CHECK VALVE VENTED STERILIZABLE POWERED SURGICAL HANDPIECE

• US 20130245615A1
• Filed: 03/13/2012
• Published: 09/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Koltz, Michael L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,245,042 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1622 Drill handpieces A61B17/1626, A61B17/1628 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1628 Motors; Power supplies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0813 Accessories designed for easy sterilising, i.e. re-usable
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/07 Steam

Abstract

A steam-sterilizable powered surgical handpiece provided with a check valve for venting of an interior cavity of the handpiece. The check valve may be configured to vent steam, steam condensate or contaminants from the interior cavity during a steam sterilization cycle. The check valve may be configured to open when subjected to steam sterilization parameters to prevent gas, liquid or contaminants from potentially degrading interior components of the handpiece.

Claims

1. A surgical handpiece comprising:

a housing defining an interior cavity;

a motor assembly disposed within the interior cavity;

an adapter coupled to the housing, the adapter configured to couple a surgical tool to the handpiece;

a check valve configured to provide fluid communication between the interior cavity and ambient air.

2. The surgical handpiece of claim 1 wherein the check valve comprises a valve mechanism.

3. The surgical handpiece of claim 2 wherein the valve mechanism comprises at least one of the group consisting of:

a ball, a spring, an umbrella, a duckbill, a diaphragm, a swing, a tilting disc, a lift, and a stop-check mechanism.

4. The surgical handpiece of claim 3 wherein the check valve is configured to assume an open state and a closed state and wherein when the check valve is further configured such that when in the open state, the interior cavity is open to ambient air and an evacuative flow of air is allowed to travel through the check valve in a direction out of the interior cavity.

5. The surgical handpiece of claim 4 wherein the check valve is configured such that in the closed state the check valve substantially seals the interior cavity from ambient air.

6. The surgical handpiece of claim 1 wherein the handpiece comprises a steam-sterilizable handpiece and further wherein the check valve is disposed adjacent the housing such that when subject to sterilization conditions, the check valve is configured to assume an open state to provide a vent for egress of a condensate from the interior cavity.

7. The surgical handpiece of claim 1 comprising a drive shaft extending from an exterior of the housing to the interior cavity, the drive shaft configured to supply a rotational force to the surgical tool.

8. The surgical handpiece of claim 1 wherein the surgical tool comprises one of:

a cutting member, a tap, a drill, a screw driver and a set screw break-off instrument.

9. The surgical handpiece of claim 1 wherein the adapter is a quick-connect adapter.

10. The surgical handpiece of claim 1 wherein the check valve further comprises a cartridge.

11. The surgical handpiece of claim 9 wherein the cartridge is integral with the housing.

12. The surgical handpiece of claim 1 wherein the check valve is replaceable.

13. The surgical handpiece of claim 1 wherein the handpiece comprises a power cable configured to couple to an external power source.

14. The surgical handpiece of claim 1 wherein the handpiece comprises a battery-powered device.

15. A powered surgical driver comprising:

a housing comprising a wall, the wall defining an interior cavity;

a drive shaft disposed through a portion of the housing wall, the drive shaft configured to receive a surgical tool;

a check valve disposed adjacent the housing wall, the check valve comprising a passageway;

wherein the check valve is configured such that when the check valve is in an open state the interior cavity is in fluid communication with the passageway and is open to air external to the housing.

16. The powered surgical driver of claim 15 wherein the check valve is configured to assume the open state when subjected to sterilization conditions whereby an interior cavity pressure exceeds an external pressure acting on the housing.

17. The powered surgical driver of claim 16 wherein the check valve in the open state is configured to allow an evacuative flow of air comprising an array of contaminants to travel through the passageway in a direction out of the interior cavity.

18. The powered surgical driver of claim 16 wherein the check valve is configured to assume a closed state when the external pressure is greater than the interior cavity pressure.

19. The powered surgical driver of claim 15 wherein the housing comprises an endcap and wherein the check valve is disposed in the endcap.

20. The powered surgical driver of claim 15 further comprising at least one seal for sealingly engaging the drive shaft with the housing wall.