U.S. patent application number 14/221714 was filed with the patent office on 2014-07-17 for guidewires for performing image guided procedures.
This patent application is currently assigned to Acclarent, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Acclarent, Inc.. Invention is credited to Robert K. Deckman, Eric Goldfarb, Isaac J. Kim, Tom T. Vo.
Application Number | 20140200444 14/221714 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50481758 |
Filed Date | 2014-07-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140200444 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Isaac J. ; et
al. |
July 17, 2014 |
GUIDEWIRES FOR PERFORMING IMAGE GUIDED PROCEDURES
Abstract
Guidewires and methods useable in conjunction with image
guidance systems to facilitate performance of diagnostic or
therapeutic tasks at locations within the bodies of human or animal
subjects.
Inventors: |
Kim; Isaac J.; (San Jose,
CA) ; Goldfarb; Eric; (Belmont, CA) ; Vo; Tom
T.; (Mountain View, CA) ; Deckman; Robert K.;
(San Bruno, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Acclarent, Inc. |
Menlo Park |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Acclarent, Inc.
Menlo Park
CA
|
Family ID: |
50481758 |
Appl. No.: |
14/221714 |
Filed: |
March 21, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11648158 |
Dec 29, 2006 |
8702626 |
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14221714 |
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11116118 |
Apr 26, 2005 |
7720521 |
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11648158 |
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11037548 |
Jan 18, 2005 |
7462175 |
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11116118 |
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10944270 |
Sep 17, 2004 |
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11037548 |
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10912578 |
Aug 4, 2004 |
7361168 |
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10944270 |
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10829917 |
Apr 21, 2004 |
7654997 |
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10912578 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
600/424 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 17/320758 20130101;
A61B 2090/363 20160201; A61B 17/320783 20130101; A61B 2090/3983
20160201; A61B 2034/2048 20160201; A61M 2025/09083 20130101; A61B
34/20 20160201; A61B 2034/2051 20160201; A61B 2090/365 20160201;
A61B 2017/22061 20130101; A61B 2090/3958 20160201; A61M 25/09041
20130101; A61M 2025/09175 20130101; A61B 5/06 20130101; A61M 25/09
20130101; A61B 6/032 20130101; A61B 17/320725 20130101; A61B 5/6851
20130101; A61M 2025/0166 20130101; A61M 2029/025 20130101; A61B
5/062 20130101; A61B 2017/22042 20130101; A61B 90/39 20160201; A61B
17/24 20130101; A61B 90/16 20160201; A61B 17/3478 20130101; A61B
90/361 20160201; A61B 5/055 20130101; A61M 29/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
600/424 |
International
Class: |
A61B 19/00 20060101
A61B019/00 |
Claims
1. A guidewire device for use with an image guidance system, said
guidewire comprising: an elongate guidewire shaft having a proximal
end and a distal end; a sensor located on or in said shaft, said
sensor being detectable by an image guidance system for real time
determination of the location of the sensor within a subject's
body; first electrical contacts located on the shaft at or near its
proximal end; wires extending between the sensor and the contacts;
and a hub member that is disposable on and removable from the
guidewire shaft, said hub member having second electrical contacts
that electrically couple to said first electrical contacts when the
hub member is disposed on said guidewire shaft.
2. A guidewire according to claim 1 wherein the hub member has a
recess within which the proximal end of the guidewire is
inserted.
3. A guidewire device according to claim 2 wherein the first
electrical contacts are at spaced apart locations on a portion of
the guidewire that becomes inserted into the recess and wherein the
second electrical contacts are located within the recess at spaced
apart locations such that the first and second contacts become
electrically coupled when the proximal end of the guidewire is
inserted into the recess.
4. A guidewire device according to claim 3 wherein the recess has
an abutment surface against which the guidewire abuts to prevent
further advancement of the guidewire into the recess.
5. A guidewire device according to claim 4 wherein the first and
second contacts are spaced, relative to the abutment surface, such
that when the guidewire is abutting against the abutment surface,
the first and second contacts will be juxtapositioned and
electrically coupled to one another.
6. A guidewire device according to claim 1 wherein the sensor is an
electromagnetic coil located at or near the distal end of the
guidewire shaft.
7. A guidewire device according to claim 6 wherein the
electromagnetic coil is housed within a distal portion of the
guidewire shaft.
8. A guidewire device according to claim 1 wherein the
electromagnetic coil is positioned within a housing, said housing
being positioned within the distal portion of the shaft.
9. A guidewire device according to claim 8 wherein the
electromagnetic housing has a helical configuration.
