Moisture-detecting shaft for use with an electro-mechanical surgical device
First Claim
1. A flexible shaft, comprising:
- a flexible, elongated outer sheath;
at least one drive shaft disposed within the outer sheath; and
a moisture sensor disposed within a coupling connected to an end of the outer sheath configured to communicate sensor data corresponding to the presence of moisture within the outer sheath.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A flexible shaft includes a flexible, elongated outer sheath, at least one drive shaft disposed within the outer sheath and a moisture sensor disposed within the outer sheath configured to detect moisture within the outer sheath. Another flexible shaft includes a flexible, elongated outer sheath, at least one flexible drive shaft disposed within the outer sheath and a coupling connected to a distal end of the outer sheath configured to couple to a surgical attachment.
A sleeve includes an elongated shaft configured to receive a flexible shaft therein and a securing arrangement configured to selectively and variably retain the elongated shaft in any one of a number of longitudinal positions along the flexible shaft.
A surgical system includes an electro-mechanical driver, an elongated, flexible sheath, at least one drive shaft disposed within the flexible sheath, a surgical attachment coupled to the at least one drive shaft, the electro-mechanical driver configured to drive the surgical attachment, a shape-retaining sleeve, at least a portion of the flexible sleeve being disposed in the shape-retaining sleeve, the shape-retaining sleeve configured to maintain the at least portion of the flexible sheath in a predetermined shape, and an arrangement variably securing the shape-retaining member to the flexible sheath in any one of a number of longitudinal positions along the flexible sheath.
1999 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A flexible shaft, comprising:
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a flexible, elongated outer sheath; at least one drive shaft disposed within the outer sheath; and a moisture sensor disposed within a coupling connected to an end of the outer sheath configured to communicate sensor data corresponding to the presence of moisture within the outer sheath. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A flexible shaft, comprising:
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a flexible, elongated outer sheath; at least one flexible drive shaft disposed within the outer sheath; a coupling connected to a distal end of the outer sheath configured to couple to a surgical attachment; and a moisture sensor disposed within the coupling configured to communicate sensor data corresponding to the presence of moisture. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A flexible shaft, comprising:
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a flexible, elongated outer sheath; at least one drive shaft disposed within the outer sheath; a coupling detachably connected to an end of the outer sheath, the coupling being configured to detachably couple to a surgical attachment, wherein the coupling includes an engagement shaft including grooves and a clip having flanges, the flanges being received in longitudinal slits of a hollow engagement member of a surgical attachment, the engagement shaft being received in the clip, the clip engaging the grooves; and a moisture sensor disposed within the coupling configured to detect moisture within the outer sheath.
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22. A flexible shaft, comprising:
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a flexible, elongated outer sheath; at least one flexible drive shaft disposed within the outer sheath; and a coupling connected to a distal end of the outer sheath configured to couple to a surgical attachment, wherein the coupling includes a connection mechanism configured to detachably couple to the surgical attachment, wherein the connection mechanism includes an engagement shaft having grooves and a clip having flanges, the clip being configured to be received in a hollow engagement member of a surgical attachment, the flanges of the clip configured to engage in longitudinal slits of the hollow engagement member, the clip configured to receive and secure the engagement shaft in the hollow engagement member, and to frictionally engage with the grooves of the engagement shaft; wherein the coupling further includes a moisture sensor. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A shaft, comprising:
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an elongated outer sheath; at least one drive shaft disposed within the outer sheath; and a moisture sensor disposed within a coupling connected to an end of the outer sheath configured to communicate sensor data corresponding to the presence of moisture within the outer sheath. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification