Patent US6533116B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6533116B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Medical instrument container
Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc
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Filing: 2000-08-15
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Granted: 2003-03-18
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Expires: 2020-08-15
Abstract
Abstract A medical container for holding a medical instrument. The container includes a cover, a base, and a flexible hinge. Portions of the base and cover form a holding portion and a locking portion. The holding portion includes two different holding cavities to hold different shaped medical instruments. The container arrangement allows the medical instrument to be removed during an operation or procedure, and returned to the container after it has been used. This protects the medical instrument from the environment while it is staged during the operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Kimberly M. Riley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:30
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/002; A61B; A61B50/00; A61B50/20; A61B50/30; A61B2050/005; A61B2050/0067; A61B2050/0082
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A container for holding a medical instrument, the container comprising: a base having an edge at a perimeter, a first channel leading to an enlarged cavity, and a second channel leading to an enlarged cavity, wherein the second channel is nonaligned with the first channel, the first and second channel fork a common channel and the common channel extends away from the first and second channels to the edge; a cover configured to close and secure a medical instrument in one of the first and second channels, the cover leaving the common channel laterally open at the edge when in a closed position; and a locking portion configured to secure the cover to the base in the closed position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A container for holding a medical instrument, the container comprising: a base having an edge at a perimeter, a first channel leading to an enlarged cavity, and a second channel leading to an enlarged cavity, wherein the second channel is nonaligned with the first channel, the first and second channel fork a common channel and the common channel extends away from the first and second channels to the edge; a cover configured to close and secure a medical instrument in one of the first and second channels, the cover leaving the common channel laterally open at the edge when in a closed position; and a locking portion configured to secure the cover to the base in the closed position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The container according to claim 1 , further comprising a hinge connecting the cover to the base.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The container according to claim 2 , wherein the cover, the hinge, and the base are formed as a unitary piece.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The container according to claim 1 , wherein the base includes a hole for hanging the container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The container according to claim 1 , wherein the base includes an instrument post adapted to retain a free end of the medical instrument.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The container according to claim 1 , wherein the locking portion includes a first portion in the cover and a second portion in the base and the first and second portions have corresponding shapes to mate with one another and secure the cover in the closed position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The container according to claim 6 , wherein the first portion includes a securing rib portion and the second portion includes a securing valley, and the securing rib portion mates with the securing valley when the cover is in the closed position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The container according to claim 6 , wherein the first portion includes a securing stub and the second portion includes a securing hollow portion, and the securing stub portion mates with the securing hollow portion when the cover is in the closed position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
The container according to claim 1 , wherein the cover includes a first cover recessed portion configured to cover the first channel when the cover is in the closed position, and a second cover recessed portion configured to cover the second channel when the cover is in the closed position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The container according to claim 1 , further comprising the medical instrument in one of the first and second channels.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
192 words
A method of packaging a medical instrument in a medical container, the medical instrument including a distal end, the medical container comprising a base having an edge at a perimeter, a first channel leading to an enlarged cavity, and a second channel leading to an enlarged cavity, wherein the second channel is nonaligned with the first channel, the medical container further comprising a cover and a locking portion, wherein the first channel and second channel fork from a common channel and the common channel extends away from the first and second channels to the edge, the method comprising: placing a portion of the medical instrument in the common channel; placing the distal end of the medical instrument in an enlarged cavity corresponding to one of the first and second channels depending on a shape of the medical instrument; and closing the cover onto the base, wherein closing the cover causes the locking portion to secure the cover in the closed position, secures the medical instrument in the common channel and the enlarged cavity corresponding to one of the first and second channels, and leaves the common channel laterally open at the edge.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
192 words
A method of packaging a medical instrument in a medical container, the medical instrument including a distal end, the medical container comprising a base having an edge at a perimeter, a first channel leading to an enlarged cavity, and a second channel leading to an enlarged cavity, wherein the second channel is nonaligned with the first channel, the medical container further comprising a cover and a locking portion, wherein the first channel and second channel fork from a common channel and the common channel extends away from the first and second channels to the edge, the method comprising: placing a portion of the medical instrument in the common channel; placing the distal end of the medical instrument in an enlarged cavity corresponding to one of the first and second channels depending on a shape of the medical instrument; and closing the cover onto the base, wherein closing the cover causes the locking portion to secure the cover in the closed position, secures the medical instrument in the common channel and the enlarged cavity corresponding to one of the first and second channels, and leaves the common channel laterally open at the edge.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 11 , wherein the medical instrument includes a handle and the medical container includes an instrument post, the method further comprising: securing the handle of said medical instrument to the instrument post.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 12 , wherein securing the handle of said medical instrument to the instrument post includes pressing the handle onto the instrument post.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
225 words
A method of packaging using a medical container comprising a base having an edge at a perimeter, a first channel having a first curvature along the first channel and leading to a cavity configured to receive an end of a medical instrument of a first shape, and a second channel having a second curvature along the second channel and leading to a cavity configured to receive an end of a medical instrument of a second shape, a cover, and a locking portion, wherein the first channel extends from the cavity corresponding to the second channel, and the second channel extends to the edge the method comprising: placing a portion of the medical instrument of the first shape and the medical instrument of the second shape in at least one of the first and second channels; placing the end of the medical instrument of the first shape and the medical instrument of the second shape in the corresponding cavity depending on the shape of the medical instrument; and closing the cover onto the base, wherein closing the cover causes the locking portion to secure the cover in the closed position, secures the end of the one of the medical instrument of the first shape and the medical instrument of the second shape in the corresponding cavity, and leaves the second channel laterally open at the edge.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
225 words
A method of packaging using a medical container comprising a base having an edge at a perimeter, a first channel having a first curvature along the first channel and leading to a cavity configured to receive an end of a medical instrument of a first shape, and a second channel having a second curvature along the second channel and leading to a cavity configured to receive an end of a medical instrument of a second shape, a cover, and a locking portion, wherein the first channel extends from the cavity corresponding to the second channel, and the second channel extends to the edge the method comprising: placing a portion of the medical instrument of the first shape and the medical instrument of the second shape in at least one of the first and second channels; placing the end of the medical instrument of the first shape and the medical instrument of the second shape in the corresponding cavity depending on the shape of the medical instrument; and closing the cover onto the base, wherein closing the cover causes the locking portion to secure the cover in the closed position, secures the end of the one of the medical instrument of the first shape and the medical instrument of the second shape in the corresponding cavity, and leaves the second channel laterally open at the edge.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method according to claim 14 , wherein the one of the medical instrument of the first shape and the medical instrument of the second shape includes a hand and the medical container includes an instrument post, the method further comprising: securing the handle of the one of the medical instrument of the first shape and the medical instrument of the second shape to the instrument post.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 15 , wherein securing the handle of the one of the medical instrument of the first shape and the medical instrument of the second shape to the instrument post includes pressing the handle onto the instrument post.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
93 words
The method according to claim 14 , wherein the cover includes a recessed portion configured to secure the end of one of the medical instrument of the first shape and the medical instrument of the second shape in the corresponding cavity of one of the first and second channels when the cover is in the closed position, and wherein closing the cover includes securing the end of the one of the medical instrument of the first shape and the medical instrument of the second shape between the recessed portion and the corresponding cavity.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-03-17 | 2006-09-16 | 2007-03-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-03-17 | 2010-09-16 | 2011-03-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-03-17 | 2014-09-16 | 2015-03-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |