Claims
- 1. An inline lubricant cartridge assembly for use with a pneumatically powered surgical instrument, the inline lubricant cartridge assembly comprising:
a housing including first and second portions, the first portion defining a first cavity including a lubricant-soaked absorbent member; and a first conduit having a first end for attachment to a source of pressurized fluid and a second end for attachment to a pneumatically powered surgical instrument, the first conduit passing through the second portion of the housing and defining a channel for transmission of a pressurized fluid stream, the channel being in fluid communication with the first cavity such that lubricant is drawn into the fluid stream for delivery to the pneumatically powered instrument.
- 2. The inline lubricant cartridge assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
a second conduit concentrically arranged with respect to the first conduit and cooperating with the second portion of the housing to define a path for returning exhaust gases from the pneumatically powered instrument.
- 3. The inline lubricant cartridge assembly of claim 2 wherein the first portion also defines a second cavity including a relatively dry absorbent member and wherein the second conduit is in fluid communication with the second cavity for passing the exhaust gases through the relatively dry absorbent member.
- 4. The inline lubricant cartridge assembly of claim 1 wherein the lubricant-soaked absorbent member is a fiber cellulose material soaked with oil.
- 5. The inline lubricant cartridge assembly of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the housing is removably attached to the second portion.
- 6. The inline lubricant cartridge assembly of claim 1 wherein the first end of the first conduit attaches to the source of pressurized fluid through a first detachable hose and the second end of the first conduit attaches to the pneumatically powered surgical instrument through a second detachable hose.
- 7. A lubricant system for use with a surgical instrument, comprising:
a first enclosure positioned inline with a pressurized fluid path, the first enclosure sequentially defining a large-diameter chamber and a small-diameter chamber for defining at least a portion of the pressurized fluid path; a second enclosure including a lubricant; a first fluid path having a first fluid inlet registering with the large-diameter chamber and a first fluid outlet registering with the second enclosure; and a second fluid path having a second fluid inlet registering with the second enclosure and a second fluid outlet registering with the small-diameter chamber; whereby a pressurized fluid may flow through the first enclosure such that at least a portion of the pressurized fluid flows from the large-diameter chamber, through the first fluid path, through the second enclosure, through the second fluid path, and into the small-diameter chamber.
- 8. The lubricant system of claim 7 wherein the first and second enclosures are selectively attachable to each other.
- 9. The lubricant system of claim 7 wherein the first and second fluid paths extend along an elongated member so that the first outlet and the second inlet are positioned near a central portion of the second enclosure.
- 10. The lubricant system of claim 7 wherein the first fluid path has a smaller diameter than the small diameter chamber.
- 11. The lubricant system of claim 7 further comprising:
a valve positioned in either the first or second fluid path for controlling an amount of fluid that flows there through.
- 12. The lubricant system of claim 7 wherein the first and second enclosures include a mating arrangement of slots and grooves so that the second enclosure can be engaged with the first enclosure and so that the engagement will advance the second enclosure towards the first enclosure.
- 13. The lubricant system of claim 7 further comprising:
the first enclosure positioned inline of an exhaust path, the first enclosure sequentially defining an exhaust chamber registering with the exhaust path; the second enclosure including a relatively dry absorbent member; a third fluid path having a third fluid inlet registering with the exhaust chamber and a third fluid outlet registering with the relatively dry absorbent member.
- 14. The lubricant system of claim 7 wherein the lubricant-soaked absorbent member is a fiber cellulose product soaked with oil.
- 15. The lubricant system of claim 7 wherein the first enclosure is selectively releasable to a fluid hose.
- 16. An inline oiler for use with a pneumatic surgical instrument, comprising:
a first housing including a first hose fitting for connecting to a source of compressed air and a second hose fitting for connecting to the pneumatic surgical instrument; a second housing including an oil-soaked absorbent member; a first chamber defined by the first housing, the first chamber including a first inlet for receiving pressurized air from the source, a first outlet for providing a portion of the pressurized air to the second housing, a second inlet for receiving the portion of the pressurized air and a predetermined amount of oil from the second housing, and a second outlet for providing the pressurized air, including the portion from the second housing and the predetermined amount of oil, to the surgical instrument.
- 17. The inline oiler of claim 16 further comprising:
the second housing defining a second and third chamber, the second chamber including the oil-soaked absorbent member and the third chamber including a relatively dry absorbent member; a fourth chamber defined by the first housing, the fourth chamber including an inlet for receiving an exhaust fluid from the surgical instrument and an outlet for providing the exhaust fluid to the relatively dry absorbent member.
CROSS REFERENCE
[0001] The present patent claims the benefit of U.S. Ser. Nos. 60/301,491 filed Jun. 28, 2001, 60/352,609 filed Jan. 28, 2002; 60/360,332 filed Feb. 26, 2002; and (Attorney Docket No. 31849.22) filed Jun. 11, 2002, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The following applications are also related and hereby incorporated by reference: U.S. Ser. Nos. 10/102,762 and 10/135,608.
Provisional Applications (3)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60301491 |
Jun 2001 |
US |
|
60352609 |
Jan 2002 |
US |
|
60360332 |
Feb 2002 |
US |