US4311140A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vacuum curet having an improved curetting opening
Assignee: Warner Lambert Co LLC
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Filing: 1979-06-04
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Granted: 1982-01-19
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Expires: 1999-06-04
Abstract
Abstract A vacuum curet having an improved curet tip opening. The curetting opening has a larger open cross section area than heretofore used and a novel shape. The shape includes (a) a central flat portion extending in a plane through the axis of the curet, (b) a cutting edge portion, at the distal end of said central portion, inclined slightly from a plane perpendicular to the axis of the curet toward the proximal end; and (c) a rounded non-cutting portion extending in a curved shape with a preferred radius from the near end of the central portion to the outside of the curet. Use in sampling tissue from the endometrium for diagnostic purpose.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry Bridgman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 08:05
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B10/00; A61B10/02; A61B10/0291; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/3205; A61B17/3207; A61B17/320708; A61M; A61M1/00; A61M1/84; A61B2017/320004; A61B2017/320008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
270 words
A curet for use in sampling tissue from the uterus with an initial high vacuum, e.g. higher than 0.2 atm., comprising a tube of flexible material having a distal end portion adapted to be inserted into the uterus, and a proximal end portion adapted to be connected to a high vacuum source, and an intermediate shank; said distal portion having at its tip region at least a pair of tip openings opposed to one another; one of said tip openings being rounded when viewed from a side plane parallel to the curet longitudinal axis, and the other being a macerator, said macerator opening being closer to the tip than the round one, and having an open cross section area of the lumen approximately 8 to 12 times the outside diameter of said curet in the distal portion; said macerator open cross section area further comprising three portions; a large central portion extending in a plane substantially parallel to and through the axis of the curet and having a length along the axis of approximately 10 to 12 mm, a cutting edge portion beginning at the distal end of said central portion and inclined slightly from a plane perpendicular to the axis of the curet toward the proximal end; and a rounded smooth portion beginning in said plane substantially through the axis of the curet and extending to the outer wall away from said plane in a half-round shape with a radius which is approximately one-and-one-half times the outside diameter of the curet, and said curet wall thickness in the region of said opening being approximately 0.025 inches to 0.04 inches.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
270 words
A curet for use in sampling tissue from the uterus with an initial high vacuum, e.g. higher than 0.2 atm., comprising a tube of flexible material having a distal end portion adapted to be inserted into the uterus, and a proximal end portion adapted to be connected to a high vacuum source, and an intermediate shank; said distal portion having at its tip region at least a pair of tip openings opposed to one another; one of said tip openings being rounded when viewed from a side plane parallel to the curet longitudinal axis, and the other being a macerator, said macerator opening being closer to the tip than the round one, and having an open cross section area of the lumen approximately 8 to 12 times the outside diameter of said curet in the distal portion; said macerator open cross section area further comprising three portions; a large central portion extending in a plane substantially parallel to and through the axis of the curet and having a length along the axis of approximately 10 to 12 mm, a cutting edge portion beginning at the distal end of said central portion and inclined slightly from a plane perpendicular to the axis of the curet toward the proximal end; and a rounded smooth portion beginning in said plane substantially through the axis of the curet and extending to the outer wall away from said plane in a half-round shape with a radius which is approximately one-and-one-half times the outside diameter of the curet, and said curet wall thickness in the region of said opening being approximately 0.025 inches to 0.04 inches.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A curet according to claim 1 having an outside diameter of approximately 4 mm, said macerator having its cutting edge towards said tip, and an open cross-section of approximately 32 mm 2 .
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A curet according to claim 1 having an outside diameter of approximately 3 mm, said macerator having its cutting edge towards said tip, and an open cross-section of approximately 25 mm 2 .
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A curet according to claim 1 having an outside diameter of approximately 5 mm, said macerator having its cutting edge towards said tip, and an open cross-section of approximately 45 mm 2 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A curet according to claim 1 having an outside diameter of approximately 6 mm said macerator having its cutting edge towards said tip, and an open cross-section of approximately 72 mm 2 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A curet according to claim 1 wherein said curet is transparent at least in its shank region.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A curet according to claim 1, wherein said curet is a single piece of molded plastic.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
238 words
A curet for use in sampling tissue from the uterus with an initial high vacuum, e.g., higher than 0.2 atm., comprising a tube of flexible material having a distal end portion adapted to be inserted into the uterus, and a proximal end portion adapted to be connected to a high vacuum source, and an intermediate shank; said distal portion having at its tip region at least a pair of tip openings opposed to one another; one of said tip openings being rounded when viewed from a side plane parallel to the curet longitudinal axis, and the other being a macerator, said macerator opening being closer to the tip than the round one, and having a cross section area approximately 11 to 18 times the diameter of the lumen, i.e., the inside diameter of said curet in the distal portion; said macerator opening further comprising three portions; a large central portion extending in a plane substantially parallel to and through the axis of the curet, a cutting edge portion beginning at the distal end of said central portion and inclined slightly from a plane perpendicular to the axis of the curet toward the proximal end; and a rounded smooth portion beginning in said plane substantially through the axis of the curet and extending to the outer wall away from said plane in a half-round shape with a radius which is approximately one-and-one-half times the outside diameter of the curet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
238 words
A curet for use in sampling tissue from the uterus with an initial high vacuum, e.g., higher than 0.2 atm., comprising a tube of flexible material having a distal end portion adapted to be inserted into the uterus, and a proximal end portion adapted to be connected to a high vacuum source, and an intermediate shank; said distal portion having at its tip region at least a pair of tip openings opposed to one another; one of said tip openings being rounded when viewed from a side plane parallel to the curet longitudinal axis, and the other being a macerator, said macerator opening being closer to the tip than the round one, and having a cross section area approximately 11 to 18 times the diameter of the lumen, i.e., the inside diameter of said curet in the distal portion; said macerator opening further comprising three portions; a large central portion extending in a plane substantially parallel to and through the axis of the curet, a cutting edge portion beginning at the distal end of said central portion and inclined slightly from a plane perpendicular to the axis of the curet toward the proximal end; and a rounded smooth portion beginning in said plane substantially through the axis of the curet and extending to the outer wall away from said plane in a half-round shape with a radius which is approximately one-and-one-half times the outside diameter of the curet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A curet according to claim 8 wherein said curet is transparent at least in its shank.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A curet according to claim 8, wherein said flexible material is a single piece of molded plastic.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A curet according to claim 8 having an outside diameter of approximately 4 mm, said macerator having its cutting edge towards said tip, and an open cross-section of approximately 32 mm 2 .
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A curet according to claim 8 having an outside diameter of approximately 3 mm, said macerator having its cutting edge towards said tip, and an open cross-section of approximately 25 mm 2 .
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
A curet according to claim 8 having an outside diameter of approximately 5 mm, said macerator having its cutting edge towards said tip, and an open cross-section of approximately 45 mm 2 .
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A curet according to claim 8 having an outside diameter of approximately 6 mm said macerator having its cutting edge towards said tip, and an open cross-section of approximately 72 mm 2 .
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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) | 1985-01-18 | 1985-07-20 | 1986-01-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-01-18 | 1989-07-20 | 1990-01-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-01-18 | 1993-07-20 | 1994-01-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |