Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A surgical laser backstop instrument comprising: an optically nontransmissive rod; a backstop pivotally connected to one end of said rod, said backstop comprised of a non-reflecting material, said backstop movable between a position in which said backstop is aligned with the longitudinal axis of said rod and a position in which said backstop is transverse to the longitudinal axis of said rod; and backstop adjustment means mounted to the other end of said rod, said backstop adjustment means for controlling the movement of said backstop between said positions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
A surgical laser backstop instrument comprising: an optically nontransmissive rod; a backstop pivotally connected to one end of said rod, said backstop comprised of a non-reflecting material, said backstop movable between a position in which said backstop is aligned with the longitudinal axis of said rod and a position in which said backstop is transverse to the longitudinal axis of said rod; and backstop adjustment means mounted to the other end of said rod, said backstop adjustment means for controlling the movement of said backstop between said positions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The instrument of claim 1, said rod coated with a non-reflective material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The instrument of claim 2, said rod coated with titanium material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The instrument of claim 2, said rod having a length greater than twelve inches.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The instrument of claim 2, said rod having a diameter of thirteen sixty-fourths of an inch or greater.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The instrument of claim 2, said rod havig an evacuation bore extending longitudinally therethrough.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The instrument of claim 6, said surgical laser backstop instrument further comprising: smoke evacuation means connected to one end of said evacuation bore opposite said backstop, said smoke evacuation means for drawing smoke through said evacuation bore.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The instrument of claim 1, said backstop comprising a first section of titanium-coated material having a width equal to or less than the diameter of said rod.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The instrument of claim 1, said backstop extending outwardly for a distance greater than seven-tenths of an inch from the end of said rod.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
The instrument of claim 1, said backstop adjustment means comprising: a body connected to said other end of said rod; a line fastened at one end to said backstop and extending through said rod; and movement actuator means connected to the other end of said line, said movement actuator means connected to said body for controlling the pivotal movement of said backstop.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The instrument of claim 10, said body comprising a barrel having an aperture extending at least partially therethrough, said barrel fixedly attached to the other end of said rod.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The instrument of claim 10, said line comprising a wire connected at one end to said movement actuator means and at the other end to said backstop, said wire extending through a longitudinal bore in said rod.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The instrument of claim 12, said line comprising a pair of wires extending through parallel bores in said rod.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
84 words
The instrument of claim 10, said movement actuator means comprising: a knob rotatably mounted to said body, said knob for manually controlling the positioning of said backstop; a rack assembly placed within said body and connected to the other end of said line; and a pinion gear engaging said rack assembly and connected to said knob such that rotational movement of said knob causes a corresponding rotation of said pinion gear, said rack assembly movable relative to the rotational movement of said pinion gear.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
81 words
The instrument of claim 10, said surgical laser backstop instrument further comprising: smoke evacuation means connected to said body, said smoke evacuation means for drawing smoke from adjacent said backstop, said body having an aperture extending therethrough, said rod having an evacuation bore with an opening adjacent the pivotal connection of said backstop to said rod, said aperture of said body communicating with said evacuation bore, said smoke evacuation means including a vacuum connected external of said surgical laser backstop instrument.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
170 words
A surgical laser backstop instrument comprising: an optically nontransmissive rod; a backstop pivotally mounted on one end of said rod, said backstop comprised of a laser non-reflective material, said backstop movable between a position in which said backstop is aligned with the longitudinal axis of said rod and a position in which said backstop is transverse to the longitudinal axis of said rod; backstop adjustment means mounted at the other end of said rod, said backstop adjustment means for controlling the pivotal movement of said backstop relative to said rod; and smoke evacuation means extending through said rod, said smoke evacuation means for the removal of smoke at an area adjacent said backstop said smoke evacuation means comprising: a bore extending through the interior of said rod, said bore opening at the end of said rod adjacent said pivotal connection of said backstop with said rod; and a vacuum pump communicating with said bore at the other end of said rod, said vacuum pump for drawing smoke through said bore.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
170 words
A surgical laser backstop instrument comprising: an optically nontransmissive rod; a backstop pivotally mounted on one end of said rod, said backstop comprised of a laser non-reflective material, said backstop movable between a position in which said backstop is aligned with the longitudinal axis of said rod and a position in which said backstop is transverse to the longitudinal axis of said rod; backstop adjustment means mounted at the other end of said rod, said backstop adjustment means for controlling the pivotal movement of said backstop relative to said rod; and smoke evacuation means extending through said rod, said smoke evacuation means for the removal of smoke at an area adjacent said backstop said smoke evacuation means comprising: a bore extending through the interior of said rod, said bore opening at the end of said rod adjacent said pivotal connection of said backstop with said rod; and a vacuum pump communicating with said bore at the other end of said rod, said vacuum pump for drawing smoke through said bore.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
75 words
An improved surgical laser backstop instrument having a backstop of the type connected to a surgical rod, said improvement comprising: a laser non-reflective surface pivotally connected to said surgical rod, said surface movable between a position longitudinally aligned with said surgical rod and a position transverse to the longitudinal axis of said surgical rod; and backstop adjustment means mounted to the other end of said surgical rod for controlling the pivotal movement of said surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
75 words
An improved surgical laser backstop instrument having a backstop of the type connected to a surgical rod, said improvement comprising: a laser non-reflective surface pivotally connected to said surgical rod, said surface movable between a position longitudinally aligned with said surgical rod and a position transverse to the longitudinal axis of said surgical rod; and backstop adjustment means mounted to the other end of said surgical rod for controlling the pivotal movement of said surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The instrument of claim 17, said surface being coated with titanium, said surface having a length of greater than seven-tenths of an inch and a width not greater than the diameter of said surgical rod.