Patents Examined by Cassandre Spyrou
  • Patent number: 6234635
    Abstract: The present invention includes maintaining the region of the proximal lens of a laparoscope at greater than ambient temperature in order to prevent fogging during use. Heating is accomplished using commercially available chemical heat packs generally used for heating boots or gloves. The invention differs from other anti-fogging devices, which either immerse the distal lens region of the laparoscope in a warm fluid or treat this lens with anti-fogging solutions, in that above-ambient temperature is continuously maintained throughout the laparoscope, since it is known that a cool laparoscope fogs when placed in the vicinity of warm, wet tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Inventors: Michael R. Seitzinger, David Platts