Instrument for delivery of implant

• US 20040267304A1
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: McAdams, Danny E., Schwartz, Herbert E., Malaviya, Prasanna, Jacobs, Andrew M., Kemppainen, John W., Zannis, Anthony D., Clarke, Rhonda B., Day, Carolyn K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,559,941 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3468 for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00261 Discectomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00353 one mechanical instrument performing multiple functions, e.g. cutting and grasping
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00969 used for transplantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2926 Details of heads or jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2944 Translation of jaw members
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3872 Meniscus for implantation between the natural bone surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4618 of cartilage
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30471 connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30522 releasable, e.g. using a releasable ratchet
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4622 having the shape of a forceps or a clamp
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4635 using minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0091 connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type

Abstract

A surgical instrument has a main shaft underlying a slide member. The slide member is movable in a proximal-distal direction. The distal end of the slide member has an open position and a closed position. The closed position is spaced from the open position in the proximal-distal direction. There is a gap between the distal end of the slide member and the distal end of the main shaft when the instrument is in the open position. The gap is smaller when the instrument is in the closed position. An implant can be received in the gap and delivered to a damaged tissue site using the instrument. An implant protector can be used when delivering the implant with the instrument. A pivotable implant cover can be used to protect the implant instead of the slide member.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument for delivering an implant to a damaged tissue site comprising:

a main shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; and

a slide member juxtaposed with the main shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

wherein;

the surgical instrument has open and closed positions;

the slide member is movable in a proximal-distal direction with respect to the main shaft to move the surgical instrument between the open and closed positions, the distal end of the slide member having an open position when the surgical instrument is in the open position and a closed position when the surgical instrument is in the closed position, the closed position of the distal end of the slide member being spaced from the open position of the distal end of the slide member in the proximal-distal direction;

there is a gap between the distal end of the slide member and the distal end of the main shaft when the instrument is in the open position; and

there is a smaller gap between the distal end of the slide member and the distal end of the main shaft when the instrument is in the closed position.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the slide member is movable between the open position and closed position without pivoting the distal end of the slide member.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the distal end of the main shaft comprises a well.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the distal end of the slide member is tapered.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the distal end of the slide member has a top surface and the distal end of the main shaft has a bottom surface and wherein the distance between the top surface of the slide member and the bottom surface of the main shaft is greater when the instrument is in the open position than when the instrument is in the closed position.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5 wherein the maximum distance between the top surface of the slide member and the bottom surface of the shaft is less than 10 mm in both the open and closed positions.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1 in combination with a tubular implant protector.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the distal ends of the main shaft and slide member are curved.

9. A surgical instrument for delivering an implant to a damaged tissue site comprising:

a main shaft having a distal end shaped to define a well for receiving a substantial portion of the implant; and

a cover movable between a position substantially overlying the well to protect the implant to another position wherein a substantial part of the well is exposed.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 9 wherein the instrument includes a slide member and wherein the cover is defined by the distal end of the slide member.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 9 wherein the cover is pivotably connected to the main shaft.

12. A combination comprising a surgical instrument for delivering an implant to a damaged tissue site and an implant, wherein:

the implant includes an edge;

the surgical instrument includes a main shaft having a distal end and a slide member juxtaposed with the main shaft, the slide member having a distal end;

the edge of the implant being received between the distal end of the main shaft and the distal end of the slide member; and

the shape of the distal end of the main shaft and the shape of the distal end of the slide member follow the shape of the edge of the implant.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein the edge of the implant is an inner edge having a non-linear shape.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein the inner edge of the implant is curved and the distal ends of the main shaft and slide member have curved shaped following the curvature of the inner edge of the implant.

15. The combination of claim 13 wherein the implant is a meniscal implant.