Reprocessing indicator ink for medical instruments

• US 20070219563A1
• Filed: 03/17/2006
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Voegele, Aaron
• Application Number:
  US11/377,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20070219563A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3417 Details of tips or shafts, e.g. grooves, expandable, bendable; Multiple coaxial sliding cannulas, e.g. for dilating syringe needles A61M5/32; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0803 Counting the number of times an instrument is used
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 Preventing re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/94 coded with symbols, e.g. text
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/206 Ethylene oxide

Abstract

A medical instrument includes a body member, wherein ink is applied to the body member. The ink is reactive with ethylene oxide gas so as to change the appearance of the ink when exposed to ethylene oxide gas.

Claims

1. A medical instrument, comprising:

a body member;

ink applied to the body member, wherein the ink is reactive with ethylene oxide gas so as to change the appearance of the ink.

2. The medical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the body member is that of a surgical stapler.

3. The medical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the body member is that of a trocar.

4. The medical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the ink changes color when exposed to ethylene oxide gas.

5. The medical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the ink is a water-based ink.

6. The medical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the ink is pad printed upon the body member.

7. The medical instrument according to claim 6, wherein the ink is a water-based ink.

8. The medical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the body member is formed from polymers.

9. The medical instrument according to claim 8, wherein the ink is mixed in with polymers forming the body member.