Medical suction and irrigation device handpiece

• US 20070173760A1
• Filed: 09/26/2006
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allegiance Corporation (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Allegiance Corporation (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Milella, Michael, Fedenia, Adam, Visconti, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 9,259,519 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/131
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/221 Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2909 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32056 Surgical snare instruments for removing or smashing calculi A61B2017/2212; tonsillotomes A61B17/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/12 by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00389 Button or wheel for performing multiple functions, e.g. rotation of shaft and end effector
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00424 ergonomic, e.g. fitting in fist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00464 for use with different instruments with hole for different instruments A61B2017/22072
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 with irrigation system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/741 with means for varying suction manually
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/7413 by changing the cross-section of the line
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/743 by changing the cross-section of the line, e.g. flow regulating valves A61M1/7413 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/76 Handpieces specially for suction-irrigation A61M1/774, aspiration tips A61M1/84
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/774 Handpieces specially adapted for providing suction as well as irrigation, either simultaneously or independently
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6036 characterised by physical shape, e.g. array of activating switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6081 Colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0136 Handles therefor

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a medical device with a handpiece that provides enhanced comfort of use, maneuverability, and for a variety of hand-held options to the user. Embodiments of the invention include handpieces that include a grip panel comprised of a friction-enhancing material to facilitate gripping of the handpiece by an operator. In addition, embodiments of the invention include handpieces having a generally symmetrical configuration in order to facilitate grasping by an operator'"'"'s left or right hand.

Claims

1. A handpiece for a medical device, comprising:

an attachment structure along a front end of the handpiece configured for removably coupling to a medical instrument; and

a housing comprising;

a top surface defining at least one hole for receiving at least one button for controlling a function of the medical device;

a bottom base; and

an extension portion connected to the base and extending downwardly therefrom, the extension portion including a shoulder connected to the base by a narrowed neck portion;

wherein the base, the shoulder, and the narrowed neck portion define a concave shaped surface capable of receiving an operator'"'"'s finger.

2. The handpiece of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a rear protrusion located along a rear portion of the shoulder.

3. The handpiece of claim 2, wherein the rear protrusion includes wire retention structure extending upwardly from a top surface of the rear protrusion.

4. The handpiece of claim 3, wherein the wire retention structure comprises prongs configured to releasably engage a wire.

5. The handpiece of claim 1, wherein an exterior surface of the handpiece has a substantially symmetrical configuration relative to an imaginary plane that bisects the handpiece through the middle of the top surface, such that the handpiece accommodates an operator'"'"'s grip in the same manner regardless of whether an operator grasps the handpiece in a right hand or a left hand.

6. The handpiece of claim 1, wherein a front portion of the handpiece includes indentations located above the base on left and right sides of the handpiece.

7. The handpiece of claim 6, further comprising a medical instrument, and wherein a proximal portion of the medical instrument includes a rotatable element configured to control the angular orientation of the medical instrument, the rotatable element positioned to permit rotation by a finger of an operator'"'"'s hand positioned proximate an indentation.

8. The handpiece of claim 7, wherein the rotatable element comprises a rotatable collar including a plurality of fingertip tabs extending radially away from the collar.

9. The handpiece of claim 1, wherein a portion of an exterior surface of the housing includes a grip panel extending along a portion of a left side, a right side, or a back end of the housing, the grip panel being comprised of a material having a greater friction-enhancing property than a material of a portion of the housing adjacent the grip panel.

10. The handpiece of claim 1, wherein a rear portion of the housing is configured to accommodate suction and irrigation tubing.

11. The handpiece of claim 10, wherein the at least one button comprises a suction control button and an irrigation control button.

12. The handpiece of claim 11, wherein the at least one button comprises an electrocautery actuation button.

13. The handpiece of claim 12, wherein the suction control button, the irrigation control button, and the electrocautery actuation button are located along substantially the same linear path along the top surface of the housing.

14. The handpiece of claim 12, wherein the suction and irrigation control buttons are located along a first linear path, and wherein the electrocautery actuation button includes two buttons located along a second linear path substantially perpendicular to the first linear path along the top surface of the housing.

