Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Detecting nuclear – electromagnetic – or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-05
2001-10-30
Lateef, Marvin M. (Department: 3737)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Detecting nuclear, electromagnetic, or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
active
06309358
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a tube unit system such as an ultrasound imaging catheter system for displaying the sectional view of a tubular cavity or determining blood stream with the aid of an inserting part provided with a tube and inserted into the body cavity such as a blood vessel or a vein or an endoscope system for visual observation of the inside of a tubular cavity.
2. Description of the Related Art
The ultrasound imaging catheter system so adapted as to effect display of the sectional view of a tubular cavity by inserting into the body cavity a catheter provided at the leading end side of a rotary drive shaft thereof with an ultrasound transducer has been heretofore known.
This ultrasound imaging catheter system is readied for use by having a connector of the catheter in a sterilized state inserted into a connecting part of an external drive device, i.e. an unsterilized part serving to rotate the drive shaft. Once the connector is joined to the external drive device, therefore, the part of the connector brought into contact with the external drive device is fated to be contaminated. For the purpose of precluding the possibility that the operator's hands will be contaminated by the part of the connector, therefore, the connector and the external drive device which are in a connected state are not allowed to be separated from each other until the manipulation of the catheter is completed.
When the catheter is manipulated in various ways while the connector of the catheter is kept in connection with the external drive device, however, the body of machine or operator possibly rides on the connected parts of the ultrasound imaging catheter and the external drive device and, as a result, brings the problem of compelling the ultrasound imaging catheter to sustain breakage besides the possibility that the delicate operation of the catheter will be obstructed.
When the ultrasound imaging catheter is to be used, it must be first connected to the external drive device and then given a trial run intended to confirm normal operation before it is inserted into the body cavity. When the ultrasound imaging catheter in use is designed for the self-guiding operation which relies on the operator's application of torque to the catheter to produce a motion of the catheter to the neighborhood of the affected part without requiring use of a guide wire, therefore, since this catheter cannot be operated while it is kept in connection with the external drive device, the operator has no alternative but to remove the connector of the catheter from the external drive device subsequently to the confirmation of the normal operation mentioned above and then proceed to operate the catheter. As a means to prevent the operator s hands from being contaminated in this case, the method of covering the connector with a sterilized cap may be used. This method, however, has the problem of entailing a complicated work which is fated to urge deliberation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a tube unit system which, by means of a sterilized part interposed between the connector of such a tube unit as a catheter and the external unit, prevents the part of the connector from contamination and keeps intact the sterilized state of the tube unit such as the catheter and facilitate separation of the two connected parts.
One aspect of this invention is directed to a tube unit system which comprises
a tube unit provided with an inserting part possessed of a tube to be inserted into a body cavity and a connector disposed on the handle side of the inserting part;
an outer unit provided with a connecting part for connection to the connector of the tube unit; and
an adapter intended for interposition between the connector and the connecting part and already subjected to a purifying treatment as by sterilization, the adapter being arbitrarily attachable to and detachable from the connector and the connecting part.
In accordance with this invention, the part of the connector of the tube unit can be prevented from contamination and, as a result, the sterilized state of the tube unit can be kept intact by causing the adapter which has undergone the purifying treatment as by sterilization to be interposed between the tube unit and the external unit. Consequently, the operator while using the catheter is enabled to attach tube unit to and detach it from the external unit catheter and promote prevention of the tube unit from breakage.
Another aspect of this invention is directed to a device for protecting an article which has undergone a purifying treatment against a contaminated article, which comprises
a bag already subjected to a purifying treatment as by sterilization and provided with a hole; and
an adapter provided with a hollow body and a retaining part adapted to be held manually by the operator and already subjected to a purifying treatment as by sterilization;
the bag being enabled to be fixed to the adapter in such manner that the hole thereof will be located at the center of the hollow body.
Still another aspect of this invention is directed to method for visually observing the appearance of the body cavity of a given patient by means of the ultrasound imaging catheter, which method comprises
a step of covering an external drive device for driving the ultrasound imaging catheter with a bag subjected to a purifying treatment as by sterilization;
a step of connecting an adapter subjected to a purifying treatment as by sterilization to the connecting part of the external drive device;
a step of connecting a connector of an ultrasound imaging catheter subjected to a purifying treatment as by sterilization through the medium of the adapter to the external drive device; and
a step of setting the external drive device operating.
The objects, characteristics, and special features of this invention other than those set forth above will become apparent from the description to be given herein below with reference to preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4522196 (1985-06-01), Cunningham et al.
patent: 5353798 (1994-10-01), Sieben
patent: 5401245 (1995-03-01), Haining
patent: 5445155 (1995-08-01), Sieben
patent: 5476107 (1995-12-01), Oakley et al.
patent: 5498230 (1996-03-01), Adair
patent: 5630419 (1997-05-01), Ranalletta
patent: 5678551 (1997-10-01), Stevens
patent: 728444 (1996-08-01), None
patent: 2148526 (1985-05-01), None
Burns Doane , Swecker, Mathis LLP
Imam Ali M.
Lateef Marvin M.
Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
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