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:
Jun. 13, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 15, 1999
Craig S Koch, Granite Bay, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
The improved medical instrument is adapted to remove obstructions from ear canals, nostrils and endotracheal tube airways. It includes an elongated handle with an elongated hollow tube connected to the front end thereof and an elongated flexible wire extending from the front end of the tube. The front end of the wire is curved to form a scoop for removing obstructions from a lumen. In one embodiment the wire and tube are removable as a replaceable unit from the front end of the handle. In another embodiment the handle has a central cavity therein communicating with the cavity in the tube and through both of which the wire extends. The wire is connected to a spring which extends out of the handle. The spring biases the wire into the tube. When the wire is manually depressed the front end of the wire extends out of tube and curves into the desired scoop configuration. The instrument can include a light which is switched on when the wire extends out of the tube and which is used to light the lumen. In another embodiment the front end of the wire forms a loop which goes back into the tube, which is flexible, the loop being extendable from the tube by spring biasing. In a further embodiment one end of the loop is secured to the exterior of the tube and the loop is shielded by a removable cap.