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US 4,731,052 AGranted
Method for removing tissue and living organisms
OwnerH. Michael Seitz, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for delicately and gently removing an egg from the human ovary for use in in vitro fertilization and a disposable or semi-disposable surgeon's aspirating and flushing valve for performing such a removal.
Claims7
In a method of artificially inseminating an egg, of the type wherein viewing means are applied to a female patient for locating and viewing at least one ovary to remove an egg from a follicle thereon by suction with needle means, said needle having suction means attached thereto, the steps comprising:
- (a) while viewing said follicle introducing a needle portion of an aspiration and flushing means into the abdominal cavity, invading the follicle and aspirating the egg therefrom, removing said egg by aspiration while providing a smooth, non-turbulent and continuous pathway for said egg to prevent egg damage during aspiration, introducing flushing fluid through said needle portion by way of a syringe passageway, said aspiration and flushing steps including actuating aspiration upon depression of a valve means controlling said aspiration and ceasing aspiration upon release of said valve means;
- (b) said invasion of said follicle being accompanied by puncturing said follicle with said needle;
- (c) said aspiration being accompanied by pressing valve means connected to said suction means and actuating suction through said needle to evacuate said follicle;
- (d) said step of introducing flushing fluid into said follicle being accomplished through said needle portion from a syringe passageway to redistend said follicle;
- and
- (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) until an egg is evacuated from said follicle.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.