10. A guidewire device according to claim 9 wherein the distal
portion comprises a helical coil having a lumen extending
therethrough and wherein the housing is screwed into the lumen of
the helical coil.
11. A guidewire device according to claim 10 further comprising a
plug member that closes the distal end of the lumen of the helical
wire coil, distal to the housing.
12. A guidewire device according to claim 11 wherein the plug
member is formed of substantially nonferromagnetic material.
13. A guidewire device according to claim 1 further comprising an
outer cover on the distal portion of the guidewire shaft.
14. A guidewire device according to claim 13 wherein the outer
cover is formed of substantially nonferromagnetic material.
15. A guidewire device according to claim 13 wherein the outer
cover comprises heat shrunk plastic.
16. A guidewire device according to claim 13 wherein the outer
cover is on the guidewire shaft from just distal the first
electrical contacts to the distal tip and is a material selected
from the group consisting of parylene, Teflon and silicone.
17. A guidewire device according to claim 1 wherein the guidewire
shaft comprises a core wire having a distal portion, a mid-portion
and a proximal portion, said sensor being located on or in the
distal portion.
18. A guidewire device according to claim 17 wherein the first
electrodes comprise proximal and distal electrode bands on the
proximal portion of the guidewire shaft, said electrode bands being
formed of electrically conductive material.
19. A guidewire device according to claim 18 further comprising
insulator bands formed of material that is substantially
electrically insulating, an insulator band being positioned on
either side of each electrode band.
20. A guidewire device according to claim 17 wherein the distal
portion is more flexible than the mid-portion.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/16,118 entitled Methods and Devices for
Performing Procedures Within the Ear, Nose, Throat and Paranasal
Sinuses filed Apr. 26, 2005, which is a continuation in part of 1)
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/829,917 entitled "Devices,
Systems and Methods for Diagnosing and Treating Sinusitis and Other
Disorders of the Ears, Nose and/or Throat" filed on Apr. 21, 2004,
2) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/912,578 entitled
"Implantable Device and Methods for Delivering Drugs and Other
Substances to Treat Sinusitis and Other Disorders" filed on Aug. 4,
2004, 3) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/944,270 entitled
"Apparatus and Methods for Dilating and Modifying Ostia of
Paranasal Sinuses and Other Intranasal or Paranasal Structures"
filed on Sep. 17, 2004 and 4) U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/037,548 entitled "Devices, Systems and Methods For Treating
Disorders of the Ear, Nose and Throat" filed Jan. 18, 2005, the
entireties of each such parent application being expressly
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to methods and
devices for medical treatment and more particularly to guidewires
adapted for use with electromagnetic image guidance systems and
their method of manufacture and use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Image-guided surgery (IGS) is a technique wherein a computer
is used to obtain a real-time correlation of the location of an
instrument that has been inserted into a patient's body to a set of
preoperatively obtained images (e.g., a CT or MRI scan) so as to
superimpose the current location of the instrument on the
preoperatively obtained images. In a typical IGS procedure, a
digital tomographic scan (e.g., CT or MRI) of the operative field
is obtained prior to surgery. A specially programmed computer is
then used to convert the digital tomographic scan data into a
digital map. During surgery, special instruments having sensors
(e.g., electromagnetic coils that emit electromagnetic fields)
mounted thereon are used to perform the procedure while the sensors
send data to the computer indicating the current position of each
surgical instrument. The computer correlates the data it receives
from the instrument-mounted sensors with the digital map that was
created from the preoperative tomographic scan. The tomographic
scan images are displayed on a video monitor along with an
indicator (e.g., cross hairs or an illuminated dot) showing the
real time position of each surgical instrument relative to the
anatomical structures shown in the scan images. In this manner, the
surgeon is able to know the precise position of each
sensor-equipped instrument without being able to actually view that
instrument at its current location within the body.
[0004] Examples of commercially available electromagnetic IGS
systems that have been used in ENT and sinus surgery include the
ENTrak Plus.TM. and InstaTrak ENT.TM. systems available from GE
Medical Systems, Salt Lake City, Utah. Other examples of
electromagnetic image guidance systems that may be modified for use
in accordance with the present invention include but are not
limited to those available from Surgical Navigation Technologies,
Inc., Louisville, Colo., Biosense-Webster, Inc., Diamond Bar,
Calif. and Calypso Medical Technologies, Inc., Seattle, Wash.
