Method and apparatus for performing sterile medical procedures
First Claim
1. A device for performing sterile medical procedures, comprising:
- an outer hollow member including a distal end capable of penetrating a boundary layer separating a non-sterile environment from a sterile environment;
an inner hollow member moveably disposed within the outer hollow member, said inner hollow member including a distal end adapted to extend past said outer hollow member distal end and into a sterile environment; and
a compartment defining a reservoir in selective fluid communication with said outer hollow member so as to flow fluid into a portion of said outer hollow member surrounding said inner hollow member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and related device for performing sterile medical procedures are disclosed. The method and related device are capable of accessing a sterile environment from a non-sterile environment to perform a medical procedure within the sterile environment. The method and related device can achieve a sterile technique during endoluminal procedures and in uncontrolled and unsterile environments. The device includes an inner hollow member moveably disposed within an outer hollow member. The outer hollow member is adapted to penetrate a boundary separating non-sterile and sterile environments and the inner hollow member is adapted to extend past the outer hollow member and into the sterile environment. A fluid compartment is adapted to be in selective fluid communication with the outer tube such that when the inner member extends past the outer member and into the sterile environment, fluid enters the outer member and the boundary.
35 Citations
53 Claims
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1. A device for performing sterile medical procedures, comprising:
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an outer hollow member including a distal end capable of penetrating a boundary layer separating a non-sterile environment from a sterile environment;
an inner hollow member moveably disposed within the outer hollow member, said inner hollow member including a distal end adapted to extend past said outer hollow member distal end and into a sterile environment; and
a compartment defining a reservoir in selective fluid communication with said outer hollow member so as to flow fluid into a portion of said outer hollow member surrounding said inner hollow member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A device for performing a sterile medical procedure, comprising:
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an outer hollow member having a sharp distal end for penetrating a tissue separating a sterile environment from a non-sterile environment, the outer hollow member having a seal at the sharp distal end; and
an inner hollow member within the outer hollow member and axially movable with respect to the outer hollow member, the inner hollow member having a sharp distal end for penetrating the seal and the tissue and extending into the sterile environment. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of performing a sterile medical procedure, comprising the steps of:
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penetrating a boundary with a distal end of an outer hollow member, said boundary separating a non-sterile environment from a sterile environment;
extending a distal end of an inner hollow member past said outer hollow member distal end and into said sterile environment, said inner hollow member moveably disposed within said outer hollow member; and
establishing fluid communication between a compartment for holding a fluid and said outer hollow member such that the fluid flows through a portion of said outer hollow member surrounding the inner hollow member. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method of performing a sterile medical procedure, comprising the steps of:
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penetrating a tissue separating a sterile environment from a non-sterile environment with a sharpened distal end of an outer hollow member, said distal end including a seal; and
extending a sharpened distal end of an inner hollow member in an axial direction with respect to the outer hollow member such that said sharpened distal end penetrates the seal and the tissue; and
further extending the distal end of the inner hollow member into the sterile environment. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A device for performing sterile medical procedures, comprising:
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an outer hollow member including a distal end capable of penetrating a boundary layer separating a non-sterile environment from a sterile environment;
an inner hollow member moveably disposed within the outer hollow member, said inner hollow member including a distal end adapted to extend past said outer hollow member distal end and into a sterile environment; and
a compartment defining a reservoir in selective fluid communication with said outer hollow member, wherein said compartment is adapted to collapse.
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53. A method of performing a sterile medical procedure, comprising the steps of:
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penetrating a boundary with a distal end of an outer hollow member, said boundary separating a non-sterile environment from a sterile environment;
extending a distal end of an inner hollow member past said outer hollow member distal end and into said sterile environment, said inner hollow member moveably disposed within said outer hollow member; and
establishing fluid communication between a compartment for holding a fluid and said outer hollow member such that the fluid flows through said outer hollow member, wherein the establishing step includes collapsing said compartment.
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Specification