Surgical instrument including viewing optics and an atraumatic probe

US5735792A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Clarus Medical Systems, Inc. · US

Inventors

• John C. Vanden Hoek · Elk River, US
• Mark Francis Brown · New Hope, US
• Victor Blackledge · Cologne, US
• Miles A. Finn · Minneapolis, US
• Richard L. Shockey · Sarasota, US
• Thomas Barthel · Detroit Lakes, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 29, 1996
• Grant date: Apr 7, 1998
• Expiry date: Apr 29, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B1/3135
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

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.