Suction sleeve and interventional devices having such a suction sleeve

• US 20050124986A1
• Filed: 12/09/2003
• Published: 06/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Encapsule Medical, LLC
• Original Assignee: Rubicor Medical Incorporated (Encapsule Medical Devices LLC)
• Inventors: Vetter, James W., Anderson, Scott C., Brounstein, Daniel M., Moshe, Meir H., Daniel, Sean C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,329,253 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/39
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/148 having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/007 Aspiration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/008 for smoke evacuation

Abstract

A suction sleeve is configured to couple to the shaft of an RF device to evacuate hot gasses, fluids and/or other aspirates. The suction sleeve may be configured to be disposed coaxially around the shaft between the first end of the shaft and the work element (e.g., an RF cutting element) thereof. The suction sleeve defines a suction port and a plurality of openings near the work element, and is configured to enable suction in through the plurality of openings and out through the suction port.

Claims

1. A soft tissue interventional device, comprising:

a handle;

a shaft defining a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the handle;

a work element coupled to the second end of the shaft, and a suction sleeve disposed coaxially around the shaft between the first end of the shaft and the work element, the suction sleeve defining a suction port and a plurality of openings near the work element, the suction sleeve being configured to enable suction in through the plurality of openings and out through the suction port.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the suction sleeve defines a circumference around the shaft and wherein the plurality of openings is defined around the circumference of the suction sleeve.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the plurality of openings overlap around the circumference of the suction sleeve.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the suction sleeve defines a first external surface and a second external surface disposed at a non-zero angle relative to first external surface, and wherein at least one of the plurality of openings is defined within the first external surface and at least one of the plurality of openings is defined within the second external surface.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the at least one of the plurality of openings defined within the first external surface overlaps in extent with the at least one of the plurality of openings defined within the second external surface.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of openings defines a generally cloverleaf shape.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the suction port is defined within the suction sleeve adjacent the first end of the shaft.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the suction sleeve is configured to be freely rotatable about the shaft.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the sleeve includes an internal surface that defines an interior sleeve lumen dimensioned so as to allow the shaft to freely rotate therethrough.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the plurality of openings are open to the interior sleeve lumen.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the interior sleeve lumen is dimensioned so as to allow free passage of aspirates through the plurality of openings and out the suction port.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the work element is configured to cut soft tissue.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the work element is energizable with RF energy.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the suction sleeve is configured to be removable from the shaft.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the suction sleeve is configured to be positioned on the shaft without decoupling the shaft from the handle.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the suction sleeve is at least partially transparent.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises a first portion and a second portion, the second portion being configured to slide coaxially relative to the first portion to assume a first position in which the sleeve has a first length and second positions in which the length of the sleeve is greater than the first length.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the second portion telescopes with the first portion.

19. A suction sleeve for a soft tissue interventional device that includes a shaft, the suction sleeve comprising a tapered portion defining a predetermined extent, the tapered portion defining a first external surface and a first internal surface, the first internal surface defining an internal axial lumen spanning the predetermined extent, the internal axial lumen being configured to receive the shaft, the first external surface defining a suction port and a plurality of openings that open to the internal axial lumen.

20. The suction sleeve of claim 19, wherein tapered portion defines a second external surface disposed at a non-zero angle relative to the first external surface and wherein both the first and second external surfaces define openings that open to the internal axial lumen.

21. The suction sleeve of claim 20, wherein the openings defined within the first external surface overlap with the openings defined within the second external surface.

22. The suction sleeve of claim 19, wherein the plurality of openings are shaped and dimensioned so as to enable free passage of aspirates from a cavity within soft tissue through the internal axial lumen and out through the suction port.

23. The suction sleeve of claim 19, wherein at least one of the plurality of openings defines a generally cloverleaf shape.

24. The suction sleeve of claim 19, wherein the suction sleeve is at least partially transparent.

25. The suction sleeve of claim 19, wherein the tapered portion includes a first sleeve half and a second sleeve half, the first sleeve half being configured to mate with the second sleeve half.

26. The suction sleeve of claim 25, further comprising at least one integral hinge bridging the first sleeve half to the second sleeve half.

27. The suction sleeve of claim 25, wherein the tapered portion includes at least one sleeve mating assembly.

28. The suction sleeve of claim 25, wherein the at least one sleeve mating assembly is configured to removably mate the first sleeve half to the second sleeve half.

29. The suction sleeve of claim 19, wherein the sleeve comprises a first portion and a second portion, the second portion being configured to slide coaxially with the first portion to assume a first position in which the sleeve has a first length and second positions in which the length of the sleeve is greater than the first length.

30. The suction sleeve of claim 29, wherein the second portion telescopes within the first portion.

31. A method for cutting a specimen of soft tissue, comprising the steps of:

providing a device including a handle, a shaft coupled to the handle and defining a first end and a second end, a cutting element coupled to the second end of the shaft, and a suction sleeve disposed coaxially around the shaft between the first end of the shaft and the cutting element, the suction sleeve defining a suction port and a plurality of openings near the work element, the suction sleeve being configured to enable suction in through the plurality of openings and out through the suction port;

inserting the device in the soft tissue;

cutting the tissue specimen using the cutting element, and

applying suction to the suction port during the cutting step.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the cutting element is energizable with RF energy and wherein the cutting step includes a step of applying RF energy to the cutting element.