15. The handpiece of claim 1, wherein the width of the housing decreases toward a proximal end of the housing.

16. The handpiece of claim 1, wherein the shoulder has an underside surface having a generally concave shaped, curved surface.

17. A handpiece for a medical device, comprising:

an attachment structure along a front end of the handpiece configured for removably coupling to a medical instrument; and

a housing comprising;

a top surface defining at least one hole for receiving at least one button for controlling a function of the medical device; and

a grip panel extending along a left side, a right side, or a back end of the housing, the grip panel being comprised of a material having a greater friction-enhancing property than a material of a portion of the housing adjacent the grip panel;

wherein an exterior surface of the handpiece exhibits a substantially symmetrical configuration relative to an imaginary plane that bisects the handpiece through the middle of the top surface, such that the handpiece accommodates an operator'"'"'s grip in the same manner regardless of whether an operator grasps the handpiece in a right hand or a left hand.

18. The handpiece of claim 17, the handpiece further comprising:

a bottom base; and

an extension portion connected to the base and extending downwardly therefrom, the extension portion including a shoulder connected to the base by a narrowed neck portion;

wherein the base, the shoulder, and the narrowed neck portion define a concave shaped surface capable of receiving an operator'"'"'s finger.

19. The handpiece of claim 18, wherein the handpiece includes a rear protrusion located along a rear portion of the shoulder.

20. The handpiece device of claim 19, wherein the rear protrusion includes wire retention structure extending upwardly from a top surface of the rear protrusion.

21. The handpiece of claim 20, wherein the wire retention structure comprises prongs configured to releasably engage a wire.

22. The handpiece of claim 17, wherein a front portion of the handpiece includes indentations located above the base on left and right sides of the handpiece.

23. The handpiece of claim 22, further comprising a medical instrument, and wherein a proximal portion of the medical instrument includes a rotatable element configured to control the angular orientation of the medical instrument, the rotatable element positioned to permit rotation by a finger of an operator'"'"'s hand positioned proximate an indentation.

24. The handpiece of claim 23, wherein the rotatable element comprises a rotatable collar including a plurality of fingertip tabs extending radially away from the collar.

25. The handpiece of claim 17, wherein a rear portion of the housing is configured to accommodate suction and irrigation tubing.

26. The handpiece of claim 25, wherein the at least one button comprises a suction control button and an irrigation control button.

27. The handpiece of claim 26, wherein the at least one button comprises an electrocautery actuation button.

28. The handpiece of claim 27, wherein the suction control button, the irrigation control button, and the electrocautery actuation button are located along substantially the same linear path along the top surface of the housing.

29. The handpiece of claim 27, wherein the suction and irrigation control buttons are located along a first linear path, and wherein the electrocautery actuation button includes two buttons located along a second linear path substantially perpendicular to the first linear path along the top surface of the housing.

30. The handpiece of claim 17, wherein the width of the housing decreases toward a proximal end of the housing.

31. The handpiece of claim 18, wherein the shoulder has an underside surface having a generally concave shaped, curved surface.

32. A method for operating a medical device to perform a medical procedure, comprising:

providing a medical device comprising;

a medical instrument connected to a front end of a handpiece;

a handpiece including an attachment structure along a front end thereof configured for removably coupling to the medical instrument;

the handpiece further comprising a housing comprising;

a top surface defining at least one hole for receiving at least one button for controlling a function of the medical device;

a bottom base; and

an extension portion connected to the base and extending downwardly therefrom, the extension portion including a shoulder connected to the base by a narrowed neck portion;

wherein the base, the shoulder, and the narrowed neck portion define a concave shaped surface capable of receiving an operator'"'"'s finger;

grasping the handpiece with one of a left hand or a right hand such that the operator'"'"'s thumb rests over the control button, and an operator'"'"'s finger rests on the concave shaped surface, the handpiece capable of being grasped by the left hand or the right hand in the same manner;

positioning the medical instrument; and

actuating the control button to perform a medical procedure.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein actuating the control button comprises one of supplying suction or irrigation to the medical instrument.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein actuating the control button comprises providing electric current to the medical instrument.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein a proximal portion of the medical instrument includes a rotatable element configured to control the angular orientation of the medical instrument, the method further comprising rotating the rotatable element with a finger of the same hand used to grasp the handpiece in order to change the angular orientation of the medical instrument relative to the handpiece.

