Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
In an endoscopic suction-irrigation instrument, said suction-irrigation instrument having a cannula, a fluid chamber having at least one port for irrigation and suction, with said fluid chamber having a distal end communicating with said cannula and a proximal end having an opening, said suction-irrigation instrument further having a first sealing means in said proximal end of said fluid chamber, a probe comprising: a) a proximal handle portion for handling said probe, said handle portion including second sealing means and a first axial passageway, said second sealing means extending perpendicularly through said first axial passageway; b) a middle portion extending from said handle portion through said first sealing means and through said fluid chamber, said middle portion having an outer diameter shaped to contact said first sealing means such that said proximal end of said fluid chamber is sealed, and shaped to be smaller than the inner diameter of said fluid chamber, and said middle portion having a second axial internal passageway extending therethrough, said first axial passageway and said second internal axial passageway creating a path for a second probe; c) a hollow distal portion extending at least partially through said cannula and having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said cannula, wherein said second axial internal passageway is in communication with said hollow distal portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
219 words
In an endoscopic suction-irrigation instrument, said suction-irrigation instrument having a cannula, a fluid chamber having at least one port for irrigation and suction, with said fluid chamber having a distal end communicating with said cannula and a proximal end having an opening, said suction-irrigation instrument further having a first sealing means in said proximal end of said fluid chamber, a probe comprising: a) a proximal handle portion for handling said probe, said handle portion including second sealing means and a first axial passageway, said second sealing means extending perpendicularly through said first axial passageway; b) a middle portion extending from said handle portion through said first sealing means and through said fluid chamber, said middle portion having an outer diameter shaped to contact said first sealing means such that said proximal end of said fluid chamber is sealed, and shaped to be smaller than the inner diameter of said fluid chamber, and said middle portion having a second axial internal passageway extending therethrough, said first axial passageway and said second internal axial passageway creating a path for a second probe; c) a hollow distal portion extending at least partially through said cannula and having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said cannula, wherein said second axial internal passageway is in communication with said hollow distal portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
A probe according to claim 1, further comprising: d) needle means, including a proximal handle portion having fluid connection means at a proximal end of said needle means, and a long thin tube means for extending through said second sealing means, through said first axial passageway, through said second internal axial passageway, and through said hollow distal portion of said probe, said long thin tube means in fluid communication with said fluid connection means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A probe according to claim 2, wherein: said fluid connection means comprises a luer means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A probe according to claim 2, wherein: said second sealing means comprises a slit valve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A probe according to claim 1, wherein: said proximal handle portion further comprises a fluid connection means at a proximal end of said proximal handle portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A probe according to claim 5, wherein: said fluid connection means comprises a luer means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A probe according to claim 6, wherein: said luer means and said second sealing means are in close proximity such that a standard syringe when mating with said luer means extends through said second sealing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A probe according to claim 5, wherein: said second sealing means comprises a slit valve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A probe according to claim 1, wherein: said second sealing means comprises a slit valve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
105 words
A probe according to claim 1, further comprising: third sealing means located on said middle portion of said probe means and in contact with an inner wall of said fluid chamber, wherein said hollow distal portion is sufficiently smaller in outside diameter then the inner diameter of said cannula so that a first annular space is created between said hollow distal portion of said probe and said cannula, and said middle portion of said probe is sufficiently smaller in outside diameter than the inner diameter of said fluid chamber so that a second annular space is created between said middle portion and said fluid chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
A probe according to claim 10, wherein: said suction-irrigation instrument has separate irrigation and suction ports with one of said irrigation and suction ports being proximal the other, and said third sealing means is located along said middle portion of said probe means between said irrigation and suction ports.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A probe according to claim 11, wherein: said middle portion of said probe has at least one lateral hole extending outwardly from said second axial internal passageway.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A probe according to claim 12, wherein: said third sealing means is an O-ring, and said at least one lateral hole is located proximal said O-ring.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A probe according to claim 1, wherein: said middle portion of said probe has at least one lateral hole extending outwardly from said second axial internal passageway.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
195 words
In an endoscopic instrument, said instrument having a first cannula, a fluid chamber having at least one port selected from the group consisting of a suction port and an irrigation port, said fluid chamber having a distal end communicating with said first cannula and a proximal end having an opening, and a first sealing means in said proximal end of said fluid chamber for sealing said proximal end of said fluid chamber, a probe insertable into said endoscopic instrument, said probe comprising: a) a second cannula having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer diameter shaped to contact said first sealing means such that said proximal end of said fluid chamber is sealed, and shaped to be smaller than an inner diameter of said fluid chamber; b) a proximal handle coupled to said proximal end of said second cannula for handling said probe, said proximal handle including second sealing means for sealing said proximal end of said second cannula; wherein said probe is removably insertable through said first sealing means into said fluid chamber and said first cannula and said second sealing means and said second cannula are adapted to receive another probe.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
195 words
In an endoscopic instrument, said instrument having a first cannula, a fluid chamber having at least one port selected from the group consisting of a suction port and an irrigation port, said fluid chamber having a distal end communicating with said first cannula and a proximal end having an opening, and a first sealing means in said proximal end of said fluid chamber for sealing said proximal end of said fluid chamber, a probe insertable into said endoscopic instrument, said probe comprising: a) a second cannula having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer diameter shaped to contact said first sealing means such that said proximal end of said fluid chamber is sealed, and shaped to be smaller than an inner diameter of said fluid chamber; b) a proximal handle coupled to said proximal end of said second cannula for handling said probe, said proximal handle including second sealing means for sealing said proximal end of said second cannula; wherein said probe is removably insertable through said first sealing means into said fluid chamber and said first cannula and said second sealing means and said second cannula are adapted to receive another probe.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
107 words
In an endoscopic instrument according to claim 15, further comprising: c) a second probe having a proximal end and a distal end and an outer diameter shaped to contact said second sealing means such that said proximal end of said second cannula is sealed, and shaped to be smaller than an inner diameter of said second cannula, and having a proximal handle portion coupled to said proximal end, said proximal handle portion including a fluid coupling means and said second probe having a lumen in fluid communication with said fluid coupling means, said second probe being removably insertable through said second sealing means into said second cannula.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
In an endoscopic instrument according to claim 15, wherein: said proximal handle is provided with proximal fluid coupling means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
81 words
In an endoscopic instrument according to claim 15, wherein: said fluid chamber has separate irrigation and suction ports and said probe is provided with circumferential sealing means surrounding a portion of said second cannula, said circumferential sealing means fluidly separating said suction port from said irrigation port when said probe is inserted into said endoscopic instrument; and said second cannula is provided with a lateral opening which communicates with said fluid chamber when said probe is inserted into said endoscopic instrument.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
57 words
In an endoscopic instrument according to claim 18, wherein: said lateral opening is located proximal of said circumferential sealing means such that one of said suction port and said irrigation port is in fluid communication with said second cannula and another of said suction port and said irrigation port is in fluid communication with said first cannula.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
107 words
In an endoscopic instrument according to claim 19, further comprising: c) a second probe having a proximal end and a distal end and an outer diameter shaped to contact said second sealing means such that said proximal end of said second cannula is sealed, and shaped to be smaller than an inner diameter of said second cannula, and having a proximal handle portion coupled to said proximal end, said proximal handle portion including a fluid coupling means, and said second probe having a lumen in fluid communication with said fluid coupling means, said second probe being removably insertable through said second sealing means into said second cannula.