Retractable Separating Systems and Methods

• US 20080154293A1
• Filed: 12/22/2006
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spectranetics Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Spectranetics Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Taylor, Kevin D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,961,551 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/170
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32053 Punch like cutting instruments, e.g. using a cylindrical or oval knife A61B17/326 takes precedence; trepans A61B17/1695; for use on the cornea A61F9/007
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320758 with a rotating cutting instrument, e.g. motor driven A61B17/320725, A61B17/32075 and A61B17/320783 take precedence; for removing intra-ocular material A61F9/00763; endoscopic rotatable cutting instruments A61B17/32002
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00336 with a protective sleeve, e.g. retractable or slidable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320024 Morcellators, e.g. having a hollow cutting tube with an annular cutter for morcellating and removing tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320741 for stripping the intima or the internal plaque from a blood vessel, e.g. for endarterectomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0811 for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/0578 having means for removal or extraction

Abstract

A method for detaching an object from a patient includes providing a tool having a sheath, and a separating assembly operably coupled to a distal end of the sheath. The separating assembly includes a separator moveably coupled to a tip via a threadable connection. The separating assembly is placed near patient tissue that is attached to the object, the sheath is rotated to move the separator distal to the tip, and the separator is applied to the patient tissue that is attached to the object, so as to separate the tissue. A separating system includes a sheath, and a separator threadably coupled with a distal end of the sheath. The separator is adapted to switch between a first configuration where a separating means is deployed, and a second configuration where the separating means is undeployed.

Claims

1. A method for separating an object from a patient, comprising:

providing a tool comprising a sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, and a separating assembly operably coupled to the distal end of the sheath, wherein the separating assembly comprises a tip and a separator having a separating mechanism, and the separating mechanism of the separator is undeployed;

placing the separating assembly near patient tissue that is attached to the object;

rotating the sheath to induce relative rotational movement between the separator and the tip so as to deploy the separating means of the separator; and

applying the deployed separating mechanism to the patient tissue that is attached to the object, so as to separate the tissue from the object.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein rotation of the sheath induces rotational movement of the separator relative to the tip.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein rotation of the sheath induces rotational movement of the tip relative to the separator.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising engaging a contact region of the separating assembly with a site adjacent to or on the patient tissue.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the contact region is disposed on the separator.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the contact region is disposed on the tip.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein rotation of the sheath induces relative movement between the tip and the separator via a threaded, a slot and key, or a cam connection that couples the tip and the separator.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the object comprises a member selected from the group consisting of a pacing lead, a wire, a catheter, and an implant.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the patient tissue comprises scar tissue.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising visualizing a marker disposed on the separating assembly under fluoroscopy.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein rotating the sheath comprises engaging the proximal end of the sheath.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the separating assembly comprises a member selected from the group consisting of a cutting assembly, a dilating assembly, and a stripping assembly.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the separator comprises a member selected from the group consisting of a cutter, a dilator, and a stripper.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the separating mechanism comprises a member selected from the group consisting of a cutting mechanism, a dilating mechanism, and a stripping mechanism.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the separating mechanism comprises a blade.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising rotating the sheath to induce relative rotational movement between the separator and the tip so as to undeploy the separating mechanism of the separator.

17. A separating system for detaching an object from a patient, comprising:

a sheath having a distal end; and

a separating assembly coupled with the distal end of the sheath, the separating assembly comprising a tip and a separator having a separating mechanism;

wherein the separating assembly is adapted to switch between a deployed configuration where a portion of the separating mechanism is exposed and an undeployed configuration where the portion of the separating mechanism is unexposed.

18. The separating system according to claim 17, wherein the distal end of the sheath is fixable relative to the tip.

19. The separating system according to claim 17, wherein the distal end of the sheath is fixable relative to the separator.

20. The separating system according to claim 17, wherein the separator and the tip are coupled via a threaded, a slot and key, or a cam connection.

21. The separating system according to claim 17, wherein the separator and tip are configured for relative rotational movement.

22. The separating system according to claim 17, further comprising a contact region, wherein the contact region is either disposed on the separator and adapted to releasably fix the separator relative to the patient, or disposed on the tip and adapted to releasably fix the tip relative to the patient.

23. The separating system according to claim 22, wherein the contact region comprises a member selected from the group consisting of a sand blasted surface, a grooved surface, a coated surface, a knurled surface, a holed surface, a pitted surface, and a notched surface.

24. The separating system according to claim 17, wherein in the deployed configuration the separating mechanism extends past the tip a distance in the range from about 0.5 mm to about 3 mm.

25. The separating system according to claim 17, wherein the separating assembly comprises a member selected from the group consisting of a cutting assembly, a dilating assembly, and a stripping assembly.

26. The separating system according to claim 17, wherein the separator comprises a member selected from the group consisting of a cutter, a dilator, and a stripper.

27. The separating system according to claim 17, wherein the separating mechanism comprises a member selected from the group consisting of a cutting mechanism, a dilating mechanism, and a stripping mechanism.

28. The separating system according to claim 17, wherein the separating mechanism comprises a blade

29. A method for detaching an object from a patient, comprising:

providing a tool comprising a sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, and a separating assembly coupled with the distal end of the sheath, wherein the separating assembly comprises a tip and a separator having a separating mechanism, and the separating assembly is in an undeployed configuration;

placing the separating assembly near patient tissue that is attached to the object;

frictionally engaging a contact region of the separating assembly with a site adjacent to or on the patient tissue;

rotating the sheath so as to deploy the separating assembly while the contact region remains frictionally engaged with the site adjacent to or on the patient tissue; and

applying the separating mechanism to the patient tissue that is attached to the object, so as to separate the tissue from the object.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the contact region comprises a member selected from the group consisting of a sand blasted surface, a grooved surface, a coated surface, a knurled surface, a holed surface, a pitted surface, and a notched surface, and frictionally engaging the contact region with the site comprises forcing the contract region against the site.

31. The method according to claim 29, further comprising rotating the sheath so as to undeploy the separating assembly.