Lake Region Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Clarus Medical Systems, Inc.

Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.

Victor Roy Blackledge

Robert L Assell

John C Vanden Hoek

Thomas C Barthel

Miles A Finn

Richard L Shockey

Mark F Brown

Michael S Thorud

James Robert Montague

Guidewire extension system with tactile connection indication

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.

Surgical instrument including viewing optics and an atraumatic probe

Growing community of inventors

Cologne, MN, United States of America

Victor Roy Blackledge