US 12,029,394 B2
Scope cleaning device configured to be removably connected to a surgical tool
Claude Fiset, Ojai, CA (US)
Assigned to Medix3d LLC, Pacific Palisades, CA (US)
Filed by Medix3d LLC, Corona del Mar, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 4, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/111,839.
Application 17/111,839 is a continuation of application No. 16/288,914, filed on Feb. 28, 2019, granted, now 10,881,284.
Application 16/288,914 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/110,035, filed on Aug. 23, 2018, granted, now 10,575,722, issued on Mar. 3, 2020.
Application 16/110,035 is a continuation of application No. 14/966,622, filed on Dec. 11, 2015, granted, now 10,080,488, issued on Sep. 25, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/091,466, filed on Dec. 12, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2021/0085167 A1, Mar. 25, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 1/12 (2006.01); A61B 1/00 (2006.01); A61B 1/313 (2006.01); A61B 17/34 (2006.01); A61B 90/70 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 1/126 (2013.01) [A61B 1/0014 (2013.01); A61B 1/121 (2013.01); A61B 1/122 (2013.01); A61B 1/127 (2013.01); A61B 1/313 (2013.01); A61B 17/3417 (2013.01); A61B 2090/701 (2016.02)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cleaning device configured for cleaning a surgical tool prior to insertion of the tool into a body of a patient during minimally invasive surgery, the cleaning device comprising:
a housing comprising at least one opening for accessing an interior of the housing;
a connector extending from an outer surface of the housing configured to removably attach the housing to a sidewall of a tubular body thereby supporting the housing relative to the tubular body;
a sponge containing a fluid positioned in the interior of the housing accessible through the at least one opening of the housing, wherein the connector is configured to support the housing such that a central longitudinal axis of a portion of the tubular body attached to the connector is parallel to an axis of the sponge; and
a heater assembly positioned in the interior of the housing configured to warm the sponge, wherein the heater assembly comprises
a heating element configured to substantially border a perimeter or part of the perimeter of the sponge electrically connected to a power source configured to increase in temperature when electric current from the power source passes through the heating element, and
an insulating member comprising at least one of silicone, neoprene, fiberglass, cotton, or felt covering at least a portion of the heating element.