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:
Apr. 07, 1998
Filed:
Apr. 29, 1996
John C Vanden Hoek, Elk River, MN (US);
Mark Francis Brown, Coon Rapids, MN (US);
Victor Roy Blackledge, Cologne, MN (US);
Miles A Finn, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Richard L Shockey, Coon Rapids, MN (US);
Thomas C Barthel, Becker, MN (US);
Clarus Medical Systems, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
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.