Thermal treatment system instrument rack and method of selectively thermally treating medical instrument portions
First Claim
1. In a thermal treatment system including a housing with a top surface and a basin recessed within said housing top surface to contain and thermally treat a sterile medium, a rack for supporting objects in the form of medical instruments within said basin comprising:
- an elongated bar member including;
a first end portion configured to engage said housing;
a second end portion configured to engage said housing; and
an intermediate portion between said first and second end portions and including a plurality of serpentine sections defined within said intermediate portion of said elongated bar member, wherein each serpentine section includes a recess to form a corresponding receptacle supported by said bar member above a basin floor and within an upper portion of said basin, and wherein each receptacle is configured to removably engage and elevate a portion of a corresponding object above the basin floor and said sterile medium to maintain the elevated portion in a dry state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system according to the present invention includes a cabinet, a basin positioned within the cabinet to contain and thermally treat a liquid bath, and a rack or tray disposed on the cabinet that supports exposed scope optics above the liquid bath within the basin. The scope optics resides outside of the bath in a dry state, thereby permitting the remaining scope portions within the bath to be thermally treated. This enables accurate temperature warming of the scope to reduce trauma of tissue and retrieval of enhanced images by the scope during a medical procedure. The present invention permits medical personnel or operating room staff to warm scopes in a controlled environment while maintaining scope optics in a dry state.
142 Citations
5 Claims
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1. In a thermal treatment system including a housing with a top surface and a basin recessed within said housing top surface to contain and thermally treat a sterile medium, a rack for supporting objects in the form of medical instruments within said basin comprising:
an elongated bar member including; a first end portion configured to engage said housing; a second end portion configured to engage said housing; and an intermediate portion between said first and second end portions and including a plurality of serpentine sections defined within said intermediate portion of said elongated bar member, wherein each serpentine section includes a recess to form a corresponding receptacle supported by said bar member above a basin floor and within an upper portion of said basin, and wherein each receptacle is configured to removably engage and elevate a portion of a corresponding object above the basin floor and said sterile medium to maintain the elevated portion in a dry state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
Specification