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:
Sep. 19, 2000
Filed:
Apr. 01, 1998
Joseph L Mark, Indianapolis, IN (US);
Michael E Miller, Trafalgar, IN (US);
Promex, Inc., Franklin, IN (US);
Abstract
A medical device for surgical procedures is provided which includes an instrument having a working end defined by a portion of the instrument that can be visualized in a surgical field during a micro-invasive or minimally invasive surgical procedure. The working end includes a tissue manipulating element and a non-reflective outer surface, which covers the working end in its entirety so that the outer surface is free from glare points. The outer surface of the working end is preferably electrochemically etched to form a darkened metal oxide composition surface. The invention also includes micro-invasive surgical assemblies, which include a light source for illuminating the surgical field and visualization means as well as an instrument with a non-reflective working end. Processes for providing a surgical article with a non-reflective surface are also provided. The processes include placing an electrode adjacent the working end of the article and maintaining a gap between the article and the electrode. Electrolyte is supplied to the gap while passing an electric current between the article and electrode to provide a substantially uniform non-reflective surface to the entire working end of the article.