Endoscopic suction instrument having variable suction strength capabilities
First Claim
1. An endoscopic suctioning instrument, comprising:
- a) a hollow cannula having a proximal end and a distal end;
b) a sliding sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal axis, said sliding sleeve being coaxial to and closely surrounding and slidingly engaging said hollow cannula, said sliding sleeve having a plurality of lateral holes at its distal end with said lateral holes being spaced along said longitudinal axis;
c) valve means for selectively coupling a suction source to said proximal end of said cannula;
d) sleeve actuation means means coupled to said sliding sleeve for sliding said sliding sleeve from a first position where said distal end of said sliding sleeve extends beyond said distal end of said cannula such that a first number of said plurality of lateral holes are unblocked by said cannula, to a second position where said distal end of said sliding sleeve extends beyond said distal end of said cannula such that a second number of said plurality of lateral holes are unblocked by said cannula, said second number being less than said first number, to a third position where said cannula blocks all of said lateral holes of said sliding sleeve;
e) valve actuation means coupled to said valve means for opening and closing said valve means,wherein the sliding of said sliding sleeve from said first position to said second position to said third position when said suction tube is coupled to said cannula by said valve means, incrementally increases suction through said distal end of said sleeve as said lateral holes are sequentially blocked by said hollow cannula; and
f) cooperation means acting between said sleeve actuation means and said valve actuation means such that actuation of one of said sleeve actuation means and said valve actuation means is effected by actuation of the other one of said sleeve actuation means and said valve actuation means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscopic suctioning instrument with variable suction is disclosed. The instrument has a hollow cannula having a proximal end and a distal end, and sliding sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal axis, with the sliding sleeve being coaxial to and closely surrounding and slidingly engaging the hollow cannula. The sliding sleeve has a plurality of lateral holes at its distal end with the lateral holes being spaced along the longitudinal axis. A valve is provided for selectively coupling a suction source to the proximal end of the cannula, and a sleeve actuation mechanism is provided for sliding the sliding sleeve from a first position where the distal end of the sliding sleeve extends beyond the distal end of the cannula such that a first number of the lateral holes are unblocked by said cannula, to a second position where the distal end of the sliding sleeve extends beyond said distal end of the cannula such that fewer lateral holes are unblocked by said cannula, to a third position where the cannula blocks all of said lateral holes of the sliding sleeve. Various embodiments are described with different mechanisms for causing the sleeve to slide, including mechanisms linking the valve to the sleeve.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An endoscopic suctioning instrument, comprising:
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a) a hollow cannula having a proximal end and a distal end; b) a sliding sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal axis, said sliding sleeve being coaxial to and closely surrounding and slidingly engaging said hollow cannula, said sliding sleeve having a plurality of lateral holes at its distal end with said lateral holes being spaced along said longitudinal axis; c) valve means for selectively coupling a suction source to said proximal end of said cannula; d) sleeve actuation means means coupled to said sliding sleeve for sliding said sliding sleeve from a first position where said distal end of said sliding sleeve extends beyond said distal end of said cannula such that a first number of said plurality of lateral holes are unblocked by said cannula, to a second position where said distal end of said sliding sleeve extends beyond said distal end of said cannula such that a second number of said plurality of lateral holes are unblocked by said cannula, said second number being less than said first number, to a third position where said cannula blocks all of said lateral holes of said sliding sleeve; e) valve actuation means coupled to said valve means for opening and closing said valve means, wherein the sliding of said sliding sleeve from said first position to said second position to said third position when said suction tube is coupled to said cannula by said valve means, incrementally increases suction through said distal end of said sleeve as said lateral holes are sequentially blocked by said hollow cannula; and f) cooperation means acting between said sleeve actuation means and said valve actuation means such that actuation of one of said sleeve actuation means and said valve actuation means is effected by actuation of the other one of said sleeve actuation means and said valve actuation means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification