Heater for surgical viewing instruments
US7537563B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 19, 2004 |
| Grant date | May 26, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 28, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B1/127
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system and associated method is used for warming an endoscope, laparoscope, or other such instrument to minimize fogging. The preferred embodiment comprises a pad for wrapping around an instrument, including a one or more substances operative to generate heat through an exothermic reaction; and an activation disc located around the periphery of the pad to provide for convenient user access. In the preferred embodiment, the activator is a mixture of water and sodium acetate, and the disc is made of perforated stainless steel. A housing contains the pad in sleeve form and an optional heat-conductive tube to receive the instrument around which the pad is wrapped. The pad may be partitioned.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.