Single-Use Indicator For A Surgical Instrument And A Surgical Instrument Incorporating Same
First Claim
1. A single-use indicator for a surgical instrument comprising:
- a transparent or translucent body defining an indicator lumen, said body being integral with the surgical instrument;
an absorbent material disposed in said indicator lumen; and
a port in fluid communication with said indicator lumen, such that when said body is immersed in blood, blood flows into said port to said indicator lumen and is absorbed by said absorbent material.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A single-use indicator is provided and is particularly well suited for use with a surgical catheter device. The indicator includes an absorbent filament or wick which is placed in a transparent or translucent indicator lumen of a multi-lumen catheter. The lumen is provided with at least one side port. When the catheter is inserted into a blood vessel, blood enters the indicator lumen through the side port and is absorbed by the filament, thus turning the filament red or purple in color. When the instrument is removed from the blood vessel, the stained filament is clearly visible as an indicator that the instrument has been used. Because the filament is trapped inside a lumen of a relatively long catheter, it is difficult or impossible to remove it during a remanufacturing process.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A single-use indicator for a surgical instrument comprising:
-
a transparent or translucent body defining an indicator lumen, said body being integral with the surgical instrument; an absorbent material disposed in said indicator lumen; and a port in fluid communication with said indicator lumen, such that when said body is immersed in blood, blood flows into said port to said indicator lumen and is absorbed by said absorbent material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. An apparatus for treating blood vessels, comprising:
-
an elongate body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an infusion lumen extending there-through and an indicator lumen extending through at least a part of said body; a plurality of spaced apart infusion holes along a length of the infusion lumen; an elongate valve member which is movable inside said infusion lumen from a first position in which access to some but not all of the infusion holes are blocked by said elongate valve member to a second position where access to fewer of the infusion holes are blocked by said elongate valve member; an infusion port coupled to said elongate valve member, such that infusion fluid injected into said infusion port flows through said elongate valve member, into a portion of said infusion lumen; and an absorbent material disposed in said indicator lumen, wherein said indicator lumen is transparent or translucent at least where said absorbent material is located such that said absorbent material can be seen inside said indicator lumen and said indicator lumen has a port in fluid communication with said absorbent material. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A single-use surgical instrument, comprising:
-
an elongate body defining a plurality of longitudinally adjacent lumens, at least one of which is an indicator lumen having a transparent or translucent wall and a port in said wall providing fluid access to said indicator lumen; and a blood absorbent material disposed in said indicator lumen. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification