Vidamed, Inc.

Amp LLC

Metcal, Inc.

Jack A McCullough

Thomas H McGaffigan

Christopher Scott Jones

Bryan C Depetrillo

A medical probe device for introduction by way of a natural body opening into a tubular internal anatomical part of the body includes an elongate member having proximal and distal extremities and a passageway extending from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity along a longitudinal axis, a transparent guide piece mounted on the distal extremity of the elongate member, the transparent guide piece having proximal and distal extremities and a bore therein defining a guide piece lumen extending from the proximal extremity of the guide piece distally at least part way to the distal extremity of the guide piece, the guide piece lumen being in communication with the passageway in the elongate member, an optical viewing element movable within the passageway of the elongate member and having a distal extremity movable within the guide piece lumen, a handle mechanism mounted on the proximal extremity of the elongate member, and a further mechanism carried by the handle for mounting the distal extremity of the optical viewing element within the guide piece lumen and for moving the distal extremity of the optical viewing element in a longitudinal direction within the guide piece lumen between a distal position to permit viewing forward of the distal extremity of the guide piece within the body and a proximal position to permit viewing lateral to at least the distal extremity of the guide piece.

Medical probe device with transparent distal extremity

A medical probe device for introduction by way of a natural body opening into a tubular internal anatomical part of the body includes an elongate member having proximal and distal extremities and a passageway extending from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity along a longitudinal axis, a transparent guide piece mounted on the distal extremity of the elongate member, the transparent guide piece having proximal and distal extremities and a bore therein defining a guide piece lumen extending from the proximal extremity of the guide piece distally at least part way to the distal extremity of the guide piece, the guide piece lumen being in communication with the passageway in the elongate member, an optical viewing element movable within the passageway of the elongate member and having a distal extremity movable within the guide piece lumen, a handle mounted on the proximal extremity of the elongate member, the distal extremity of the optical viewing element mounted within the guide piece lumen so that the distal extremity of the optical viewing element is movable in a longitudinal direction within the guide piece lumen between a distal position to permit viewing forward of the distal extremity of the guide piece within the body and a proximal position to permit viewing lateral to at least the distal extremity of the guide piece.

In accordance with the present invention, a heater element which includes a layer of ferromagnetic material is included in a connecting device along with a fusible material such as a solder preform. The connecting device includes, for example, a hollow sleeve formed of heat shrinkable material. The solder preform, the heater element and the heat shrinkable hollow sleeve are integrally formed as a self-contained solder sleeve device such that the heater element is separate from the objects to be joined and does not completely shield to generation of a inductive current in the objects to be joined. The connecting device thus promotes even flow and bonding of the fusible material around a junction between the objects. Further, a connecting device is provided which permits visual inspection of a connection between objects bonded upon activation of the connecting device, thus providing an opportunity to confirm the integrity of the junction.

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Saratoga, CA, United States of America

Jack A McCullough