Articulating tissue removal probe and methods of using the same
First Claim
1. A tissue removal probe, comprising:
- a probe shaft having a proximal shaft portion and a distal shaft portion coupled together at an interface, wherein the proximal and distal shaft portions are configured to be positioned relative to each other, at the interface, between an axially aligned relationship and an axially non-aligned relationship;
a drive shaft disposed within the probe shaft; and
a tissue removal element mounted to the drive shaft.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medical probe comprises a probe shaft having proximal and distal shaft portions, and an operative element, such as a tissue removal element, associated with the distal shaft portion. The proximal and distal shaft portions can be positioned relative to each other in an axially aligned relationship and an axially non-aligned relationship at the interface between the shaft portions. For example, the ends of the shaft portions that engage each other can be beveled, in which case, relative rotation of the shaft portions will cause the angle between the portions to vary. Or, the shaft portions can hinge relative to each other to vary the angle between them. Thus, it can be appreciated that the probe can be introduced along a straight path via a small opening within the patient, and then the probe shaft portions can be moved relative to each other to reach off-axis tissue. The probe may have a drive shaft that extends within the probe shaft and on which the operative element is mounted. The drive shaft may have proximal and distal rigid shaft portions and a linkage between the drive shaft portions, so that the drive shaft can bend when the probe shaft portions are placed in their axially non-aligned relationship.
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Citations
76 Claims
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1. A tissue removal probe, comprising:
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a probe shaft having a proximal shaft portion and a distal shaft portion coupled together at an interface, wherein the proximal and distal shaft portions are configured to be positioned relative to each other, at the interface, between an axially aligned relationship and an axially non-aligned relationship;
a drive shaft disposed within the probe shaft; and
a tissue removal element mounted to the drive shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A tissue removal probe, comprising:
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a probe shaft having a proximal shaft portion with a first beveled end, and a distal shaft portion with a second beveled end rotatably engaged with the first beveled end, whereby an angle between the shaft portions may be varied by rotating the shaft portions relative to each other;
a drive shaft disposed within the probe shaft; and
a tissue removal element mounted to the drive shaft. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A tissue removal probe, comprising:
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a probe shaft having proximal and distal shaft portions;
a hinge coupled between the proximal and distal shaft portions, whereby an angle between the shaft portions may be varied by hinging the shaft portions relative to each other;
a drive shaft disposed within the probe shaft; and
a tissue removal element mounted to the drive shaft. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of removing tissue from a patient using a probe having a probe shaft with proximal and distal shaft portions and a tissue removal element associated with the distal shaft portion, the method comprising:
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introducing the probe into the patient while the proximal and distal shaft portions are in an axially aligned relationship;
placing the proximal and distal shaft portions in an axially non-aligned relationship; and
moving the tissue removal element to remove the tissue while the proximal and distal shaft portions are in the axially non-aligned relationship. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A medical probe, comprising:
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a probe shaft having a proximal and distal shaft portions configured to rotate relative to each other;
an operative element associated with the distal shaft portion;
a rod disposed through the proximal shaft portion and fixedly coupled to the distal shaft portion, the rod comprising an obliquely extending slot; and
an actuator mounted to the proximal shaft portion in an axially sliding relationship, the actuator comprising a pin slidably engaged within the slot, whereby axial movement of the actuator rotates the distal shaft portion via the rod. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A medical probe, comprising:
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a probe shaft having proximal and distal rigid shaft portions;
a drive shaft rotatably disposed within the probe shaft, the drive shaft having a proximal rigid shaft portion associated with the proximal probe shaft portion, a distal rigid shaft portion associated with the distal probe shaft portion, and a linkage coupling the proximal and distal drive shaft portions; and
an operative element mounted to the distal drive shaft portion. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A medical probe, comprising:
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a probe shaft having a proximal shaft portion and a distal shaft portion coupled together at an interface, wherein the proximal and distal shaft portions are configured to be positioned relative to each other, at the interface, between an axially aligned relationship and an axially non-aligned relationship; and
an operative element associated with the distal shaft portion. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A medical probe, comprising:
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a probe shaft having a proximal shaft portion with a first beveled end, and a distal shaft portion with second beveled end rotatably engaged with the first beveled end, whereby an angle between the shaft portions may be varied by rotating the shaft portions relative to each other; and
an operative element associated with the distal shaft portion. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. A medical probe, comprising:
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a probe shaft having proximal and distal shaft portions;
a hinge coupled between the proximal and distal shaft portions, whereby an angle between the shaft portions may be varied by hinging the shaft portions relative to each other; and
an operative element associated with the distal shaft portion. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
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75. A method of performing a medical procedure on a patient using a probe having a probe shaft with proximal and distal shaft portions and an operative element associated with the distal shaft portion, comprising:
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introducing the probe into the patient while the proximal and distal shaft portions are in an axially aligned relationship;
placing the proximal and distal shaft portions in an axially non-aligned relationship; and
operating the operative element to perform the medical procedure on the tissue while the proximal and distal shaft portions are in the axially non-aligned relationship. - View Dependent Claims (76)
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Specification