Color treated condition-indicating ultrasonic surgical device and method
First Claim
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1. A condition-indicating ultrasonic surgical device, comprising:
- an ultrasonic surgical instrument; and
at least a portion of the instrument having an outer surface including a color layer of a predetermined thickness formed by anodizing or chemical processing;
wherein the thickness of the layer is affected by damage to the instrument resulting in a color change that indicates the presence of damage that would otherwise be imperceptible by visual inspection.
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Abstract
Disclosed is a condition-indicating ultrasonic surgical device and method of making the same in which an ultrasonic surgical instrument (10) has at least a portion of which has an outer surface which includes a color layer formed by anodizing or chemical processing. The color layer has a predetermined thickness wherein the thickness, and thereby the color, of the layer is affected by damage to the instrument to provide an indication that would otherwise be imperceptible by visual inspection.
42 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A condition-indicating ultrasonic surgical device, comprising:
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an ultrasonic surgical instrument; and
at least a portion of the instrument having an outer surface including a color layer of a predetermined thickness formed by anodizing or chemical processing;
wherein the thickness of the layer is affected by damage to the instrument resulting in a color change that indicates the presence of damage that would otherwise be imperceptible by visual inspection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of making a condition-indicating ultrasonic surgical device, comprising the steps of:
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providing an ultrasonic surgical instrument; and
forming a color layer having a predetermined thickness on at least a portion of an outer surface of the instrument by anodizing or chemical processing such that the color of the layer is affected by damage to the instrument that would otherwise be imperceptible by visual inspection. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification