Angled rotating surgical instrument
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An angled motor-driven rotating surgical instrument, comprising:
- a motor assembly;
a rotating cutter assembly;
a rigid elongated tubular sheath having a proximal end configured to be coupled to said motor assembly and a distal end including means for rotatably supporting a rotating cutter assembly, said tubular sheath having a bend formed intermediate said ends;
a torque-transmitting member received within said sheath and comprising a flexible section juxtaposed to the bend in said sheath;
said motor assembly including a coupling for receiving said proximal end of said sheath to apply torque to rotate said torque-transmitting member within and relative to said sheath; and
wherein said rotating cutter assembly is engaged with the distal end of said torque-transmitting member for rotation therewith;
wherein said flexible section of said torque-transmitting member comprises;
a tubular inner member having a plurality of substantially circumferential slits formed therein to allow flexibility of said inner member while it is being rotated within said bend in said tubular sheath; and
a tubular sleeve of a polymeric material secured to said inner member within said tubular sheath.
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Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
A thin-walled sleeve of polymeric or similar material is heat shrunk or otherwise closely fitted over a flexible torque-transmitting shaft in an angled rotary surgical instrument. The sheath primarily provides a seal to maintain aspiration or suction through the porous flexible shaft, and also provides an additional bearing surface on the distal end of the flexible shaft, facilitates insertion and removal of the flexible shaft, and provides a low friction surface between the flexible shaft and outer sheath of the instrument.
970 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An angled motor-driven rotating surgical instrument, comprising:
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a motor assembly; a rotating cutter assembly; a rigid elongated tubular sheath having a proximal end configured to be coupled to said motor assembly and a distal end including means for rotatably supporting a rotating cutter assembly, said tubular sheath having a bend formed intermediate said ends; a torque-transmitting member received within said sheath and comprising a flexible section juxtaposed to the bend in said sheath; said motor assembly including a coupling for receiving said proximal end of said sheath to apply torque to rotate said torque-transmitting member within and relative to said sheath; and wherein said rotating cutter assembly is engaged with the distal end of said torque-transmitting member for rotation therewith; wherein said flexible section of said torque-transmitting member comprises; a tubular inner member having a plurality of substantially circumferential slits formed therein to allow flexibility of said inner member while it is being rotated within said bend in said tubular sheath; and a tubular sleeve of a polymeric material secured to said inner member within said tubular sheath. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An endoscopic instrument comprising:
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a rigid elongated tubular sheath having a proximal end and a distal end; and a shaft member disposed within said sheath, said shaft member comprising; a hollow tubular member for conducting aspirating fluid from said distal end to said proximal end; and a thin-walled sleeve of fluid-impermeable material fitted over said hollow tubular member to seal against leakage of the aspirating fluid from said tubular member; a drive motor unit; a cutter assembly; wherein the proximal end of said sheath is mounted on said drive motor unit; wherein said cutter assembly is supported at the distal end of said sheath; wherein said shaft member is a torque-transmitting member coupled to receive torque from said drive motor unit and to transmit the received torque to said cutter assembly; and wherein said sheath has a bend intermediate said proximal and distal ends, and wherein said hollow tubular member is flexible to adapt to said bend in said sheath.
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13. A method of manufacture and use of an angled motor-driven rotating surgical instrument, comprising the steps of:
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attaching a proximal end of a rigid tubular sheath to a drive motor; supporting a rotating cutter assembly at a distal end of said tubular sheath; forming a bend in said tubular sheath intermediate said proximal and distal ends; disposing a tubular torque-transmitting member within said tubular sheath such that a flexible torque-transmitting section of the torque-transmitting member is juxtaposed to the bend in said tubular sheath; coupling said drive motor to said torque-transmitting member to rotate said torque-transmitting member relative to and within said tubular sheath; assembling a sleeve of a polymeric material over said flexible section of said torque-transmitting member; and whereby said torque-transmitting member with said polymeric sleeve assembled thereover is disposed within and is rotatable relative to said tubular sheath. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification