US5248307A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid shield
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-04-02
•
Granted: 1993-09-28
•
Expires: 2011-04-02
Abstract
Abstract A fluid shield for retarding the spraying and lateral leakage of body fluids from a pressurized anatomical structure includes a transparent flexible shield body terminating in a rim which defines an opening to the interior of the shield body. The rim is adapted to securely engage various body contours surrounding the structure so as to align the opening with the structure. The rim can be secured by adhesives or by manual pressure. The shield body can be penetrable by a surgical instrument for incising the structure, and fluids released from the ruptured structure are captured by the shield body for subsequent disposal. The shield body can be conveniently stored in a compressed stack disposed in a dispensing container. The outer surface of the rim can be textured to pull the next lower fluid shield of the compressed stack partially out of the dispensing container for subsequent removal.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel O. Sokoloff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:43
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M27/00; A61B; A61B46/00; A61B46/10; A61B50/00; A61B50/30; A61B46/20; A61B2046/205; A61F; A61F6/00; A61F6/02; A61F6/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/917
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
A fluid shield for use during a medical procedure in rupturing a pressurized, fluid-containing anatomical structure to allow a user to visually observe the rupturing process, thereby improving the rupturing process and thereby protecting the user from fluid sprayed by the ruptured anatomical structure during the medical procedure, said fluid shield comprising: a shield body having an interior for receiving fluids from the pressurized anatomical structure, said shield both having a rim defining an opening to said interior, said shield body having an enlarged portion axially tapering to a neck portion connected to said rim, said neck portion being axially shorter than said enlarged portion, said rim opening having an area greater than an area of said neck portion, said shield body having a contact surface for engaging a body surface around said structure, whereby said shield body retards spray of said fluids when said structure is ruptured during the medical procedure to form an aperture, said shield body being one of transparent and translucent for permitting observation of said structure through said shield body, thereby improving the rupturing process and thereby protecting the user from the fluid sprayed during the medical procedure, wherein said rim is made of a material relatively more rigid than material of said neck portion of the shield body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
A fluid shield for use during a medical procedure in rupturing a pressurized, fluid-containing anatomical structure to allow a user to visually observe the rupturing process, thereby improving the rupturing process and thereby protecting the user from fluid sprayed by the ruptured anatomical structure during the medical procedure, said fluid shield comprising: a shield body having an interior for receiving fluids from the pressurized anatomical structure, said shield both having a rim defining an opening to said interior, said shield body having an enlarged portion axially tapering to a neck portion connected to said rim, said neck portion being axially shorter than said enlarged portion, said rim opening having an area greater than an area of said neck portion, said shield body having a contact surface for engaging a body surface around said structure, whereby said shield body retards spray of said fluids when said structure is ruptured during the medical procedure to form an aperture, said shield body being one of transparent and translucent for permitting observation of said structure through said shield body, thereby improving the rupturing process and thereby protecting the user from the fluid sprayed during the medical procedure, wherein said rim is made of a material relatively more rigid than material of said neck portion of the shield body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
216 words
A fluid shield for use during a medical procedure in rupturing a pressurized, fluid-containing anatomical structure to allow a user to visually observe the rupturing process, thereby improving the rupturing process and thereby protecting the user from fluid sprayed by the ruptured anatomical structure during the medical procedure, said fluid shield comprising: a shield body having an interior for receiving fluids from the pressurized anatomical structure, said shield both having a rim defining an opening to said interior, said shield body having an enlarged portion axially tapering to a neck portion connected to said rim, said neck portion being axially shorter than said enlarged portion, said rim opening having an area greater than an area of said neck portion, said shield body having a contact surface for engaging a body surface around said structure, whereby said shield body retards spray of said fluids when said structure is ruptured during the medical procedure to form an aperture, said shield body being transparent for permitting observation of said structure through said shield body, thereby improving the rupturing process and thereby protecting the user from the fluid sprayed during the medical procedure, said shield body being sufficiently rigid to extend substantially transversely from said opening when empty and flexing downwardly under the weight of said fluid received from structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
216 words
A fluid shield for use during a medical procedure in rupturing a pressurized, fluid-containing anatomical structure to allow a user to visually observe the rupturing process, thereby improving the rupturing process and thereby protecting the user from fluid sprayed by the ruptured anatomical structure during the medical procedure, said fluid shield comprising: a shield body having an interior for receiving fluids from the pressurized anatomical structure, said shield both having a rim defining an opening to said interior, said shield body having an enlarged portion axially tapering to a neck portion connected to said rim, said neck portion being axially shorter than said enlarged portion, said rim opening having an area greater than an area of said neck portion, said shield body having a contact surface for engaging a body surface around said structure, whereby said shield body retards spray of said fluids when said structure is ruptured during the medical procedure to form an aperture, said shield body being transparent for permitting observation of said structure through said shield body, thereby improving the rupturing process and thereby protecting the user from the fluid sprayed during the medical procedure, said shield body being sufficiently rigid to extend substantially transversely from said opening when empty and flexing downwardly under the weight of said fluid received from structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The shield of claim 2 wherein said contact surface is adapted to substantially sealingly engage said body surface for substantially preventing said structure fluid from leaking outside a perimeter of said rim.