Systems and methods for maintaining a clear visual field during endoscopic procedures
First Claim
1. A system for maintaining a clear visual field during endoscopic procedures, the system comprising:
- a substantially rigid endoscope having a distal viewing window;
a resilient tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the tube being attached to said endoscope such that the distal end of the tube is in proximity to said distal viewing window of the endoscope; and
means connected to the proximal end of the resilient tube for selectively forcing fluid through the tube and out of the distal end thereof.
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Abstract
A nasal sinus endoscope system and method. The system comprises a nasal sinus endoscope having a distal viewing window. A resilient tube is attached to the endoscope such that the distal end of the tube is in proximity to the distal viewing window of the endoscope, and a syringe is connected to the proximal end of the resilient tube for selectively forcing fluid through the tube and out of the distal end thereof. The distal end of the resilient tube preferably forms an oblique angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the tube, and the resilient tube is attached to the endoscope such that the oblique opening formed by the distal end of the tube substantially faces the endoscope. The resilient tube is attached to the endoscope by means of suitable fasteners, such as, for example, elastic bands which encircle both the tube and the endoscope.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A system for maintaining a clear visual field during endoscopic procedures, the system comprising:
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a substantially rigid endoscope having a distal viewing window; a resilient tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the tube being attached to said endoscope such that the distal end of the tube is in proximity to said distal viewing window of the endoscope; and means connected to the proximal end of the resilient tube for selectively forcing fluid through the tube and out of the distal end thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A nasal sinus endoscope system, comprising:
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a substantially rigid nasal sinus endoscope having a distal viewing window; a resilient tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the tube being attached to the endoscope such that the distal end of the tube is in proximity to the distal viewing window of the endoscope; and a syringe connected to the proximal end of the resilient tube for selectively forcing fluid through the tube and out of the distal end thereof. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for maintaining a clear visual field during endoscopic procedures, the method comprising the steps of:
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attaching a resilient tube to a substantially rigid endoscope, the tube having a proximal end and a distal end and the endoscope having a distal viewing window, the tube being attached to the endoscope such that the distal end of the tube is in proximity to the distal viewing window of the endoscope without obstructing said viewing window; and selectively forcing fluid through the tube and out of the distal end thereof so as to clear the distal viewing window of the endoscope. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system for maintaining a clear visual field adjacent a distal viewing window of an endoscope, the system comprising:
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a resilient tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the tube being attached to said endoscope such that the distal end of the tube is in proximity to said distal viewing window of ht endoscope, and the tube being attached to the endoscope by means of fasteners which at least partially encircle the endoscope; and means connected to the proximal end of the resilient tube for selectively forcing fluid through the tube and out of the distal end thereof.
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26. A nasal sinus endoscope system, comprising:
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a nasal sinus endoscope having a distal viewing window; a resilient tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the tube being attached to the endoscope such that the distal end of the tube is in proximity tot he distal viewing window of the endoscope, the distal end of the tube forming an oblique angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the tube, the tube being attached to said endoscope such that the oblique opening formed by the distal end of the tube substantially faces the endoscope, and the tube being attached to the endoscope by means of fasteners which at least partially encircle the endoscope; and a syringe connected to the proximal end of the resilient tube for selectively forcing fluid through the tube and out of the distal end thereof. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A method for maintaining a clear visual field during endoscopic procedures, the method comprising the steps of:
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attaching a resilient tube to an endoscope, said attaching step comprising placing at least one fastener around both the tube and the endoscope, the tube having a proximal end and a distal end and the endoscope, the tube having a proximal end and a distal end and the endoscope having a distal viewing window, the tube being attached to the endoscope such that the distal end of the tube is in proximity to the distal viewing window of the endoscope without obstructing said viewing window; and selectively forming fluid through the tube and out of the distal end thereof so as to clear the distal viewing window of the endoscope. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. A system for maintaining a clear visual field adjacent a distal viewing window of an endoscope, the system comprising:
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a resilient tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the tube being attached to said endoscope such that the distal end of the tube is in proximity to said distal viewing window of the endoscope, and the tube being attached to the endoscope by means of elastic bands which encircle both the tube and the endoscope; and means connected to the proximal end of the resilient tube for selectively forcing fluid through the tube and out of the distal end thereof.
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33. A nasal sinus endoscope system, comprising:
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a nasal sinus endoscope having a distal viewing window; a resilient tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the tube being attached to the endoscope such that the distal end of the tube is in proximity to the distal viewing window of the endoscope, the distal end of the tube forming an oblique angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the tube, the tube being attached to said endoscope such that the oblique opening formed by the distal end of the tube substantially faces the endoscope, and the tube being attached to the endoscope by means of elastic bands which encircle both the tube and the endoscope; and a syringe connected to the proximal end of the resilient tube for selectively forcing fluid through the tube and out of the distal end thereof. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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36. A method for maintaining a clear visual field during endoscopic procedures, the method comprising the steps of:
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attaching a resilient tube to an endoscope, said attaching step comprising placing at least one elastic band around both the tube and the endoscope, the tube having a proximal end and a distal end and the endoscope having a distal viewing window, the tube being attached to the endoscope such that the distal end of the tube is in proximity to the distal viewing window of the endoscope without obstructing said viewing window; and selectively forcing fluid through the tube and out of the distal end thereof so as to clear the distal viewing window of the endoscope. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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Specification