The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 18, 1992
Filed:
Feb. 26, 1991
James J Smith, Jacksonville, FL (US);
James B Hissong, Jacksonville, FL (US);
Xomed-Treace Inc., Jacksonville, FL (US);
Abstract
An endotracheal device for passing fluids into or out of the body includes a tube member with a laser reflective material in the form of a flexible sheath that is covered by a flexible non-metallic protective covering. The laser reflective material is preferably metallic and can be formed of aluminum, copper, silver or stainless steel. Flexibility of the laser reflective material is obtained by applying the sheath to the tube member in the form of a spiral or in a corrugated form. A protective covering is provided over the laser reflective material and is preferably formed of a polytetrafluoroethylene material. The protective covering, coating or tubular wrapping is applied in a manner which enables such covering to rupture or break when a laser beam strikes the tube. The area of breakage of the protective covering exposes the underlying laser reflective material thereby enabling the laser beam to be reflected away from the tubular member. Such reflection or dissipation of the laser beam avoids heat buildup or heat absorption in the tube member enabling the endotracheal device to avoid burn-through despite a laser strike and minimize any discomfort to a patient.