US3685509A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Foetal blood sampling endoscope
Assignee: National Research Development Corp UK
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Filing: 1970-07-07
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Granted: 1972-08-22
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Expires: 1990-07-07
Abstract
Abstract A medical instrument comprises two tubes arranged to define an annular space therebetween for application of suction to adhere the same to a body part while an associated instrument is housed within or passed through the inner tube. This finds particular application to endoscopes, especially amniscopes for foetal blood sampling, with one of the tubes being shorter than and preferably outside the longer main tube at its distal end, with a third tube of smaller order of cross-section passing back along the main tube towards its proximal end.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Hugh Cameron Bentall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 22:28
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/303; A61B5/00; A61B5/15; A61B5/150007; A61B5/150015; A61B5/150022; A61B5/150045; A61B5/150343; A61B5/150374; A61B5/150381; A61B5/150412; A61B5/151; A61B5/15186; A61B5/24; A61B5/25; A61B5/279; A61B5/28; A61B5/283; A61B5/288; A61B5/316; A61B5/318; A61B5/344; A61B5/43; A61B5/4306; A61B5/4343; A61B5/4362; A61B1/06; A61B1/0661; A61B1/0676; A61B5/150206; A61B5/150259
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
338 words
An endoscope for foetal blood sampling, comprising: a main first tube which is open at both ends and is conically shaped to provide an unobstructed smoothly convergent interior from one end, the proximal end, to the other, distal end; a suction head second tube significantly shorter than but having slightly greater diameter than said first tube, coaxially disposed around the distal end region of said first tube to define therewith a generally cylindrical annular space therebetween, the respective distal ends of said first and second tubes being substantially coplanar and a wall connecting the proximal end of said second tube to the exterior of said first tube to close said annular space at its proximal end, said space being of small radial thickness relative to the internal diameter of said first tube at its distal end; a suction-applying third tube of significantly smaller diameter than said first and second tubes, similar length to said first tube, connected to extend longitudinally along the exterior of said first tube, connected at its distal end with the proximal end of said second tube to communicate with said annular space without extending radially beyond the exterior of said second tube at such communicating connection, and having means at its proximal end for connecting said annular space with a vacuum source; a lance of similar length to but significantly smaller diameter than said first tube disposed within and longitudinally along the interior of said first tube, and freely translatable axially with respect to said first tube so that the end of said lance may be moved beyond said first tube to puncture a foetus held across the distal end of said first tube by suction applied to said annular space; and a sample-extracting fourth tube of smaller diameter than any of said first, second and third tubes, of similar length to said first tube, and disposed to extend longitudinally along said first tube to terminate at the distal end of the interior thereof to draw off a foetal blood sample from said puncture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
338 words
An endoscope for foetal blood sampling, comprising: a main first tube which is open at both ends and is conically shaped to provide an unobstructed smoothly convergent interior from one end, the proximal end, to the other, distal end; a suction head second tube significantly shorter than but having slightly greater diameter than said first tube, coaxially disposed around the distal end region of said first tube to define therewith a generally cylindrical annular space therebetween, the respective distal ends of said first and second tubes being substantially coplanar and a wall connecting the proximal end of said second tube to the exterior of said first tube to close said annular space at its proximal end, said space being of small radial thickness relative to the internal diameter of said first tube at its distal end; a suction-applying third tube of significantly smaller diameter than said first and second tubes, similar length to said first tube, connected to extend longitudinally along the exterior of said first tube, connected at its distal end with the proximal end of said second tube to communicate with said annular space without extending radially beyond the exterior of said second tube at such communicating connection, and having means at its proximal end for connecting said annular space with a vacuum source; a lance of similar length to but significantly smaller diameter than said first tube disposed within and longitudinally along the interior of said first tube, and freely translatable axially with respect to said first tube so that the end of said lance may be moved beyond said first tube to puncture a foetus held across the distal end of said first tube by suction applied to said annular space; and a sample-extracting fourth tube of smaller diameter than any of said first, second and third tubes, of similar length to said first tube, and disposed to extend longitudinally along said first tube to terminate at the distal end of the interior thereof to draw off a foetal blood sample from said puncture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
An endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said second tube is substantially cylindrical and is connected with said first tube by an annular proximal end wall with which said third tube is connected to communicate with said annular space.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
An endoscOpe according to claim 1 wherein said first tube is longitudinally slotted part way therealong from its proximal end, and said lance has a handle projecting radially from its proximal end, which handle is received in said slot to pass therethrough to the exterior of said first tube while allowing translation of said lance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
An endoscope according to claim 1 comprising an elongate distal field illuminating means disposed to extend longitudinally along the interior of said first tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
253 words
An endoscope for foetal blood sampling, comprising: a long main first tube which is open at both ends and conically shaped to provide an unobstructed smoothly convergent interior from one end, the proximal end, to the other, distal end where the internal diameter is about one-half inch; a suction head second tube of cylindrical form significantly shorter than but having slightly greater internal diameter than the external diameter of said first tube at its distal end and coaxially disposed around such end, the respective distal ends of said first and second tubes being substantially coplanar, so that said first and second tubes define a generally cylindrical annular space therebetween of about 3/32-inch radial thickness; an annular end wall connecting the proximal end of said second tube to the exterior of said first tube to close the proximal end of said annular space; a suction-applying third tube of similar order of length to said first tube connected to extend longitudinally along and in engagement with the exterior of said first tube, and having an external diameter not greater than the radial thickness of said end wall, said third tube being connected at its distal end with said end wall to communicate with said annular space, and having means at its proximal end for connecting said annular space with a vacuum source; means adapted for puncturing a foetus held across the distal end of said first tube by suction applied to said annular space; and means for extracting a foetal blood sample from said puncture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
253 words
An endoscope for foetal blood sampling, comprising: a long main first tube which is open at both ends and conically shaped to provide an unobstructed smoothly convergent interior from one end, the proximal end, to the other, distal end where the internal diameter is about one-half inch; a suction head second tube of cylindrical form significantly shorter than but having slightly greater internal diameter than the external diameter of said first tube at its distal end and coaxially disposed around such end, the respective distal ends of said first and second tubes being substantially coplanar, so that said first and second tubes define a generally cylindrical annular space therebetween of about 3/32-inch radial thickness; an annular end wall connecting the proximal end of said second tube to the exterior of said first tube to close the proximal end of said annular space; a suction-applying third tube of similar order of length to said first tube connected to extend longitudinally along and in engagement with the exterior of said first tube, and having an external diameter not greater than the radial thickness of said end wall, said third tube being connected at its distal end with said end wall to communicate with said annular space, and having means at its proximal end for connecting said annular space with a vacuum source; means adapted for puncturing a foetus held across the distal end of said first tube by suction applied to said annular space; and means for extracting a foetal blood sample from said puncture.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-22 | 1976-02-21 | 1976-08-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-22 | 1980-02-21 | 1980-08-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-22 | 1984-02-21 | 1984-08-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |