Heater for surgical viewing instruments
US9848762B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 26, 2009 |
| Grant date | Dec 26, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 19, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2050/0017
- 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. A flexible pad has a length, a width and a periphery for wrapping around the instrument and a plurality of separate chambers defined through partitions. Each of the separate chambers includes an activation disc and a mixture of water and sodium acetate to generate heat through an exothermic reaction initiated through manual manipulation of the disc for that chamber. The pad is preferably made from two plastic sheets of substantially equal size, with the chambers being formed by heat-sealing or otherwise bonding the periphery of the sheets and the partitions. At least some of the partitions establish lengthwise and/or widthwise fold lines in the pad. At least one of the partitions may include a gap to facilitate fluid transfer of the mixture. The disc is preferably made of perforated stainless steel. A housing may be provided to contain the pad in sleeve form, and an optional heat-conductive tube may be used to receive the instrument around which the pad is wrapped.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.