Retraction Mechanism For Medical Device
First Claim
1. A device, comprising:
- a retractable shaft;
a shaft biasing spring; and
an actuator button;
wherein the retractable shaft is biased away from the actuator button by the shaft biasing spring;
wherein a magnetic attracting force is created between the retractable shaft and the actuator button upon actuation of the actuator button;
wherein before actuation, a distance between the actuator button and the retractable shaft is great enough that the magnetic attracting force is less than a biasing force of the shaft biasing spring such that the retractable shaft is biased away from the actuator button; and
wherein upon actuation, the actuator button is depressed to make the distance between the actuator button and the retractable shaft sufficiently small such that the magnetic attracting force is greater than the biasing force of the shaft biasing spring to allow the retractable shaft to be biased towards the actuator button.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device comprises a retractable shaft; a shaft biasing spring; and an actuator button. The retractable shaft is biased away from the actuator button by the shaft biasing spring. A magnetic attracting force is created between the retractable shaft and the actuator button upon actuation of the actuator button. Before actuation, a distance between the actuator button and the retractable shaft is great enough that the magnetic attracting force is less than a biasing force of the shaft biasing spring such that the retractable shaft is biased away from the actuator button. Upon actuation, the actuator button is depressed to make the distance between the actuator button and the retractable shaft sufficiently small such that the magnetic attracting force is greater than the biasing force of the shaft biasing spring to allow the retractable shaft to be biased towards the actuator button.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A device, comprising:
-
a retractable shaft; a shaft biasing spring; and an actuator button; wherein the retractable shaft is biased away from the actuator button by the shaft biasing spring; wherein a magnetic attracting force is created between the retractable shaft and the actuator button upon actuation of the actuator button; wherein before actuation, a distance between the actuator button and the retractable shaft is great enough that the magnetic attracting force is less than a biasing force of the shaft biasing spring such that the retractable shaft is biased away from the actuator button; and wherein upon actuation, the actuator button is depressed to make the distance between the actuator button and the retractable shaft sufficiently small such that the magnetic attracting force is greater than the biasing force of the shaft biasing spring to allow the retractable shaft to be biased towards the actuator button. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A device, comprising:
-
a retractable shaft; and an actuator button; wherein a first end of the retractable shaft includes a first magnet having a polarity and a first end of the actuator button includes a second magnet having the same polarity as the first magnet such that the first end of the retractable shaft is repelled from the first end of the actuator button; and wherein when the actuator button is pressed the first end of the actuator button travels past the first end of the retractable shaft such that the first magnet and the second magnet drive the retractable shaft towards the actuator button. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method, comprising:
-
providing a housing; providing a shaft having a medical tool located thereon, the shaft being slidably positioned in the housing and biased to extend from a distal end of the housing; providing an actuator button slidably positioned in the housing, the actuator button extending from a proximal end of the housing; providing a magnetic attracting force between the shaft and the actuator button upon actuation of the actuator button; wherein before actuation, a distance between the actuator button and the shaft is great enough that the magnetic attracting force is less than a biasing force acting on the shaft such that the shaft is biased away from the actuator button; and wherein upon actuation, the actuator button is depressed to make the distance between the actuator button and the shaft sufficiently small such that the magnetic attracting force is greater than the biasing force acting on the shaft to allow the shaft to be biased towards the actuator button. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
-
-
19. A method, comprising:
-
maneuvering a medical device to contact a tissue surface of a patient, the medical device having a shaft biased to extend from a distal end of a housing and further having an actuator button disposed at a proximal end of the housing, the shaft further having a medical tool associated therewith for contacting the tissue surface of the patient; and actuating the actuator button to retract the shaft into the housing.
-
Specification