Sterilizing cutting system

• US 20080077145A1
• Filed: 09/22/2006
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Smith, Michael A., Weaver, Thomas A., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Boyden, Edward S., Rivet, Dennis J., Hyde, Roderick A., Leuthardt, Eric C., Wood, Lowell L.
• Application Number:
  US11/526,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20080077145A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/79
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3201 Scissors for biopsy A61B10/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3211 Surgical scalpels, knives; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00061 spectrum
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/40 Apparatus fixed or close to patients specially adapted for providing an aseptic surgical environment
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0011 using physical methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation

Abstract

Sectioning tools that emit self-sterilizing radiation. In one approach, the radiation is ultraviolet and/or plasmonic.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sectioning a material, comprising:

a first member including a sectioning structure; and

an optical guiding structure having a first portion coupled to the sectioning structure and a second portion separated from the first portion, the guiding structure being configured to propagate ultraviolet energy from the second portion to the first portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guiding structure is integral to the first member.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first member includes at least one output coupling structure configured to direct ultraviolet energy from the guiding structure towards the sectioning structure.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the output coupling structure is an internally reflective surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an energy blocking structure interposed between the sectioning structure and an expected grip region.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an energy blocking structure interposed between the sectioning structure and an expected viewing location.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a converting structure configured to convert ultraviolet energy to plasmon energy.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the optical guiding structure further includes a plasmon guiding structure proximate to the first portion.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first member is at least partially transparent to the ultraviolet energy.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical guiding structure includes a waveguide.

29. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical guiding structure is configured to propagate the ultraviolet energy to substantially all of the sectioning structure.

30. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sectioning structure includes at least one structure selected from the group consisting of a cutting edge, a piercing structure, a drill, and a cauterizer.

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35. An apparatus for sectioning a material, comprising:

a first member including a sectioning structure; and

an ultraviolet emitter optically directed to the sectioning structure.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the ultraviolet emitter is optically coupled to the sectioning structure.

37. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising an optical guiding structure having a first portion directed to the sectioning structure and a second portion coupled to the ultraviolet emitter, the guiding portion being configured to propagate ultraviolet energy from the second portion to the first portion.

42. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the first member includes at least one output coupling structure configured to direct ultraviolet energy from the guiding structure towards the sectioning structure.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the output coupling structure is an internally reflective surface.

44. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising an ultraviolet blocking structure interposed between the sectioning structure and an expected grip location.

51. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising a converter configured to convert ultraviolet emissions to plasmon emissions.

54. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the ultraviolet emitter is configured to direct ultraviolet energy through the sectioning structure.

55. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the ultraviolet emitter is positioned on a surface of the first member.

56. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the ultraviolet emitter is positioned on the sectioning structure.

58. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the ultraviolet emitter is configured to emit radiation having a wavelength less than about 300 nm.

59. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the ultraviolet emitter is configured to emit radiation having a wavelength between about 230 nm and 280 nm.

60. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the sectioning structure includes a cutting edge.

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