Protective cover installation and removal tool, systems, and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12178541-B2
Application number	US-202117179670-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 19, 2021
Priority date	Feb 20, 2020
Publication date	Dec 31, 2024
Grant date	Dec 31, 2024

Abstract

According to an exemplary aspect, a tool for installing and/or removing a protective cover of an instrument includes a body portion having an open end and a closed end. The open end defines an interior passage that extends into the body portion along a longitudinal axis of the body portion toward the closed end of the body portion. The interior passage is configured to receive at least a portion of the protective cover in the interior passage. One or more members are connected to the body portion, and each of the one or more members includes a free end movable relative to the body portion. Systems and methods relate to tools for installing and/or removing protective covers of instruments.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tool for installing and/or removing a protective cover of an instrument, comprising:
a body portion having an open end and a closed end, the open end defining an interior passage that extends into the body portion along a longitudinal axis of the body portion toward the closed end of the body portion, the interior passage being configured to receive at least a portion of the protective cover in the interior passage, wherein the body portion further comprises a resilient material layer forming an outer surface of the body portion; and
one or more members connected to the body portion, each of the one or more members comprising a free end movable relative to the body portion.

2. The tool of claim 1 , further comprising
at least one engaging portion at the free end of each of the one or more members.

3. The tool of claim 2 , wherein the at least one engaging portion comprises at least one pincer element.

4. The tool of claim 3 , wherein the at least one pincer element comprises a wedge-shaped projection.

5. The tool of claim 4 , wherein the wedge-shaped projection comprises a narrow end having a width of less than 0.050 inches (1.27 mm).

6. The tool of claim 5 , wherein the narrow end of the wedge-shaped projection has a width of about 0.015 inches (0.381 mm).

7. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the one or more members extend away from the open end of the body portion along the longitudinal axis of the body portion.

8. The tool of claim 1 , further comprising a resilient portion within the body portion, the resilient portion forming at least a portion of the interior passage.

9. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the one or more members are coupled to the body portion by resilient hinge portions.

10. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the one or more members are coupled to the body portion on opposite sides of the interior passage of the open end of the body portion.

11. The tool of claim 1 , further comprising one or more recessed portions on an interior surface of the interior passage.

12. The tool of claim 11 , wherein the one or more recessed portions comprise one or more longitudinal grooves on the interior surface of the interior passage.

13. The tool of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more members comprises a shoulder portion extending radially outward from a portion of each of the one or more members opposite the free end of each of the one or more members.

14. A tool for installing and/or removing a protective cover of an instrument, comprising:
a body portion having an open end and a closed end, the open end defining an interior passage that extends into the body portion along a longitudinal axis of the body portion toward the closed end of the body portion, the interior passage being configured to receive at least a portion of the protective cover in the interior passage; and
one or more members connected to the body portion, each of the one or more members comprising a free end movable relative to the body portion, wherein the one or more members each comprise a textured outer surface.

15. The tool of claim 14 , wherein the textured outer surface comprises a pebbled texture.

16. A tool for installing and/or removing a protective cover of an instrument, comprising:
a body portion having an open end and a closed end, wherein the body portion comprises:
a first portion and a second portion coupled together, and
a resilient insert positioned within the first portion, and
wherein the open end defines an interior passage that extends into the body portion along a longitudinal axis of the body portion toward the closed end of the body portion, the interior passage is configured to receive at least a portion of the protective cover in the interior passage, and

one or more members connected to the body portion, each of the one or more members comprising a free end movable relative to the body portion,
wherein:
the interior passage is defined by an inner lateral sidewall of the first portion;
the inner lateral sidewall comprises a step feature;
the resilient insert comprises another step feature; and
in an assembled state of the resilient material insert and the first portion, the another step feature of the resilient material insert engages the step feature of the inner lateral sidewall.

17. The tool of claim 16 , wherein the second portion retains the resilient insert within the first portion when the second portion and first portion are coupled together.

18. The tool of claim 16 , wherein the first portion comprises one or more ribs extending into the interior passage proximate the closed end of the body portion.

19. The tool of claim 16 , wherein:
one of the first portion and the second portion comprises a projection;
the other of the first portion and the second portion comprises an aperture; and
the aperture is configured to receive the projection in an assembled state of the first portion and the second portion.

Assignees

• Intuitive Surgical Operations

Inventors

• Floyd Paul J
• Cole Rosemary
• Shuh Christina J
• Wadensweiler Ralph
• Palmer Mark

Classifications

• A61M2005/3215

  Tools enabling the cap placement · CPC title

• B25B27/02

  for connecting objects by press fit or detaching same {(B25D1/16 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• A61B34/35

  for telesurgery · CPC title

• A61B2050/006

  perpendicular to the lid plane, e.g. by a downward movement · CPC title

• A61B50/00

  Containers, covers, furniture or holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments, e.g. sterile covers (drapes specially adapted for instruments A61B46/10) · CPC title