[0005] When applied to functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS)
the use of Image guidance systems allows the surgeon to achieve
more precise movement and positioning of the surgical instruments
than can be achieved by viewing through an endoscope alone. This is
so because a typical endoscopic image is a spatially limited, 2
dimensional, line-of-sight view. The use of image guidance systems
provides a real time, 3 dimensional view of all of the anatomy
surrounding the operative field, not just that which is actually
visible in the spatially limited, 2 dimensional, direct
line-of-sight endoscopic view. As a result, image guidance systems
are frequently used during performance of FESS, especially in cases
where normal anatomical landmarks are not present, in revision
sinus surgeries or wherein the surgery is performed to treat
disease that abuts the skull base extends into the frontal or
sphenoid sinus, dehiscent lamina papyracea and/or orbital
pathology.
[0006] Additionally, a procedure for balloon dilation of the ostia
of paranasal sinuses has been developed, wherein a guidewire is
advanced into a diseased paranasal sinus and a balloon catheter is
then advanced over the guidewire to dilate the ostium of that
paranasal sinus, thereby improving drainage from the diseased sinus
(Balloon Sinuplasty.TM. system, Acclarent, Inc., Menlo Park,
Calif.). Parent application Ser. No. 11/16,118 describes a variety
of sensor equipped devices including sensor equipped guidewires
that are useable in performance of the procedure using Balloon
Sinuplasty.TM. tools under image guidance in conjunction with an
IGS system.
[0007] There remains a need in the art for the development of
improved sensor equipped instruments and devices for use in IGS
procedures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention provides guidewires having sensors
(e.g., electromagnetic coils that detect or emit electromagnetic
energy and radiofrequency devices that emit or detect
radiofrequency energy like antennas) and removable proximal hubs
that interface with an IGS system. The guidewires of one embodiment
of the present invention are useable in conjunction with
electromagnetic IGS systems such that the IGS system may be used to
track the real time position of the guidewire within the body of a
human or animal subject.
[0009] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,
there is provided a guidewire device for use with an image guidance
surgery system, Such guidewire device generally comprises a) an
elongate guidewire shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, b)
a sensor located on or in said shaft, such sensor being operative
to emit energy that may be used by an image guidance system for
real time determination of the location of the sensor within a
subject's body, c) first electrical contacts located on the shaft
at or near its proximal end, d) wires extending between the sensor
and the contacts and e) a connector hub member that is disposable
on and removable from the guidewire shaft, such hub member having
second electrical contacts that electrically couple to the first
electrical contacts on the guidewire when the hub member is
disposed on said guidewire shaft. In this manner, the hub member
facilitates delivery of current to the sensor and the sensor emits
a field which is used by the image guidance system to ascertain the
position of the guidewire within the subject's body. After the
guidewire has been advanced to its intended position, the hub
member is removed from the guidewire, thereby allowing other
devices (e.g., catheters and the like) to be advanced over the
guidewire and used to perform diagnostic or therapeutic task(s). In
some embodiments, the guidewire may be less than 110 centimeters in
length (e.g., approximately 100 centimeters) and may be
transnasally insertable to a location within the ear, nose, throat
or paranasal sinus of the subject. In some embodiments, a polymer
layer (e.g., heat shrunk polymer film) may be formed on a portion
of the guidewire to facilitate grasping of the guidewire during use
but such polymer layer may cover less than the entire length of the
guidewire.
[0010] Further in accordance with the invention, there is provided
a method for using an image guidance system to determine the
location of a guidewire within the body of a human or animal
subject, such method comprising the steps of; (A) inserting into
the body of the subject a guidewire that has i) a distal portion,
ii) a sensor positioned on or in the distal portion , ii) a
proximal portion and iv) first electrical contacts located on the
proximal portion, said first electrical contacts being connected to
the sensor; (B) inserting the proximal portion of the guidewire
into a connector hub that has second electrical contacts such that
the second electrical contacts of the connector hub become
electrically coupled to the first electrical contacts of the
guidewire; (C) passing electrical energy through the sensor to
cause the sensor to emit a field; and (D) using the image guidance
system to determine the location of the field emitted by the sensor
and to correlate said location to stored anatomical image data,
thereby ascertaining the location of the guidewire within the body.
After the guidewire has been placed in an intended position within
the body, the connector hub is removed and a second device (e.g., a
catheter) is advanced over the guidewire. Such second device is
then used to perform a therapeutic or diagnostic task within the
subject's body.
[0011] Further aspects, details and embodiments of the present
invention will be understood by those of skill in the art upon
reading the following detailed description of the invention and the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a guidewire of one embodiment of the present
invention being used in conjunction with an IGS system to perform a
transnasal procedure.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of one embodiment of
a guidewire of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 2A is a cross sectional view through line 2A-2A of FIG.
2.
[0015] FIG. 2B is a cross sectional view through line 2B-2B of FIG.
