US5188630A — Christoudias endospongestick probe

Claim 1

Independent Claim 199 words

A spongestick for endoscopic procedures used in conjunction with endoscopic instruments comprising: a main rigid stem comprising an elongated cylinder having an axial aperture extending therethrough, an outer cylinder surface having a longitudinal groove extending along said outer surface, an upper cylinder portion having a handle projecting outwardly from said upper portion and a lower cylinder portion; a retractable cylindrical sheath slidably mounted about the stem cylinder having an upper portion and at least one handle extending outwardly from the upper portion thereof; a central tube for insertion of endoscopic instruments therethrough mounted within the stem aperture and extending outwardly therefrom, said tube including an upper circumferential groove adjacent the stem and a lower tube portion having a lower circumferential groove; and a balloon and a tubular gauze member surrounding the balloon at the lower portion of the central tube and having upper and lower elastic bands which mount in the respective circumferential tube grooves securing said balloon and gauze member in position, said balloon having an elongated inflation tube extending upwardly along the longitudinal groove to the upper portion of the stem cylinder, and wherein the balloon and gauze member include axial apertures through which the tube extends.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 199 words

A spongestick for endoscopic procedures used in conjunction with endoscopic instruments comprising: a main rigid stem comprising an elongated cylinder having an axial aperture extending therethrough, an outer cylinder surface having a longitudinal groove extending along said outer surface, an upper cylinder portion having a handle projecting outwardly from said upper portion and a lower cylinder portion; a retractable cylindrical sheath slidably mounted about the stem cylinder having an upper portion and at least one handle extending outwardly from the upper portion thereof; a central tube for insertion of endoscopic instruments therethrough mounted within the stem aperture and extending outwardly therefrom, said tube including an upper circumferential groove adjacent the stem and a lower tube portion having a lower circumferential groove; and a balloon and a tubular gauze member surrounding the balloon at the lower portion of the central tube and having upper and lower elastic bands which mount in the respective circumferential tube grooves securing said balloon and gauze member in position, said balloon having an elongated inflation tube extending upwardly along the longitudinal groove to the upper portion of the stem cylinder, and wherein the balloon and gauze member include axial apertures through which the tube extends.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 46 words

A spongestick for endoscopic procedures in accordance with claim 1 wherein: the retractable sheath includes two handles, each extending outwardly on opposite sides of the sheath at its upper portion and the balloon inflation tube includes an upper portion having a Leur lock tip mounted thereto.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 114 words

A spongestick for endoscopic procedures used in conjunction with endoscopic instruments comprising: a rigid stem comprising an elongated hollow cylinder having upper and lower portions and internal and external cylinder walls for insertion of endoscopic instruments therethrough; said hollow cylinder further comprising a solid portion and a hollow portion extending along the length thereof; a retractable rigid sheath slidably mounted about the stem and having at least one handle projecting outwardly therefrom; said lower portion having a concave recess within the solid portion of the external cylinder wall; balloon means mounted about the lower portion of the stem within said recess; and means for inflating said balloon means to protrude outwardly from said recess.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 114 words

A spongestick for endoscopic procedures used in conjunction with endoscopic instruments comprising: a rigid stem comprising an elongated hollow cylinder having upper and lower portions and internal and external cylinder walls for insertion of endoscopic instruments therethrough; said hollow cylinder further comprising a solid portion and a hollow portion extending along the length thereof; a retractable rigid sheath slidably mounted about the stem and having at least one handle projecting outwardly therefrom; said lower portion having a concave recess within the solid portion of the external cylinder wall; balloon means mounted about the lower portion of the stem within said recess; and means for inflating said balloon means to protrude outwardly from said recess.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 79 words

A spongestick in accordance with claim 3 and further comprising: a groove extending longitudinally along the external cylinder wall extending from said recess to the upper portion of the stem, and said means for inflating said balloon means including an elongated inflation tube connected to said balloon means and positioned within the longitudinal groove of the stem and extending to the upper portion of the stem, wherein said hollow portion of the stem may be used for endoscopic procedures.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 51 words

