free from disulfide and diselenide compounds such as molybdenum disulfide and the instrument is kept free from such compounds. PTFE, powdered graphite and boron nitride are preferred solid lubricants. Of particular importance are flexible endoscope employing solid lubricants on fiber optic bundles encased in elastomeric coverings.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.