2.
[0016] FIG. 2C is a cross sectional view through line 2C-2C of FIG.
2.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a side view of one embodiment of a sensor housing
of the guidewire of FIG. 2.
[0018] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a sensor assembly
comprising the sensor housing of FIG. 3 with an electromagnetic
sensor coil and related packaging mounted therein.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a proximal hub
device that is attachable to and detachable from the proximal end
of a sensor-equipped guidewire of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 4A is a longitudinal sectional view of the proximal hub
device of FIG. 4 attached to the guidewire of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The following detailed description, the drawings and the
above-set-forth Brief Description of the Drawings are intended to
describe some, but not necessarily all, examples or embodiments of
the invention. The contents of this detailed description, the
accompanying drawings and the above-set-forth brief descriptions of
the drawings do not limit the scope of the invention or the scope
of the following claims, in any way.
System Useable For Transnasal Image-Guided Procedures
[0022] With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown a guidewire 10 of
the present invention inserted through a transnasal guide catheter
14 into the nose of a subject. A connector hub 12 of the present
invention is disposed on the proximal end of the guidewire 10. The
connector hub is connected by a cable 100 to an image guidance
system 16. This image guidance system generally includes a video
monitor 18 and a computer 20. The manner in which these components
of the system operate will be discussed in further detail
herebelow.
Guidewire Device
[0023] The guidewire device 10, and certain components thereof, are
shown in detail in FIGS. 2-3A. In the particular embodiment shown,
the guidewire 10 comprises a flexible outer coil 49 having a core
wire system 50 extending therethrough. This guidewire 10 includes a
distal portion 30, a mid-portion 32 and a proximal portion 34. In
general, the outer coil 49 is a flexible structure and the core
wire system 50 serves to impart column strength (e.g.,
"pushability"), torquability, and regionally varying degrees of
rigidity to the guidewire 10.
[0024] In an embodiment suitable for certain transnasal
applications, the outer coil 49 may be formed of stainless steel
wire or other alloys 56 of approximately 0.005 to 0.007 inches
diameter, disposed in a tight helical coil so as to form a tubular
structure that has a lumen 58 (as shown in FIG. 2B) and has an
outer diameter of approximately 0.035 inches, The core wire system
50 extends through lumen 58 of helical outer coil 49 and a sensor
assembly 60 (shown in detail in FIG. 3A) is mounted within the
distal end of lumen 58, as explained fully herebelow.
[0025] The core wire system 50 comprises a distal core wire segment
50d, a proximal core wire segment 50p and a transitional core wire
segment 50t. The proximal core wire segment 50p is affixed (e.g.,
soldered or otherwise attached) to the outer coil 49 at locations L
(FIG. 2). In this particular example, the distal core wire segment
50d is approximately two to approximately four centimeters in
length and is formed of stainless steel wire having an outer
diameter of approximately 0.006 to approximately 0.008 inches and
Its distal portion may optionally be swaged or compressed to a
generally flattened configuration, thereby rendering that distal
portion more flexible in one plane (e.g., up and down) than In the
opposite plane (e.g., side to side), in accordance with techniques
known in the art of guidewire manufacture. The proximal end of
distal core wire segment 50d is round (i.e., not swaged or
flattened) and is integral with the distal end of the transitional
core wire segment 50t. In this example, the transitional core wire
segment 50t comprises a tapered region on the distal end of
proximal wire segment 50p. The proximal core wire segment 50p is
formed of stainless steel wire having an outer diameter of
approximately 0.010 to approximately 0.013 inches and the
transitional core wire segment 50t tapers from the approximately
0.010 to approximately 0.013 inch diameter at its proximal end to
the approximately 0.006 to approximately 0.008 inch diameter at its
distal end where it attaches to the distal core wire segment 50d.
Since the distal core wire segment 50d is smaller in cross
sectional dimension than the proximal core wire segment 50d, the
distal portion 30 of the guidewire 10 is more flexible than the
mid-portion 32.
[0026] The sensor assembly 60 is mounted within the distal portion
30 of the guidewire. The sensor assembly 60 comprises a housing 62
that is laser cut from thin walled tubing made of stainless steel
or other alloy. The housing 62 is cut to form a helical side wall
42 and a cylindrical distal part 40. An electromagnetic coil 71
(FIG. 2A) is affixed by adhesive (e.g., epoxy), melted polymer or a
combination of these within the housing 62, and lead wires 70
extend from the electromagnetic coil 71, out of the proximal end of
the sensor housing 62, as seen in FIG. 3A. After the
electromagnetic coil has been placed and secured within the sensor
housing 62, an end plug 44 is inserted into the distal part 40 of
the sensor housing 62.