36. A method for operating a medical device to perform a medical procedure, comprising:

providing a medical device comprising;

a medical instrument connected to a front end of a handpiece;

a handpiece including an attachment structure along a front end thereof configured for removably coupling to the medical instrument;

the handpiece further comprising a housing comprising;

a top surface defining at least one hole for receiving at least one button for controlling a function of the medical device; and

a grip panel extending along a portion of a left side, a right side, or a back end of the housing, the grip panel being comprised of a material having a greater friction-enhancing property than a material of a portion of the housing adjacent the grip panel;

wherein an exterior surface of the handpiece exhibits a substantially symmetrical configuration relative to an imaginary plane that bisects the handpiece through the middle of the top surface;

grasping the handpiece with one of a left hand or a right hand such that the operator'"'"'s thumb rests over the control button, and an operator'"'"'s finger rests on the concave shaped surface, the handpiece capable of being grasped by the left hand or the right hand in the same manner;

positioning the medical instrument; and

actuating the control button to perform a medical procedure.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the handpiece includes a base and an extension portion connected to the base and including a shoulder having an underside surface having a generally concave shaped, curved surface, and wherein grasping the handpiece comprises receiving the concave shaped, curved surface of the shoulder within an operator'"'"'s palm within a valley between an operator'"'"'s thumb and index finger.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein actuating the control button comprises one of supplying suction or irrigation to the medical instrument.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein actuating the control button comprises providing electric current to the medical instrument.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein a proximal portion of the medical instrument includes a rotatable element configured to control the angular orientation of the medical instrument, the method further comprising rotating the rotatable element with a finger of the same hand used to grasp the handpiece in order to change the angular orientation of the medical instrument relative to the handpiece.

41. A handpiece for a medical device, comprising:

a right half and a left half configured to be coupled together to form a housing, an exterior surface of the right half being a substantially mirror image of an exterior surface of the left half, the right half and the left half when coupled together defining a first hole in the top surface of the housing for receiving a button of the handpiece, a second hole in a back end of the housing for receiving a tube, and a third hole in a front end of the housing for receiving a medical instrument.

42. The handpiece of claim 41, the housing further comprising:

a bottom base; and

an extension portion connected to the base and extending downwardly therefrom, the extension portion including a shoulder connected to the base by a narrowed neck portion;

wherein the base, the shoulder, and the narrowed neck portion define a concave shaped surface capable of receiving an operator'"'"'s finger.

43. The handpiece of claim 41, the housing further comprising:

a grip panel extending along a portion of a left side, a right side, or a back end of the housing, the grip panel being comprised of a material having a greater a friction-enhancing property than a material of a portion of the housing adjacent the grip panel.

44. The handpiece of claim 43, wherein the handpiece accommodates an operator'"'"'s grip in the same manner regardless of whether an operator grasps the handpiece in a right hand or a left hand.

45. A method for operating a medical device to perform a medical procedure, comprising:

providing a medical device comprising;

a medical instrument connected to a front end of a handpiece;

the handpiece including a right half and a left half configured to be coupled together to form a housing, an exterior surface of the right half being a substantially mirror image of an exterior surface of the left half, the right half and the left half when coupled together defining a first hole in a top surface of the housing for receiving a button of the handpiece, a second hole in a back end of the housing for receiving a tube, and a third hole in a front end of the housing for receiving the medical instrument;

grasping the handpiece with one of a left hand or a right hand, the handpiece capable of being grasped by the left hand or the right hand in the same manner;

positioning the medical instrument; and

actuating the control button to perform a medical procedure.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the handpiece includes a base and an extension portion connected to the base and including a shoulder having an underside surface having a generally concave shaped, curved surface, and wherein grasping the handpiece comprises receiving the concave shaped, curved surface of the shoulder within an operator'"'"'s palm within a valley between an operator'"'"'s thumb and index finger.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein actuating the control button comprises one of supplying suction or irrigation to the medical instrument.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein actuating the control button comprises providing electric current to the medical instrument.