Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
317 words
An endoscopic suctioning instrument, comprising: a) a hollow cannula having a proximal end and a distal end; b) a sliding sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal axis, said sliding sleeve being coaxial to and closely surrounding and slidingly engaging said hollow cannula, said sliding sleeve having a plurality of lateral holes at its distal end with said lateral holes being spaced along said longitudinal axis; c) valve means for selectively coupling a suction source to said proximal end of said cannula; d) sleeve actuation means means coupled to said sliding sleeve for sliding said sliding sleeve from a first position where said distal end of said sliding sleeve extends beyond said distal end of said cannula such that a first number of said plurality of lateral holes are unblocked by said cannula, to a second position where said distal end of said sliding sleeve extends beyond said distal end of said cannula such that a second number of said plurality of lateral holes are unblocked by said cannula, said second number being less than said first number, to a third position where said cannula blocks all of said lateral holes of said sliding sleeve; e) valve actuation means coupled to said valve means for opening and closing said valve means, wherein the sliding of said sliding sleeve from said first position to said second position to said third position when said suction tube is coupled to said cannula by said valve means, incrementally increases suction through said distal end of said sleeve as said lateral holes are sequentially blocked by said hollow cannula; and f) cooperation means acting between said sleeve actuation means and said valve actuation means such that actuation of one of said sleeve actuation means and said valve actuation means is effected by actuation of the other one of said sleeve actuation means and said valve actuation means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
317 words
An endoscopic suctioning instrument, comprising: a) a hollow cannula having a proximal end and a distal end; b) a sliding sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal axis, said sliding sleeve being coaxial to and closely surrounding and slidingly engaging said hollow cannula, said sliding sleeve having a plurality of lateral holes at its distal end with said lateral holes being spaced along said longitudinal axis; c) valve means for selectively coupling a suction source to said proximal end of said cannula; d) sleeve actuation means means coupled to said sliding sleeve for sliding said sliding sleeve from a first position where said distal end of said sliding sleeve extends beyond said distal end of said cannula such that a first number of said plurality of lateral holes are unblocked by said cannula, to a second position where said distal end of said sliding sleeve extends beyond said distal end of said cannula such that a second number of said plurality of lateral holes are unblocked by said cannula, said second number being less than said first number, to a third position where said cannula blocks all of said lateral holes of said sliding sleeve; e) valve actuation means coupled to said valve means for opening and closing said valve means, wherein the sliding of said sliding sleeve from said first position to said second position to said third position when said suction tube is coupled to said cannula by said valve means, incrementally increases suction through said distal end of said sleeve as said lateral holes are sequentially blocked by said hollow cannula; and f) cooperation means acting between said sleeve actuation means and said valve actuation means such that actuation of one of said sleeve actuation means and said valve actuation means is effected by actuation of the other one of said sleeve actuation means and said valve actuation means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
151 words
An endoscopic suctioning instrument according to claim 1, wherein: said cooperation means comprises a collar, on said sleeve actuation means, having a radial extension, and said cooperation means further comprises an engagement means, on said valve actuation means, for engaging said radial extension of said sleeve actuation means, wherein said valve actuation means is movable from a first valve position in which a connection between said suction source and said cannula is closed, to a second valve position in which said connection between said suction source and said cannula is at least partially open but said engagement means does not engage said radial extension of said collar, to a third valve position in which said engagement means engages said radial extension of said collar and incrementally to a fourth valve position with said engaging means engaging said radial extension in which said lateral holes are sequentially blocked by said hollow cannula.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
An endoscopic suctioning instrument according to claim 2, wherein: said collar is located at a proximal portion of said sliding sleeve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
An endoscopic suctioning instrument according to claim 2, further comprising: a spring means seated against said collar and spring loading said sliding sleeve in a distal direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
An endoscopic suctioning instrument according to claim 2, wherein: said valve actuation means comprises a trigger means, wherein said trigger means includes said engagement means, said engagement means extending from said trigger means along an axis parallel to said longitudinal axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
137 words
An endoscopic suctioning instrument according to claim 1, wherein: said cooperation means comprises a collar, on said sleeve actuation means, having a radial extension, and said cooperation means further comprises an engagement means, on said valve actuation means, for engaging said radial extension of said sleeve actuation means, wherein said valve actuation means is movable from a first valve position where said engagement means does not engage said radial extension and a connection between said suction means and said cannula is closed by said valve means, to a second valve position where said engagement does not engage said radial extension and said connection between said suction means and said cannula is at least partially open, to a third valve position where said engagement means engages said radial extension and said sliding sleeve is in said second position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
An endoscopic suctioning instrument according to claim 6, further comprising: a spring means seated against said collar and spring loading said sliding sleeve in a distal direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
An endoscopic suctioning instrument according to claim 6, wherein: said engagement means comprises a first radial extension, said first radial extension being distal and spaced from said radial extension of said collar when said sleeve actuation means is in said first position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
An endoscopic suctioning instrument according to claim 8, wherein: said valve means comprises a trigger means, wherein said trigger means includes said engagement means, said engagement means having a longitudinal portion extending from said trigger means along an axis parallel to said longitudinal axis, and said first radial extension extending radially from said longitudinal portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
An endoscopic suctioning instrument according to claim 9, wherein: said engagement means further comprises a second radial extension, said second radial extension being spaced from said first radial extension, and said second radial extension being proximal said radial extension of said collar.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
An endoscopic suctioning instrument according to claim 10, further comprising: a spring means seated against said collar and spring loading said sliding sleeve in a distal direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
An endoscopic suctioning instrument according to claim 1, wherein: said valve actuation means is movable from a fully open position to a fully closed position independently of said sleeve actuation means, and said cooperation means comprises a flange, on said sleeve actuation means, means for contacting a portion of said valve actuation means and moving said valve actuation means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
An endoscopic suctioning instrument according to claim 12, wherein: said flange means contacts said valve actuation means such that said valve actuation means moves whenever said sleeve actuation means is actuated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
An endoscopic suctioning instrument according to claim 13, wherein: said sleeve actuation means comprises a collar having a radial extension, and said valve actuation means includes engagement means for engaging said radial extension of said sleeve actuation means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
An endoscopic suctioning instrument according to claim 12, wherein: said sleeve actuation means comprises a collar having a radial extension, and said valve actuation means includes engagement means for engaging said radial extension of said sleeve actuation means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
An endoscopic suctioning instrument according to claim 15, further comprising: a spring means seated against said collar and spring loading said sliding sleeve in a distal direction, wherein said collar is located at a proximal portion of said sliding sleeve.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
An endoscopic suctioning instrument according to claim 16, wherein: said valve actuation means comprises a trigger means, wherein said trigger means includes said engagement means, said engagement means extending from said trigger means along an axis parallel to said longitudinal axis.