[0027] The sensor assembly 60 us then screwed into the distal end
of the outer coil 49 causing the helical side wall 42 of sensor
housing 62 to become frictionally engaged with adjacent
convolutions of the outer coil 49.
[0028] The lead wires 70a and 70b pass through the lumen 58 of
outer coil 49 into the proximal portion 34 where they are connected
to contacts 80a and 80b respectively. Contacts 80a and 80b comprise
bands of electrically conductive material that extends around coil
49, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 2C. Insulators 82 (e.g., bushings formed
of electrically insulating material such as PEBAX, adhesive,
polyimide or a combination of these) are disposed on either side of
each contact 80a, 80b. A proximal seal member 88 is disposed at the
proximal end of the guidewire 10 and the proximal end of the
proximal core wire segment 50p is received within such seal member
88.
[0029] The proximal portion 34 of the guidewire 10 is configured to
be inserted into the connector hub 14. The guidewire distal of the
electrical contacts can be coated with parylene, Teflon or
silicone.
Connector Hub Device
[0030] One possible example of the construction of connector hub 14
is shown in FIGS. 4 and 4A. This embodiment of the connector hub 14
comprises a molded plastic housing 90 having an opening 92 in its
distal end. Although not shown in the drawing, a retaining
mechanism such as a twist lock Tuohy-Borst silicone valve grip
mechanism can be located in opening 92. Such a mechanism can be
used to selectively grip the guidewire. The opening 92 leads to a
guidewire receiving recess 94 having first and second spring
electrodes 96a, 96b disposed at spaced apart locations that
correspond to the linear distance between the midpoints of contacts
80a, 80b of the guidewire 10. Wires 98 connect spring electrodes
96a, 96b to cable 100.
[0031] The guidewire receiving recess 94 terminates at its proximal
end in an abutment surface 101. As seen in FIG. 4A, the proximal
portion 34 of guidewire 10 is inserted through opening 92 and is
advanced into recess 94 until the proximal end of the guidewire
abuts against abutment surface 101, at which point, spring
electrode 96a will be touching contact 80a and spring electrode 96b
will be touching contact 80b. With the guidewire so inserted within
connector hub 14 and cable 100 connected to the image guidance
system, electrical energy from the image guidance system 16 is
delivered to the electromagnetic coil 71 mounted in the distal
portion 30 of guidewire 10. This enables real time tracking of the
location of the guidewire's distal portion 30 within the subject's
body.
[0032] After the guidewire 10 has been navigated (whether with the
aid of a guide 14) to a specific position within the subject's
body, the connector hub 14 may be removed from the proximal end of
the guidewire and a device (e.g., a balloon catheter, lavage
catheter, endoscope or various other working devices) may then be
advanced over the guidewire.
[0033] In some embodiments, an outer layer 84 may be selectively
disposed on a portion of the guidewire 10 to facilitate gripping
and rotating of the guidewire by an operator's gloved hand. In the
embodiment shown, this outer layer 84 extends over a proximal
segment (e.g., approximately 15 centimeters) of the mid-portion 32
of outer coil 49. When so positioned, the outer layer 84 will be
positioned on only the part of the guidewire that is typically
grasped by the operator during use. Thus, this outer layer 84 does
not impart additional rigidity to other regions of the guidewire
10. This is particularly useful in applications, such as the
transnasal application shown in FIG. 1, where the guidewire 10
extends on an upward angle as it exits the body. In such cases,
added rigidity will cause the guidewire to protrude more in the
upward direction rather than curving downwardly so as to be more
easily handled by the operator.
[0034] It is to be appreciated that the specific embodiment shown
in the drawings is merely one example of how the guidewire 10 and
connector hub 14 may be constructed. Many other variations are
possible. For example, in some other embodiments, the outer coil 49
of the guidewire 10 may not extend over the mid-portion 32. Rather,
the mid-portion 32 may be constructed of a core wire within a cable
wire tube, a polymer overlamination, a hypotube, a braided polymer
tube, or a helical coil.
[0035] It is to be further appreciated that the invention has been
described hereabove with reference to certain examples or
embodiments of the invention but that various additions, deletions,
alterations and modifications may be made to those examples and
embodiments without departing from the intended spirit and scope of
the invention. For example, any element or attribute of one
embodiment or example may be incorporated into or used with another
embodiment or example, unless to do so would render the embodiment
or example unsuitable for its intended use. All reasonable
additions, deletions, modifications and alterations are to be
considered equivalents of the described examples and embodiments
and are to be included within the scope of the following
claims.
* * * * *