Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20020165433?dq=7,603,356
Timestamp: 2016-12-06 11:01:57
Document Index: 156263847

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 2', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3']

Patent US20020165433 - Medical instrument that can be spread, especially a laryngoscope - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsThe invention relates to a spreadable medical instrument, comprising a handle part (2) and at least two spatula elements (3 a , 3 b) which are connected to said handle part (2) and, via at least one adjusting mechanism (4), can be adjusted parallel or at an angle to one another between an initial position,...http://www.google.com/patents/US20020165433?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20020165433 - Medical instrument that can be spread, especially a laryngoscopeAdvanced Patent SearchTry the new Google Patents, with machine-classified Google Scholar results, and Japanese and South Korean patents.Publication numberUS20020165433 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 10/128,920Publication dateNov 7, 2002Filing dateApr 24, 2002Priority dateNov 11, 1999Also published asDE19954442A1, EP1227749A1, EP1227749B1, US6749563, WO2001034019A1Publication number10128920, 128920, US 2002/0165433 A1, US 2002/165433 A1, US 20020165433 A1, US 20020165433A1, US 2002165433 A1, US 2002165433A1, US-A1-20020165433, US-A1-2002165433, US2002/0165433A1, US2002/165433A1, US20020165433 A1, US20020165433A1, US2002165433 A1, US2002165433A1InventorsEwald StihlOriginal AssigneeEwald StihlExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (6), Referenced by (15), Classifications (7), Legal Events (5) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetMedical instrument that can be spread, especially a laryngoscope
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0025] [0025]FIG. 1 shows a lateral view of a laryngoscope 1, which essentially consists of a handle part 2 and a spatula part 3. The depicted laryngoscope 1 is a spreadable laryngoscope 1 whose spatula part 3 consists of a solidly fixed spatula element 3 a and a spatula element 3 b, which, in comparison to the rigidly secured spatula element 3 a, can be adjusted. Spatula element 3 a and spatula element 3 b are adjusted to each other by means of an adjustment mechanism 4 consisting of two adjusting screws 4 a and 4 b. [0026] [0026]FIGS. 1 and 2 show a laryngoscope in the initial position, with the spatula elements 3 a and 3 b lying as closely together as possible, in order to enable the smoothest and easiest possible insertion or removal of the laryngoscope's spatula part 3 into or out of a patient's mouth and throat, respectively. The remaining lumen of the spatula part 3 in the initial position suffices to determine the position of the laryngoscope I in the patient's throat with an attached light source. [0027] In order to prevent soft parts, such as, for example, the cheek or tongue, from penetrating into the lateral gap 5 emerging between the spatula elements 3 a and 3 b as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in the laryngoscope's 1 interior, risking injury to these soft parts and considerably reducing the lumen for the surgeon, the illustrated laryngoscope 1 features swiveling flap elements 6 at the rigidly secured spatula element 3 a, which, in working position, cover the gap 5 for the most part. [0028] For this design, the swiveling flap elements 6 are attached to the rigidly secured spatula element 3 a by means of hinges 7 and are, in the initial position of the spatula elements 3 a and 3 b, essentially form-fittingly close to the outside of the adjustable spatula element 3 b so that the circumference of spatula part 3 is only slightly enlarged by the flap elements 6. [0029] After the insertion of the spatula part 3 of laryngoscope 1 into the patient's throat, the spatula elements 3 a and 3 b are adjusted to each other, either parallel as in FIGS. 3 and 4, and/or at an angle as in FIG. 5, in order to enlarge the lumen of spatula part 3 to create enough space and room in the distal area to perform surgery. When the spatula elements 3 a and 3 b are moved apart, the flap elements 6 are automatically pushed out from the initial position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in such a way that they close the lateral gap 5 between the spatula elements 3 a and 3 b in the working position as shown in FIG. 3. [0030] In addition to the depicted configuration in which the flap elements 6 are attached to only one spatula part, i.e. to the rigidly secured spatula element 3 a, it is, of course, also possible to attach the flap elements 6 to the flexible spatula element 3 b or to one side of element 3 a and to the other side of element 3 b, with a joint. [0031] [0031]FIG. 5 shows the spatula part 3 in a working position in which the spatula elements have been, in addition, pivoted at an angle to each other. In order to guarantee a smooth operation of a laryngoscope 1 in this configuration, one has to make sure that the height of the individual flap elements 6 is calculated so that at least part of each flap element 6 in the working position of the spatula elements 3 a, 3 b fits close to the outer surface of the spatula element 3 b, i.e. the one that is not equipped with this particular flap element 6. Otherwise, the flap elements 6 could tilt inside between the spatula elements 3 a and 3 b, which would lead to complications when adjusting the spatula elements 3 a and 3 b to the initial position. [0032] After the operation, the spatula elements 3 a and 3 b are restored to the initial position, with the flap elements 6 automatically returning to their form-fitting position close to the outside of spatula element 3 b. The return of the flap elements 6 can be supported by restraining them with a spring in their initial position next to spatula element 3 b. [0033] It is characteristic for a spreadable medical instrument of this design that the swiveling flap elements 6, which are attached to at least one of the spatula elements 3 a, 3 b, close the gap between the spatula elements 3 a and 3 b so tightly in working position that they eliminate the danger of soft parts, such as e.g. the cheek or the tongue, getting in between the spatula elements 3 a and 3 b. Because of this safe closure of the gap 5, the outer surfaces of the spatula elements 3 a and 3 b can be as smooth as possible since it is no longer necessary that the tongue be held back by a roughened surface of these parts, as known in practice. A laryngoscope 1 of this design can therefore be cleaned easily and thoroughly. [0034] In addition to the described use of the spreadable medical instrument as a laryngoscope, its configuration can also be used for a variety of endoscopic applications, such as, e.g., for spine or plastic surgery, during which soft parts must be prevented from entering the spreadable endoscopic access area. The spreadable access area has the advantage of providing a large distal work area, combined with a comparatively small circumference in the initial position, during insertion or removal. 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KgSpreadable medical instrument for endoscopic interventionsUS9332898Jan 31, 2014May 10, 2016Welch Allyn, Inc.Vaginal speculum apparatusUS20060106416 *Oct 21, 2005May 18, 2006Douglas RaymondExpandable ports and methods for minimally invasive surgeryUS20070060794 *Sep 20, 2005Mar 15, 2007Andreas EfingerSpreadable medical instrument for endoscopic interventionsCN102273999A *Jul 30, 2011Dec 14, 2011杭州市桐庐江南医光总厂一种多功能可调支撑喉镜CN102499753A *Oct 31, 2011Jun 20, 2012杭州市桐庐江南医光总厂Adjustable direct laryngoscopeEP1637066A2 *Sep 15, 2005Mar 22, 2006Karl Storz GmbH &amp; Co. KGSpreadable medical instrument for endoscopic surgeryWO2006049917A2 *Oct 21, 2005May 11, 2006Depuy Spine, IncExpandable ports and methods for minimally invasive surgery* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification600/196, 600/190International ClassificationA61B1/32, A61B1/247Cooperative ClassificationA61B1/32, A61B1/247European ClassificationA61B1/32Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionJul 8, 2002ASAssignmentOwner name: KARL STORZ GMBH & CO. KG, GERMANYFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:STIHL, EWALD;REEL/FRAME:013055/0477Effective date: 20020614Sep 7, 2004CCCertificate of correctionNov 22, 2007FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Nov 25, 2011FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Nov 26, 2015FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 12RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services