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The shield of claim 2 further comprising an adhesive on said contact surface of said rim for temporarily adhering said rim to said body surface during transfer of fluid from said structure to said shield body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The shield of claim 2 wherein said rim is an annular flange extending outwardly from a perimeter of said opening for permitting manual pressure on said flange to secure said rim to said body surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The shield of claim 2 wherein said shield body is constructed of a material which is penetrable by a surgical instrument for accessing and incising said structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The shield of claim 2, wherein said shield body includes a reinforced patch portion for receiving a surgical instrument, said patch portion being superimposed on an outer surface of said shield body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
213 words
A fluid shield for use during a medical procedure in rupturing a pressurized, fluid-containing anatomical structure to allow a user to visually obverse the rupturing process, thereby improving the rupturing process and thereby proctecting the user from fluid sprayed by the ruptured anatomical structure during the medical procedure, said fluid shield comprising: a shield body having an interior for receiving fluids from the pressurized anatomical structure, said shield both having a rim defining an opening to said interior, said shield body having an enlarged portion axially tapering to a neck portion connected to said rim, said neck portion being axially shorter than said enlarged portion, said rim opening having an area greater than an area of said neck portion, said shield body having a contact surface for engaging a body surface around said structure, whereby said shield body retards spray of said fluids when said structure is ruptured to form an aperture, said shield body being translucent for permitting the observation of said structure through said shield body, thereby improving the rupturing process and thereby protecting the user from the sprayed fluids during the medical procedure, said shield body being sufficiently rigid to extend substantially transversely from said opening when empty and flexing downwardly under the weight of said fluid received from structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
213 words
A fluid shield for use during a medical procedure in rupturing a pressurized, fluid-containing anatomical structure to allow a user to visually obverse the rupturing process, thereby improving the rupturing process and thereby proctecting the user from fluid sprayed by the ruptured anatomical structure during the medical procedure, said fluid shield comprising: a shield body having an interior for receiving fluids from the pressurized anatomical structure, said shield both having a rim defining an opening to said interior, said shield body having an enlarged portion axially tapering to a neck portion connected to said rim, said neck portion being axially shorter than said enlarged portion, said rim opening having an area greater than an area of said neck portion, said shield body having a contact surface for engaging a body surface around said structure, whereby said shield body retards spray of said fluids when said structure is ruptured to form an aperture, said shield body being translucent for permitting the observation of said structure through said shield body, thereby improving the rupturing process and thereby protecting the user from the sprayed fluids during the medical procedure, said shield body being sufficiently rigid to extend substantially transversely from said opening when empty and flexing downwardly under the weight of said fluid received from structure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The fluid shield according to claim 2, wherein said enlarged portion is bulbous.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
71 words
A fluid shield comprising: a shield body having an interior for receiving fluids from a pressurized anatomical structure, said shield body having a rim defining an opening to said interior, said rim having a contact surface for engaging a body surface around said structure, whereby said shield body retards spray of said fluids when said structure is ruptured, wherein said shield body provides a perforated line for receiving a surgical instrument.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
71 words
A fluid shield comprising: a shield body having an interior for receiving fluids from a pressurized anatomical structure, said shield body having a rim defining an opening to said interior, said rim having a contact surface for engaging a body surface around said structure, whereby said shield body retards spray of said fluids when said structure is ruptured, wherein said shield body provides a perforated line for receiving a surgical instrument.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for preventing spray of fluids from a pressurized anatomical structure, comprising the steps of: securing a contact surface of a rim of a transparent shield body to a body surface around said structure; and capturing said fluids in an interior of said shield body, through an opening defined by said rim, when said structure is ruptured wherein rupturing said structure includes penetrating said shield body with a surgical instrument and incising said structure with said surgical instrument.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for preventing spray of fluids from a pressurized anatomical structure, comprising the steps of: securing a contact surface of a rim of a transparent shield body to a body surface around said structure; and capturing said fluids in an interior of said shield body, through an opening defined by said rim, when said structure is ruptured wherein rupturing said structure includes penetrating said shield body with a surgical instrument and incising said structure with said surgical instrument.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of: after capturing said fluids, closing a neck portion of said shield body adjacent said rim; and removing said shield body and captured fluids for disposal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of securing said contact surface includes temporarily adhering an adhesive on said contact surface to said body surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of securing said contact surface includes applying manual pressure to said rim toward said body surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 12, wherein the step of closing includes pinching said neck portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 12, wherein said closing step includes twisting said neck portion.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for preventing spray of fluids from a pressurized anatomical structure, comprising the steps of: securing a contact surface of a rim of a transparent shield body to a body surface around said structure; and capturing said fluids in an interior of said shield body, through an opening defined by said rim, when said structure is ruptured, wherein rupturing includes manipulating said structure through said shield body to provide a structure aperture for drainage of said fluids.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for preventing spray of fluids from a pressurized anatomical structure, comprising the steps of: securing a contact surface of a rim of a transparent shield body to a body surface around said structure; and capturing said fluids in an interior of said shield body, through an opening defined by said rim, when said structure is ruptured, wherein rupturing includes manipulating said structure through said shield body to provide a structure aperture for drainage of said fluids.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