A spongestick in accordance with claim 3 wherein: said stem further includes a pair of circumferentially spaced grooves about said lower portion of said cylinder, said balloon means comprising a balloon, a flexible gauze cover surrounding the balloon and means for securing ends of said balloon means within said circumferential grooves.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 202 words

A spongestick for endoscopic procedures and used in conjunction with endoscopic instruments comprising: a main hollow rigid stem comprising a cylinder having upper and lower portions and internal and external cylinder walls, said stem including a handle extending outwardly from said upper portion at an angle thereto and atleast two longitudinal grooves extending longitudinally along the the internal cylinder wall thereof from the upper portion of the cylinder to the lower portion thereof; and further including a solid elongated tube having upper and lower ends mounted within the cylinder and having an external wall and at least two longitudinal grooves extending along the external tube wall opposite the longitudinal cylinder grooves in the internal cylinder wall and forming passageways; a lower member mounted adjacent the lower end of the tube having resilient means extending downwardly, and a fixed bottom platform, said resilient means connected between said lower member and said platform, and control wires mounted to the lower member and extending upwardly through the groove passageways and having an upper end extending outwardly therefrom; and further comprising balloon means mounted about the resilient means between the lower member and the platform, said balloon means being expanded by activation of said control wires.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 202 words

A spongestick for endoscopic procedures and used in conjunction with endoscopic instruments comprising: a main hollow rigid stem comprising a cylinder having upper and lower portions and internal and external cylinder walls, said stem including a handle extending outwardly from said upper portion at an angle thereto and atleast two longitudinal grooves extending longitudinally along the the internal cylinder wall thereof from the upper portion of the cylinder to the lower portion thereof; and further including a solid elongated tube having upper and lower ends mounted within the cylinder and having an external wall and at least two longitudinal grooves extending along the external tube wall opposite the longitudinal cylinder grooves in the internal cylinder wall and forming passageways; a lower member mounted adjacent the lower end of the tube having resilient means extending downwardly, and a fixed bottom platform, said resilient means connected between said lower member and said platform, and control wires mounted to the lower member and extending upwardly through the groove passageways and having an upper end extending outwardly therefrom; and further comprising balloon means mounted about the resilient means between the lower member and the platform, said balloon means being expanded by activation of said control wires.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 46 words

A spongestick in accordance with claim 6 further including: a ring mounted to the upper end of the control wires and means on the upper end of the stem cylinder to engage the ring and lock the control wires in position with the balloon means expanded.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 120 words

The method of endoscopically sponging a patient comprising the steps of: providing an elongated sponging instrument for insertion into a patient, said instrument having an interior stem and an external sheath; inserting a balloon over the stem of the instrument projecting from the sheath; mounting a tubular gauze member over the balloon prior to inflation; sliding the sheath over the gauze member, balloon and interior stem before insertion of the instrument into a body cavity; inserting the sponging instrument into a body cavity in a patient; retracting the sheath and inflating the balloon to expand the gauze for contact with the patient within the body cavity, and manipulating the instrument with the handle and sheath to perform a sponging operation.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 120 words

The method of endoscopically sponging a patient comprising the steps of: providing an elongated sponging instrument for insertion into a patient, said instrument having an interior stem and an external sheath; inserting a balloon over the stem of the instrument projecting from the sheath; mounting a tubular gauze member over the balloon prior to inflation; sliding the sheath over the gauze member, balloon and interior stem before insertion of the instrument into a body cavity; inserting the sponging instrument into a body cavity in a patient; retracting the sheath and inflating the balloon to expand the gauze for contact with the patient within the body cavity, and manipulating the instrument with the handle and sheath to perform a sponging operation.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-02-23	1996-08-24	1997-02-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-02-23	2000-08-24	2001-02-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-02-23	2004-08-24	2005-02-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Christoudias endospongestick probe

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