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US 6,786,865 B2Granted
Endoscope valve assembly and method
AssigneeInnon Holdings, LLC
InventorAvtar S. Dhindsa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one embodiment, an endoscope valve assembly is releasably secured to a hand of a user of an endoscope. The endoscope valve assembly can be releasably secured to any part of the user's hand (e.g., palm, thumb, or finger) and can be secured either to the hand that holds the endoscope or to the user's other hand. Additionally, when the user holds an endoscope in one hand and a second medical instrument in his other hand, the valve assembly for the endoscope can be releasably secured to the second medical instrument. Other embodiments are described, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or in combination with each other.
Claims46
A method for enhancing control efficiency of a medical endoscope, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a medical endoscope comprising an irrigation port;
- (b) providing an endoscope valve assembly comprising:
- a housing comprising an inlet port and an outlet port;
- a valve carried by the housing and coupled between the inlet port and the outlet port, the valve comprising a manually-controlled actuator movable by a user using the endoscope between a first position, in which the valve blocks flow between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a second position, in which the valve allows flow between the inlet port and the outlet port;
- and
- a securing element;
- (c) releasably connecting the outlet port of the valve assembly with the irrigation port of the endoscope;
- and
- (d) releasably securing the securing element of the valve assembly at least partially around a hand of the user.
6 more elements
A method for enhancing control efficiency of a medical endoscope, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a medical endoscope comprising an irrigation port;
- (b) providing an endoscope valve assembly comprising:
- a housing comprising an inlet port and an outlet port;
- and
- a valve carried by the housing and coupled between the inlet port and the outlet port, the valve comprising a manually-controlled actuator movable by a user using the endoscope between a first position, in which the valve blocks flow between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a second position, in which the valve allows flow between the inlet port and the outlet port;
- (c) releasably connecting the outlet port of the valve assembly with the irrigation port of the endoscope;
- and
- (d) releasably securing the valve assembly to a hand of the user;
- wherein the valve assembly is releasably secured to the user's hand in (d) with a strap comprising hook-and-loop fasteners.
6 more elements
A method for enhancing control efficiency of a medical endoscope, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a medical endoscope comprising an irrigation port;
- (b) providing an endoscope valve assembly comprising:
- a housing comprising an inlet port and an outlet port;
- and
- a valve carried by the housing and coupled between the inlet port and the outlet port, the valve comprising a manually-controlled actuator movable by a user using the endoscope between a first position, in which the valve blocks flow between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a second position, in which the valve allows flow between the inlet port and the outlet port;
- (c) releasably connecting the outlet port of the valve assembly with the irrigation port of the endoscope;
- and
- (d) releasably securing the valve assembly to a hand of the user;
- wherein the valve assembly is releasably secured to the user's hand in (d) with a resilient element.
6 more elements
A method for enhancing control efficiency of a medical endoscope, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a medical endoscope comprising an irrigation port;
- (b) providing an endoscope valve assembly comprising:
- a housing comprising an inlet port and an outlet port;
- and
- a valve carried by the housing and coupled between the inlet port and the outlet port, the valve comprising a manually-controlled actuator movable by a user using the endoscope between a first position, in which the valve blocks flow between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a second position, in which the valve allows flow between the inlet port and the outlet port;
- (c) releasably connecting the outlet port of the valve assembly with the irrigation port of the endoscope;
- and
- (d) releasably securing the valve assembly to a hand of the user;
- wherein the valve assembly is releasably secured to the user's hand in (d) with a pressure-sensitive adhesive.
6 more elements
A method for enhancing control efficiency of a medical endoscope, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a medical endoscope comprising an irrigation port;
- (b) providing an endoscope valve assembly comprising:
- a housing comprising an inlet port and an outlet port;
- and
- a valve carried by the housing and coupled between the inlet port and the outlet port, the valve comprising a manually-controlled actuator movable by a user using the endoscope between a first position, in which the valve blocks flow between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a second position, in which the valve allows flow between the inlet port and the outlet port;
- (c) releasably connecting the outlet port of the valve assembly with the irrigation port of the endoscope;
- and
- (d) releasably securing the valve assembly to a hand of the user;
- wherein the valve assembly carries at least one of the following:
- a finger sheath or glove.
7 more elements
A method for enhancing control efficiency of a medical endoscope, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a medical endoscope comprising an irrigation port;
- (b) providing a second medical instrument, wherein the second medical instrument has a different shape than the shape of the endoscope;
- (c) releasably securing an endoscope valve assembly to the second medical instrument, the valve assembly comprising:
- a housing comprising an inlet port and an outlet port;
- and
- a valve carried by the housing and coupled between the inlet port and the outlet port, the valve comprising a manually-controlled actuator movable by a user between a first position, in which the valve blocks flow between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a second position, in which the valve allows flow between the inlet port and the outlet port;
- (d) releasably connecting the outlet port of the valve assembly with the irrigation port of the endoscope;
- (e) holding the medical endoscope with the user's first hand;
- (f) holding the second medical instrument with the user's second hand;
- and
- (g) using the user's second hand to move the manually-controlled actuator.
8 more elements
A modular endoscope valve assembly comprising:
- a housing comprising an inlet port and an outlet port;
- a securing element coupled with the housing, wherein the securing element is operative to releasably secure at least partially around a hand of a user using a medical endoscope;
- and
- a valve carried by the housing and coupled between the inlet port and the outlet port, the valve comprising a manually-controlled actuator movable by a user between a first position, in which the valve blocks flow between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a second position, in which the valve allows flow between the inlet port and the outlet port.
1 more element
A modular endoscope valve assembly comprising:
- a housing comprising an inlet port and an outlet port;
- a securing element coupled with the housing, wherein the securing element is operative to releasably secure the housing to a hand of a user using a medical endoscope;
- and
- a valve carried by the housing and coupled between the inlet port and the outlet port, the valve comprising a manually-controlled actuator movable by a user between a first position, in which the valve blocks flow between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a second position, in which the valve allows flow between the inlet port and the outlet port;
- wherein the securing element comprises a strap comprising hook-and-loop fasteners.
2 more elements
A modular endoscope valve assembly comprising:
- a housing comprising an inlet port and an outlet port;
- a securing element coupled with the housing, wherein the securing element is operative to releasably secure the housing to a hand of a user using a medical endoscope;
- and
- a valve carried by the housing and coupled between the inlet port and the outlet port, the valve comprising a manually-controlled actuator movable by a user between a first position, in which the valve blocks flow between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a second position, in which the valve allows flow between the inlet port and the outlet port;
- wherein the securing element comprises a resilient element.
2 more elements
A modular endoscope valve assembly comprising:
- a housing comprising an inlet port and an outlet port;
- a securing element coupled with the housing, wherein the securing element is operative to releasably secure the housing to a hand of a user using a medical endoscope;
- and
- a valve carried by the housing and coupled between the inlet port and the outlet port, the valve comprising a manually-controlled actuator movable by a user between a first position, in which the valve blocks flow between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a second position, in which the valve allows flow between the inlet port and the outlet port;
- wherein the securing element comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive.
2 more elements
A modular endoscope valve assembly comprising:
- a housing comprising an inlet port and an outlet port;
- a securing element coupled with the housing, wherein the securing element is operative to releasably secure the housing to a hand of a user using a medical endoscope;
- and
- a valve carried by the housing and coupled between the inlet port and the outlet port, the valve comprising a manually-controlled actuator movable by a user between a first position, in which the valve blocks flow between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a second position, in which the valve allows flow between the inlet port and the outlet port;
- wherein the securing element comprises a mechanical fastener.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.