90 words
A system for incising a pressurized, fluid-containing anatomical structure and retarding an associated spray of fluids, said system comprising: a shield having a shield body with an interior for receiving said fluids, said shield body having a rim defining an opening to said interior, said rim having a contact surface for engaging a body surface around said structure; and an incision instrument extending through said shield body into said interior, whereby said incising instruments incises said structure disposed in said interior and said shield body captures the fluids sprayed thereby.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
90 words
A system for incising a pressurized, fluid-containing anatomical structure and retarding an associated spray of fluids, said system comprising: a shield having a shield body with an interior for receiving said fluids, said shield body having a rim defining an opening to said interior, said rim having a contact surface for engaging a body surface around said structure; and an incision instrument extending through said shield body into said interior, whereby said incising instruments incises said structure disposed in said interior and said shield body captures the fluids sprayed thereby.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
69 words
A method for preventing spray of fluids from a pressurized anatomical structure, comprising the steps of: securing a contact surface of a rim of a transparent shield body to a body surface around said structure; rupturing said structure to form an aperture by application of force from outside said shield body; and capturing said fluids in an interior of said shield body through an opening defined by said rim.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
69 words
A method for preventing spray of fluids from a pressurized anatomical structure, comprising the steps of: securing a contact surface of a rim of a transparent shield body to a body surface around said structure; rupturing said structure to form an aperture by application of force from outside said shield body; and capturing said fluids in an interior of said shield body through an opening defined by said rim.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 19 wherein rupturing said structure includes manipulating said structure through said shield body.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for preventing spray of fluids from a pressurized anatomical structure, comprising the steps of: securing the contact surface of a rim of a transparent shield body to a body surface around said structure; rupturing said structure by application of force from outside said shield body; and capturing said fluids in an interior of said shield body through an opening defined by said rim, wherein rupturing said structure includes penetrating said shield body with the surgical instrument and incising said structure with the said surgical instrument.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for preventing spray of fluids from a pressurized anatomical structure, comprising the steps of: securing the contact surface of a rim of a transparent shield body to a body surface around said structure; rupturing said structure by application of force from outside said shield body; and capturing said fluids in an interior of said shield body through an opening defined by said rim, wherein rupturing said structure includes penetrating said shield body with the surgical instrument and incising said structure with the said surgical instrument.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
69 words
A method for preventing spray of fluids from a pressurized anatomical structure, comprising the steps of: securing a contact surface of a rim of a translucent shield body to a body surface around said structure; rupturing said structure to form an aperture by application of force from outside said shield body; and capturing said fluids in an interior of said shield body through an opening defined by said rim.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
69 words
A method for preventing spray of fluids from a pressurized anatomical structure, comprising the steps of: securing a contact surface of a rim of a translucent shield body to a body surface around said structure; rupturing said structure to form an aperture by application of force from outside said shield body; and capturing said fluids in an interior of said shield body through an opening defined by said rim.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
102 words
A fluid shield comprising: a shield body having an interior for receiving fluids from a pressurized anatomical structure, said shield body having a rim defining an opening to said interior, said rim having a contact surface for engaging a body surface around said structure, whereby said shield body retards spray of said fluids when said structure is ruptured, said shield body being constructed of a material which is penetrable by a surgical instrument for accessing and in incising said structure, wherein said penetrable material separates to receive the surgical instrument and does not further rupture beyond a periphery proximate said surgical instrument.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
102 words
A fluid shield comprising: a shield body having an interior for receiving fluids from a pressurized anatomical structure, said shield body having a rim defining an opening to said interior, said rim having a contact surface for engaging a body surface around said structure, whereby said shield body retards spray of said fluids when said structure is ruptured, said shield body being constructed of a material which is penetrable by a surgical instrument for accessing and in incising said structure, wherein said penetrable material separates to receive the surgical instrument and does not further rupture beyond a periphery proximate said surgical instrument.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2448938A
Cited
US2577345A
Cited
US3865109A
Cited
US4755177A
Cited
US4676244A
Cited
US4520815A
Cited
US4892530A
Cited
US4808174A
Cited
US4889117A
Cited
US4990154A
Cited
US5010902A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-09-27 | 1997-03-29 | 1997-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-09-27 | 2001-03-29 | 2001-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-09-27 | 2005-03-29 | 2005-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |