# US 11,432,902 B2 · Surgical devices with moisture control

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- Number: US 11,432,902 B2
- Document ID: US11432902B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/826,928
- Filed: 2020-03-23
- Published: 2020-07-09
- Granted: 2022-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-04-10
- Assignees: Covidien LP
- Applicants: Covidien LP
- Inventors: David E. Valentine; Joseph Eisinger; Patrick Mozdzierz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11432902B2

## CPC

- A61B 90/70: Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments
- A61B 18/00: Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body (eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00)
- A61B 90/08: {Accessories or related features not otherwise provided for}
- B08B 3/04: Cleaning involving contact with liquid
- B08B 9/00: Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto
- A61B 17/1155: {Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples}
- A61B 18/1445: {at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod}
- A61B 34/30: Surgical robots
- A61B 34/37: Leader-follower robots (A61B34/35 takes precedence)
- A61B 2017/00017: {Electrical control of surgical instruments}
- A61B 2017/00292: {mounted on or guided by flexible, e.g. catheter-like, means}
- A61B 2017/00398: {using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids}
- A61B 2017/0042: {with special provisions for gripping}
- A61B 2017/0046: {with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable}
- A61B 2017/00473: {Distal part, e.g. tip or head (A61B2017/00464 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/00477: {Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/3437: {with means for removing or absorbing fluid, e.g. wicks or absorbent pads}
- A61B 2018/0097: {Cleaning probe surfaces}
- A61B 2034/301: {for introducing or steering flexible instruments inserted into the body, e.g. catheters or endoscopes}
- A61B 2034/303: {specifically adapted for manipulations within body lumens, e.g. within lumen of gut, spine, or blood vessels}
- A61B 2090/064: {for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension}
- A61B 2090/0813: {Accessories designed for easy sterilising, i.e. re-usable}
- A61B 2090/701: {for flexible tubular instruments, e.g. endoscopes}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL

## Abstract

A surgical device including a handle assembly, an elongated portion, an end effector, a drive shaft, and a wick is disclosed. The wick is disposed within an outer sleeve of the elongated portion and is made from a fibrous material. The wick is configured to transfer moisture from a first portion of the wick to a second portion of the wick.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A surgical device comprising:
a handle assembly;
an elongated portion configured to extend distally from the handle assembly and including an outer sleeve;
an end effector configured to operatively engage a distal portion of the elongated portion;
a drive shaft extending at least partially through the elongated portion and configured to mechanically engage the handle assembly and the end effector; and
a wick disposed within the outer sleeve and made from a fibrous material, the wick configured to transfer moisture from a first portion of the wick to a second portion of the wick.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the wick is in the shape of a cylindrical sleeve.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein an entirety of the wick is disposed within the outer sleeve.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein a first portion of the wick is cylindrical, and a second portion of the wick surrounds a longitudinal passage which surrounds the drive shaft.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the wick is configured to transfer moisture from a proximal portion of the wick to a distal portion of the wick.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The surgical device according to claim 5, wherein the distal portion of the wick is in fluid communication with ambient air outside of the elongated portion.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the wick is a fibrous sheet of material.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the wick is impregnated with a dessicating compound.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The surgical device according to claim 8, wherein the dessicating compound includes at least one of activated alumina, aerogel, benzophenone, bentonite clay, calcium chloride, calcium oxide, calcium sulfate, cobalt(II) chloride, copper(II) sulfate, lithium chloride, lithium bromide, magnesium sulfate, magnesium perchlorate, molecular sieve, potassium carbonate, potassium hydroxide, silica gel, sodium, sodium chlorate, sodium chloride, sodium hydroxide, sodium sulfate, sucrose or sulfuric acid.

### Claim 10

A method of cleaning a surgical device, comprising:
inserting fluid into the surgical device;
absorbing the fluid with a first portion of a fibrous wick disposed within the surgical device;
transferring the fluid from the first portion of the fibrous wick to a second portion of the fibrous wick; and
desorbing the fluid from the fibrous wick into ambient air.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, wherein transferring the fluid from the first portion of the fibrous wick to the second portion of the fibrous wick including moving the fluid distally.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, wherein the fibrous wick is a cylindrical sleeve.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, wherein the wick is impregnated with a dessicating compound.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method according to claim 13, wherein the dessicating compound includes at least one of activated alumina, aerogel, benzophenone, bentonite clay, calcium chloride, calcium oxide, calcium sulfate, cobalt(II) chloride, copper(II) sulfate, lithium chloride, lithium bromide, magnesium sulfate, magnesium perchlorate, molecular sieve, potassium carbonate, potassium hydroxide, silica gel, sodium, sodium chlorate, sodium chloride, sodium hydroxide, sodium sulfate, sucrose or sulfuric acid.