Bic Corporation

Microvasive, Inc.

Alice H Pincus

John E Abele

Irving J Arons

Richard S Brenneman

Chaudhary M Ramzan

Paul M Drennan

Thomas A Jellison

James F Hopkins

George E Strom

An elongated image-carrying member that enables microendoscopy to be practiced using normal-sized catheters, includes a drawn, fused, central multi-fiber micro-unit of about 0.5 mm diameter, having about 2,000 glass fibers in coherent array, with a polymeric coating bonded to its pristine as-drawn outer surface. This combination achieves sufficient flexibility and optical qualities to enable effective use to provide vision for inspection of small passages and ducts. Flexible image-carrying members having diameter of 0.5 millimeter or less and catheters of diameter of 3 mm or less incorporating such members and effective working channels are achievable. For vision in remote areas, the micro-unit is employed with a substantially spherical lens with an ocular system for providing a focus range from less than about 2 mm to infinity and having resolution of detail down to the order of about 0.001 inch. The micro-optical member may be employed with a handpiece in a vision system, the micro-optical member being joined to the handpiece by a detachable connector having a stepped structure for precise alignment between the handle and the micro-optical member. By application of a relatively thin coating containing an opaque constituent to the as drawn micro-unit, degradation of the image and avoidance of artifacts caused by wave guiding effect are avoided. Devices with varying bend radiuses are also shown.

Fiber-optic image-carrying device

This discovery relates to an erasable ink composition that can be erased using an ordinary pencil eraser. It can be used in ball point pens. Other applicators can be used. Of course, the composition includes colorant and solvent. The combination of a thermoplastic elastomer and plasticizer components are important to the composition. The elastomer is a block copolymer, and the plasticizer is advantageously an ester. Other components include lubricant, resin and dispersant. Concentration ranges for the colorant is from 0.1% to 60%, for the thermoplastic elastomer is from 8% to 30%; for the plasticizer is from 10% to 35%; for the solvent is from 10% to 40%; for the resin is up to about 12%; for the lubricant is up to about 8% and for the dispersant is up to about 2%, all percent by weight of the composition. The colorant is conventional; the thermoplastic elastomer and plasticizer are not conventional. The thermoplastic elastomer is styrene-butadiene-styrene; styrene-isoprene-styrene or styrene-polyolefin-styrene. The latter thermoplastic elastomer is advantageous. The advantageous plasticizer is dioctyl adipate. The weight ratio of thermoplastic elastomer to plasticizer is 0.1 to 3.0. Other advantageous components are a polyterpene resin, lauric acid and methyl cyclohexane solvent. The latter component has a Hildebrand solubility range from 6.9 to 7.8 (cal./cm.sup.3).sup.1/2. This discovery also relates to a process of forming erasable script.

Erasable ink compositions

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Andover, MA, United States of America

Alice H Pincus