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US 6,375,610 B2Granted
Endoscopic drape
AssigneeFairmont Medical Products Pty. Ltd.
InventorMark Verschuur
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AssigneeFairmont Medical Products Pty. Ltd.
InventorMark Verschuur
Estimating the term…
A method for producing an endoscopic drape includes positioning a portion of a sheath of flexible material (22) in abutment with a joining portion (23) of a first housing piece (14). A joining portion (24) of a second housing piece (16) is positioned close to joining portion (23) and the joining portions are then joined together, for example, by ultrasonic welding. This forms a housing (12) in which the portion of the sheath (22) is entrapped between the first housing piece (14) and the second housing piece (16). The portion of the sheath (22) may be joined to the first housing piece (14) by a thermoplastic gasket or o-ring (35) prior to joining the first and second housing pieces (14, 16) to improve the seal between the sheath (22) and the housing (12). The housing (12) includes a clear lens or window (27) that provides an optical pathway through the housing and also provides a sterility barrier.
A method for manufacturing a drape for use in endoscopic surgical procedures, the method comprising the steps of positioning a portion of a sheath of flexible material adjacent to or in abutment with a thermoplastic material positioned on or near a joining portion of a first housing piece, positioning a joining portion of a second housing piece adjacent to or in abutment with the portion of the sheath and the joining portion of the first housing piece and joining the sheath to the thermoplastic and permanently joining the joining portion of the first housing piece and the second housing piece to thereby form a housing and entrap the portion of the sheath between the first housing piece and the second housing piece.
A drape for use in an endoscopic procedure, the drape comprising a housing having a first housing piece permanently joined to a second housing piece, a thermoplastic material permanently joined to the housing between the first and second housing pieces and a sheath of flexible material, the sheath having a portion thereof joined to the thermoplastic material the sheath having a part thereof trapped between the joined first and second housing pieces, wherein a leak-proof seal is established between the sheath and the housing.
A drape for use in an endoscopic surgical procedure, the drape comprising a housing including a first housing piece having a portion permanently joined to a joining portion of a second housing piece, a sheath of flexible material having a portion positioned between the first and second housing pieces, a thermoplastic material positioned between the portion of the sheath and one of the first and second housing pieces, the thermoplastic material affixing the portion of the sheath to one of the first and second housing pieces and wherein the joining portions of the first and second housing pieces surround and entrap an edge of the portion of the sheath in the completed housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.