EP0664101A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lens cleaning apparatus
Assignee: Devmed Group Inc
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Filing: 1994-01-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-01-21
Abstract
Abstract A hollow tubular member (10) is concentrically mounted to a borescope or surgical viewing instrument to define a spaced passage (22) for flowing fluid to a cuff (46) which is discretely located below the distal end of the lens (53) of the borescope and which defines a discretely configured discharge port (50) for flowing fluid over the lens surface for cleansing and defogging purposes. A two-piece locking handle (132,140) may be used to lock the lens cleaning apparatus to the borescope. Another embodiment includes a flexible tube (90) utilized with the cuff.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce E. Dr. Wiita
- 👤 Michael J. Teets
- 👤 Gregory D. Wiita
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:01
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00064; A61B1/00071; A61B1/0008; A61B1/00091; A61B1/00131; A61B1/00135; A61B1/12; A61B1/127; A61B46/00; A61B46/10; A61B46/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
Apparatus for cleaning the lens (53) of a viewing camera used in biological observation by penetration into a cavity of a living being, the camera having an elongate tube (12) housing fibre optics for producing a lighted area from a light source and an image relay for a television camera, the apparatus comprising: a tubular member (10) arranged to be concentrically mounted around said elongate tube to form a longitudinal passageway (22) therewith, a cuff portion (46) arranged to extend beyond the distal end of said elongate tube to reduce lens contact with body parts and thus inhibit opaque fluids from obscuring visibility, said cuff portion including fluid passage means (20) in fluid communication with said longitudinal passageway and defining at least one discharge port (50) at the end of said elongate tube, said cuff portion including a bottom wall surface (47) for redirecting the flow of fluid in said passage means to flow into said discharge port and flow laterally in a direction to scrub the surface of the lens mounted at the distal end of said elongate tube, said discharge port being sized to coalesce and direct the flow of fluid to form a sheet of fluid, and means (60,62) for admitting fluid into said longitudinal passageway whereby the flow of fluid formed into a sheet may be directed over the lens on demand of the operator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said discharge port (50) has a length (A) and height (B) and said length is larger than said height.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said length (A) is substantially equal to two times said height (B).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said longitudinal passageway (22) is annular.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said elongate tube (12) and said tubular member (90) are flexible and said longitudinal passageway is a helical passageway (88) formed by a helical rib portion of said tubular member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, including a circumferential rim defined by said cuff (46) disposed relative to the edge of said discharge port (50) for adhering through capillary attraction droplets of fluid that remain in proximity to said lens (53) after the flow of fluid is discontinued.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, including means (63) for generating a vortex of said fluid disposed at the end of said discharge port.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said means for generating a vortex includes a plurality of spaced vanes (64) circumferentially spaced about an axis (CL) that is arranged to be disposed coaxially relative to the longitudinal axis of said lens (53).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the internal diameter of said tubular member (10) is threaded, an end cap (28) including a threaded shank portion (30) being threadably supported to said internal threads for placing said elongate tube (12) and said tubular member (10) in locking relationship.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, including sealing means (42) arranged to be disposed between said tubular member (10) and said elongate tube (12) at the lower end of said shank.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or 10, including normally closed valve means (60,62) disposed between said cap and said distal end of said tubular member (10) and operable externally of the body for opening said valve means and flowing fluid into said longitudinal passageway.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
134 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, including cap means having an upper member (132) and a lower member (140) in rotatable relationship, said lower member being affixed to the proximal end of said tubular member (10), a cam member (136) having radially extending lobes and having a central passage adapted to fit over the proximal end of said elongate tube (12) when supported internally of said upper member, said lower member having a central opening (138) in cooperating relationship relative to said cam and having detents for receiving said lobes, said upper member and said lower member defining handle means so that engagement by an operator causes said upper member to rotate relative to said lower member for placing said lobes into said detents for locking said elongate tube to said tubular member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
173 words
Apparatus for cleaning the lens (53) of a viewing camera used in biological observation by penetration into a cavity of a living being, the camera having an elongate tube (12) housing fibre optics for producing a lighted area from a light source and an image relay for a television camera, with a lens (52) at the distal end of said elongate tube, the apparatus comprising: a tubular member (10) concentrically mounted around said elongate tube and being spaced therefrom to form a longitudinal passageway (22) for cleaning fluid to flow to said lens, means (63) for generating a vortex of said fluid disposed at the end of said longitudinal passageway, said means for generating a vortex including a plurality of vanes (64) circumferentially spaced about an axis (CL) that is arranged to be disposed coaxially relative to the longitudinal axis of said lens, and means (60,62) for admitting fluid into said longitudinal passageway whereby the flow of fluid formed into a vortex may be directed over the lens on demand of an operator.
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