Surgery – Endoscope – Having auxiliary channel
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-15
2001-07-10
Dvorak, Linda C. M. (Department: 3739)
Surgery
Endoscope
Having auxiliary channel
C600S129000, C600S156000, C600S176000, C600S175000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06258025
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device having an orifice covered by an optical device in the shape of a disk of glass or a lens, which is intended for being exposed to dirtying reducing the transparency, which dirtying may be for all splash of liquid.
Such devices are frequent in connection with operarating instruments for among others the more and more common so called laparotomy, and in fiber optical equipment. The use of such instruments and equipment is made difficult, however, when the optical device becomes dirtied by for example blood or other body fluids during surgical operations or medical examinations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to achieve a device of the kind mentioned by way of introduction in which the cleaning problem is solved in a simple and effective way.
This is obtained according to the invention in that the device comprises a housing in which a ring-shaped socket is rotatably mounted or journalled. The socket supports the optical device and comprises a rim of turbine blades to which at least one jet of pressure gas, preferably pressure air, is directed from a nozzle attached to the housing for effecting a rapid rotation of the ring-shaped socket and the optical device. Due to the rotation of the optical device, said device is kept clean in a manner known per se, but it is effected according to the invention by a journalling of the optical device such that the transparency of the most important part, i.e. the central portion, of the optical device is not disturbed. The way of mounting or journalling also makes it possible to rotatably journal an optical device of a diameter of only a few millimeters.
A bearing is suitably journalled between the ring-shaped socket and the housing, which bearing comprises a rim of rolling members, preferably balls, positioned partially in a circumferential groove around the ring-shaped socket, partially in a corresponding groove in the housing. The ring-shaped socket may be journalled in the housing, as an alternative, by a magnetic bearing, especially if the ring-shaped socket and the optical device have small sizes and a low weight. It is also possible to use a bearing of the air support type, preferably an air lubricated slide bearing.
The pressure gas leaving the rim of turbine blades is, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, arranged to pass out from the front side of the optical device through a gap between the ring-shaped socket and the housing, such that the movable part is kept free from penetrating impurities between the movable part and the stationary housing. If necessary, it may be suitable to have the pressure gas passing through a heating device before it is supplied to said nozzle or nozzles, especially if the device is exposed to moisture and cold, for instance when used as a look through window-pane of a craft or vehicle. The heated air prevents the movable and stationary parts from freezing together.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5647840 (1997-07-01), D'Amelio et al.
patent: 5894369 (1999-04-01), Akiba et al.
patent: 2803897 (1979-08-01), None
patent: 7064012 (1995-03-01), None
Dvorak Linda C. M.
Medifront AB
Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen, LLP
Ram Jocelyn
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