Apparatus for inking a surgical instrument

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for inking a surgical instrument are provided herein. In some embodiments, and apparatus for inking a surgical instrument includes: an inking capsule, comprising a base and a vertical wall extending from the base to define a cavity, the inking capsule having a first opening opposite the base; an ink reservoir disposed within the cavity, the ink reservoir having ink disposed therein and comprising a second opening proximate a top portion of the ink reservoir, and a penetrable seal covering the second opening to seal the ink in the ink reservoir when the seal is in an unbroken state.

1 . An apparatus for inking a surgical instrument, comprising:
 an inking capsule, comprising a base and a wall extending from the base to define a cavity, the inking capsule having a first opening opposite the base;   an ink reservoir disposed within the cavity, the ink reservoir having ink disposed therein; and   a penetrable seal covering the first opening to hermetically seal the ink within the inking capsule when the seal is in an unbroken state.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a holder disposed within the cavity and comprising a body dimensioned to receive the ink reservoir and constrain the lateral movement thereof with respect to the body.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the holder is affixed to the inking capsule and constrains lateral movement of the ink reservoir with respect to the inking capsule. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the holder further comprises at least one protrusion disposed between the body and the vertical wall of the inking capsule to prevent lateral movement of the holder within the inking capsule. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the seal is affixed to the first opening of the inking capsule. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ink reservoir comprises a second opening proximate a top portion of the ink reservoir and the seal is affixed to the second opening. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the seal further comprises a visible indicating boundary defining an insertion region aligned with and over the ink reservoir. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a cap shaped to cover the first opening of the inking capsule and the seal thereon, wherein the cap includes a third opening aligned with the insertion region of the seal such that when the cap is disposed on the inking capsule, the third opening allows access to the insertion region. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap shaped to cover the first opening of the inking capsule and the seal thereon. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ink reservoir further comprises a substrate disposed in a volume of the ink reservoir, the ink dispersed in the substrate, wherein the substrate allows movement of the surgical instrument into and within the substrate. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for inking a surgical instrument, comprising:
 an inking capsule comprising a base and a first opening opposite the base;   an ink reservoir disposed within the inking capsule, the ink reservoir having ink disposed therein and comprising a second opening proximate a top portion of the inking capsule; and   a penetrable seal covering the first opening to hermetically seal the ink in the inking capsule when the seal is in an unbroken state.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a cap shaped to cover the first opening of the inking capsule and the seal thereon.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a holder disposed within the inking capsule and comprising a body dimensioned to receive the ink reservoir and constrain the lateral movement thereof with respect to the inking capsule.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the seal is affixed to the first opening of the inking capsule or to the second opening of the inking capsule. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the seal further comprises a visible indicating boundary defining an insertion region aligned with and over the second opening of the ink reservoir. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a cap shaped to cover the first opening of the inking capsule and the seal thereon, wherein the cap includes a third opening that is aligned with the insertion region of the seal such that when the cap is disposed on the inking capsule, the third opening allows access to the insertion region. 
     
     
         17 . A method of inking a portion of a surgical instrument, the method comprising:
 aligning the surgical instrument with an apparatus for inking the surgical instrument, the apparatus comprising:
 an inking capsule having a base and a first opening opposite the base; 
 an ink reservoir disposed within the inking capsule, the ink reservoir having ink disposed therein; and 
 a penetrable seal covering the first opening to hermetically seal the ink in the inking capsule when the seal is in an unbroken state; 
   breaking the seal with the surgical instrument; and   contacting the portion of the surgical instrument with the ink disposed in the ink reservoir, causing the ink to be disposed on the portion of the surgical instrument.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 removing a cap of the apparatus for inking the surgical instrument to reveal the penetrable seal prior to breaking the seal.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 moving the portion of the surgical instrument through an opening formed in a cap of the apparatus for inking the surgical instrument to break the penetrable seal without removing the cap.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 aligning the portion of the surgical instrument with an indicating boundary visible over an insertion region of the penetrable seal prior to breaking the seal.