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:
Jul. 29, 2003
Filed:
Jan. 10, 2000
Errol O. Singh, Upper Arlington, OH (US);
Other;
Abstract
A surgical instrument includes a working sheath and an obturator. A method is also described for facilitating endoscopic examination and surgical procedures using such an instrument. The sheath is an elongated self-supporting tube with a lumen of sufficient size to accommodate other-surgical instruments. During use, the instrument is placed in the body percutaneously or through a body passage with the removable obturator located in the lumen to facilitate insertion of the sheath into the body. Once inserted, the obturator can be removed. The sheath is held in place by an inflatable bulb provided on the distal end of the sheath while the operation is being completed. A peripheral duct is also preferably provided for introducing anesthetic or lubricant during insertion. Any of various instruments selected by the surgeon, including instruments that are larger than the lumen of the sheath, can be inserted and removed by being passed into the body through the lumen of the sheath while the sheath remains in a substantially fixed position. The sheath thus acts as an artificial protective lining for the body opening through which it is passed, e.g., the urethra.