Apparatus for counting the number of times a surgical instrument has been used
First Claim
1. An apparatus for counting the number of times a surgical instrument has been sterilized, said apparatus comprising:
- a) a housing having an inner hub portion and an outer cylindrical portion, said outer cylindrical portion having an inwardly extending tooth and an indication means;
b) a ratchet wheel having a plurality of inner teeth, a plurality of outer teeth, and outer incremental indicia, said ratchet wheel being located between said inner hub portion and said outer cylindrical portion of said housing such that one of said plurality of outer teeth is engaged by said inward extending tooth and one of said incremental indicia is indicated by said indication means; and
c) a bimetallic member having a free end and a fixed end, said free end engaging one of said plurality of inner teeth and said fixed end being attached to said inner hub portion of said housing, whereina sterilization heating and cooling cycle causes said bimetallic member to engage a next one of said inner teeth and to advance said ratchet wheel past said inward extending tooth so that a next one of said incremental indicia is indicated by said indication means, and said inward extending tooth prevents said ratchet wheel from returning to a previous position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved use counter for endoscopic instruments is mounted in the ferrule of the distal portion of an endoscopic instrument having separable proximal and distal portions. The counter includes a ratchet wheel having inner and outer teeth and a bimetallic coil having a fixed end and a free end. The fixed end of the bimetallic coil is attached to a hub portion of the ferrule and the free end of the bimetallic coil engages the inner teeth of the ratchet wheel. An inwardly extending tooth in the ferrule engages the outer teeth of the ratchet wheel to prevent backward movement of the ratchet wheel. The outer surface of the ratchet wheel is also provided with incremental indicia viewable through a window in the ferrule. As the bimetallic coil is heated and cooled when the instrument is sterilized, the free end of the coil engages and advances one tooth of the ratchet wheel. Movement of the free end is preferably limited by stops. A spring biased locking and disabling pin is mounted in the ferrule and engages a stepped width portion of the ratchet wheel. The pin prevents advancement of the ratchet wheel during shipping and disables the instrument after a predetermined number of sterilizations.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for counting the number of times a surgical instrument has been sterilized, said apparatus comprising:
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a) a housing having an inner hub portion and an outer cylindrical portion, said outer cylindrical portion having an inwardly extending tooth and an indication means; b) a ratchet wheel having a plurality of inner teeth, a plurality of outer teeth, and outer incremental indicia, said ratchet wheel being located between said inner hub portion and said outer cylindrical portion of said housing such that one of said plurality of outer teeth is engaged by said inward extending tooth and one of said incremental indicia is indicated by said indication means; and c) a bimetallic member having a free end and a fixed end, said free end engaging one of said plurality of inner teeth and said fixed end being attached to said inner hub portion of said housing, wherein a sterilization heating and cooling cycle causes said bimetallic member to engage a next one of said inner teeth and to advance said ratchet wheel past said inward extending tooth so that a next one of said incremental indicia is indicated by said indication means, and said inward extending tooth prevents said ratchet wheel from returning to a previous position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification