Apparatus for trimming meniscus

• US 4,838,853 A
• Filed: 02/05/1987
• Issued: 06/13/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Interventional Technologies Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Parisi, Tulio T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): Costantino, Mario
• Application Number:
  US07/010,999
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 128/24 A, 128/305, 604/19, 604/22, 604/27, 604/35, 604/264, 604/272, 604/274
• US Class Current: 604/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1604 Chisels; Rongeurs; Punches; Stamps
• 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 17/320068 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0015 applied simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32007 with suction or vacuum means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320074 blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320078 Tissue manipulating surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 with irrigation system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0279 Cannula; Nozzles; Tips; their connection means

Abstract

Crystals are energized to vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency. The crystals are coupled to an insert having a body portion coaxial with the crystals so as to vibrate the insert at the ultrasonic frequency. At least one sharp cutting edge extends from one end of the body portion of the insert. The thickness of the insert may taper progressively from the body portion to the sharp cutting edge. The sharp cutting edge may actually constitute a pair of edges disposed in a scissor relationship. The cutting edge(s) may progressively converge to a sharp point. Alternately, the sharp cutting edge may be disposed at the inner periphery of an aperture. Instead of being vibrated at a single ultrasonic frequency, the insert may be vibrated at a pair of ultrasonic frequencies to impart a vibration of the insert simultaneously in the coaxial direction and in a direction perpendicular to the coaxial direction. The insert engages a meniscus to trim fragments from the meniscus. The fragments may be removed from the area of the meniscus by an aspirator which may be disposed in coaxial and enveloping relationship with the insert. The aspirator also acts to pull the partially removed fragments from the meniscus, thereby facilitating the continued operation of the sharp cutting edge(s) in removing the fragment from the meniscus.

Claims

1. In combination for trimming a meniscus,

means for providing a vacuum,

means for providing energy at a particular ultrasonic frequency,

the vacuum means being coaxial with the ultrasonic energy means,

an insert operatively coupled to the ultrasonic energy means coaxially with the ultrasonic energy means and communicating with the vacuum means to introduce the ultrasonic energy to the insert to vibrate the insert at the ultrasonic frequency at the position of the meniscus and to provide for the removal by the vacuum means of cut fragments of the meniscus,

the insert being provided with two sharp edges in spaced relationship to each other, the two sharp edges being separated by an indented portion, each of the sharp edges being provided with a tapered thickness extending to the sharp edge,

the operative coupling between the insert and the energy means being provided by a pair of body members disposed at opposite ends of the energy means,

a housing,

a connecting tube coupled at its opposite ends to the housing and to the body member closest to the insert,

the connecting tube, the energy means and the body members being disposed within the housing, and

the insert, the housing, the connecting tube, the energy means and the body members being provided with axial opening communicating with one another to provide for the axial introduction of the vacuum from the vacuum means to the sharp edge of the insert.

2. In combination for trimming a meniscus,

an insert having an axially extending body portion and having two sharp edges separated by an indented portion, each of the sharp edges being provided with a tapered thickness extending to the sharp edge at the end of the body portion, the insert having a thickness tapering progressively from the body portion to the cutting edge, the insert having an axial opening and provided with an aperture at the end of the body portion and the sharp edge being provided at the aperture in the insert,

means for providing energy at an ultrasonic frequency, the energy means being axially aligned with the insert and being coupled to the insert to drive the insert at the ultrasonic frequency, the energy means being provided with an axial opening,

means for pressing the body members against the energy means,

means disposed in axially aligned relationship with the insert for aspirating the fragments cut by the insert from the meniscus and being operative on the fragment being cut from the meniscus to separate such fragment from the remainder of the meniscus, the aspirating means including a pair of body members disposed on opposite sides of the energy means and being provided with an axial opening,

a connecting tube having an axial opening and disposed in the axial openings in the body members and the energy means and constructed to cooperate with the pressing means to retain the energy means and the body members in fixed relationship to one another, and

the axial openings in the insert, the energy means and the aspirating means communicating with one another.

3. In combination for trimming a meniscus,

an insert having an axially extending body portion and having a pair of sharp cutting edges at the end of the body portion, the insert having a thickness extending progressively from the body portion to the sharp cutting edges, the sharp cutting edges being separated by an indented portion, each of the sharp edges being provided with a tapered thickness extending to the sharp edge,

means disposed in coaxial relationship with the insert for vibrating the insert in the axial direction at an ultrasonic frequency, and

means disposed in coaxial relationship with the insert for aspirating the fragments removed from the meniscus by the vibration of the insert at the ultrasonic frequency,

the aspirating means including a pair of body members disposed at opposite ends of the vibrating means,

the vibrating mean, the insert and the aspirating means including the body members being provided with axial openings communicating with one another, and

the aspirating means also including a connecting tube extending through the axial openings in the body members and the vibrating means and operatively coupled to one of the body members to retain the body members and the vibrating means in a fixed relationship to one another, the connecting tube being provided with an axial opening communicating with the axial openings in the insert, the vibrating means and the aspirating means.

4. In a combination as set forth in claim 3,

the insert being tapered progressively from the body portion to the sharp cutting edges,

a housing for holding the insert, the vibrating means and the aspirating means, and

means associated with the housing and co-operating with the connecting tube to hold the vibrating means and the body members in abutting relationship.

5. In a combination as set forth in claim 4,

the sharp cutting edges being shaped to define sharp points, and

a spring axially disposed within the housing in abutting relationship to one of the body members to enhance the vibrations of the insert.

6. In a combination as set forth in claim 4,

the sharp cutting edges being bent to point toward each other.