MEDICAL TOOL FOR REDUCED PENETRATION FORCE WITH FEEDBACK MEANS
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Accused Products
Abstract
A medical device for reducing the force necessary to penetrate living being tissue using a variety of reciprocating motion actuators, including piezoelectric, voice coil, solenoids, pneumatics or fluidics. The reciprocating actuator drives a penetrating member, such as a needle, through the tissue at a reduced force while the device detects the passage of the penetrating member through the tissue. Upon passage of the penetrating member through the tissue, electrical power to the reciprocating actuator is automatically terminated. One exemplary method for detecting this passage is via a fluid-containing syringe that is coupled to a channel within the penetrating member. Once the penetrating member tip has passed through the living tissue, the fluid within the syringe no longer experiences any pressure and a plunger within the syringe displaces indicating passage of the penetrating member tip. This motion can provide direct tactile feedback to an operator of the medical device or can automatically open a switch providing electrical power to the medical device. Alternatively, a pressure transducer can also monitor the pressure within the penetrating member channel and automatically activate the switch to cut off the electrical power.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1-33. -33. (canceled)
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34. A medical device for penetrating living being tissue, said device comprising:
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a penetrating member which is vibrated to reduce the force needed to penetrate living being tissue; a driving actuator coupled to said penetrating member and causing said vibration when energized; and an electrical power cut off automatically de-energizing the driving actuator when said penetrating member has passed through the living being tissue. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A medical device for penetrating living being tissue, said device comprising:
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a penetrating member which is ultrasonically vibrated to reduce the force needed to penetrate living being tissue; a driving actuator coupled to said penetrating member and causing said ultrasonic vibration when energized; and an electrical power cut off automatically de-energizing the driving actuator when said penetrating member has passed through the living being tissue. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification