Sleeve for maintaining the sterility of an arthroscopic procedure
First Claim
1. A device for maintaining the sterility of an arthroscopic video camera comprising:
- a thread on said video camera;
a flexible elongated shroud having a hollow tubular configuration with an open proximal end and an open distal end;
an annular collar connected to said open proximal end of said shroud, said collar having a thread engagable with said thread on said video camera, wherein said shroud is extendable over the length of said video camera when said collar threadably engages said video camera; and
a means for rotatably retaining said collar in connection with said shroud such that said collar is rotatable independently of said shroud.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A disposable sterile sleeve is provided which is removably attachable to a video camera of an arthroscope. The sleeve comprises a flexible elongate tubular shroud and a rigid annular mounting collar. The shroud is open ended with the collar rotatably attached to one open end by a connector member providing independent rotation of the collar relative to the shroud. A pull tab is attached to the opposite open end of the shroud to facilitate extension of the shroud over the camera. The sleeve may be compacted for storage prior to use by tightly scrunching the shroud together, thereby folding it onto itself. To attach the sleeve to the camera, the video camera is inserted through the compacted shroud until it engages the collar. A male thread provided on the camera is threaded into a female thread provided on the collar and the shroud is then extended over the camera by pulling on the tab to draw out the folds in the shroud.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A device for maintaining the sterility of an arthroscopic video camera comprising:
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a thread on said video camera; a flexible elongated shroud having a hollow tubular configuration with an open proximal end and an open distal end; an annular collar connected to said open proximal end of said shroud, said collar having a thread engagable with said thread on said video camera, wherein said shroud is extendable over the length of said video camera when said collar threadably engages said video camera; and a means for rotatably retaining said collar in connection with said shroud such that said collar is rotatable independently of said shroud. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A device for maintaining the sterility of an arthroscopic video camera comprising:
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a male thread on said video camera; a flexible elongated shroud having a hollow tubular configuration with an open proximal end and an open distal end; and an annular collar connected to said open proximal end of said shroud, said collar threadably engagable with said video camera, wherein said shroud is extendable over the length of said video camera when said collar threadably engages said video camera, and wherein said collar has a female thread engagable with said male thread on said video camera.
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12. A device for maintaining the sterility of an arthroscopic video camera comprising:
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a flexible elongated shroud having a tubular configuration with an open proximal end and an open distal end; an annular collar connected to said open proximal end of said shroud, wherein said collar is engageable with said video camera, and further wherein said shroud is extendable over said video camera when said collar engages said video camera; a means for connecting said collar with said shroud wherein said connecting means allows said collar to rotate relative to said shroud; and a means for receiving a force and transmitting said force to said distal end of said shroud for unfolding said shroud, said shroud enclosing said camera to provide a sterile barrier between said camera and a patient.
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13. A device for maintaining the sterility of an arthroscopic video camera and a transmission line extending therefrom comprising:
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an upright tubular member having an open end to receive said video camera therein, while maintaining a thread on said camera exposed, said tubular member further having a slot formed in its side through which said transmission line extends; a flexible elongated shroud having a tubular configuration with an open proximal end and an open distal end, wherein said shroud has an expanded condition and a compact condition, and further wherein said shroud defines a plurality of folds therein when in said compact condition; an annular collar connected to said open proximal end of said shroud, said collar having a thread engageable with said thread on said video camera, said shroud extending over said video camera. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method for maintaining the sterility of an arthroscopic video camera comprising the steps of:
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placing a probe on said camera; conveying a barrier member along said probe until a collar attached to said barrier member contacts said camera; fastening said collar to said video camera, said collar being connected to a shroud having an open distal end, said shroud having an expanded condition and compacted condition; and extending said shroud by moving said open distal end over said video camera and at least one transmission line connected to said video camera. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification