Arthroscopic tool combining five functions in one

• US 5,290,279 A
• Filed: 05/17/1993
• Issued: 03/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AOB Properties Limited
• Original Assignee: Meditron Devices, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Bonati, Alfred O., Ware, Philip J.
• Primary Examiner(s): ASCHENBRENNER, PETER
• Application Number:
  US08/062,506
• Time in Patent Office: 288 Days
• Field of Search: 604/4, 604/6, 606/15, 606/13, 606/14, 606/16, 606/2, 606/3, 606/7, 606/10, 606/11, 606/12
• US Class Current: 606/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/317 for bones or joints, e.g. osteoscopes, arthroscopes

Abstract

A multi-function arthroscope has a laser channel, an irrigation tube, a suction tube, a rod lens, and optical fibers housed within a tubular casing. The operation site is illuminated by the optical fibers, and the physician views the illuminated site through the rod lens, performs laser surgery with laser radiation propagated by the laser channel, irrigates the site and cleans the rod lens with saline solution through the irrigation tube, and vacuums the debris with the suction tube, all in a single insertion of the arthroscope through a dilator tube. The respective distal ends of the optical fibers, rod lens, laser channel, irrigation tube, and the suction tube are positioned in different planes so that the suction tube extends in a distal direction further than the laser channel, the laser channel extends further than the irrigation tube, and the irrigation tube extends further than the rod lens. Connector members join the laser channel, the irrigation tube, the suction tube, and the optical fibers and rod lens to an external source of coherent light, an external source of saline solution under positive pressure, an external source of negative pressure, and an external source of incoherent light, respectively.

Claims

1. An arthroscope, comprising:

a tubular casing having a proximal end and a distal free end;

a laser channel means having a distal end disposed within said tubular casing, said laser channel means being disposed in light transmitting relation to a source of laser radiation external to said arthroscope;

an irrigation tube having a distal end disposed within said tubular casing, said irrigation tube being disposed in fluid communication with a source of liquid fluid under positive pressure external to said arthroscope;

a suction tube having a distal end disposed within said tubular casing, said suction tube having a proximal and disposed in fluid communication with a source of negative pressure external to said tool;

a lens for facilitating viewing of an operation site disposed at the proximal end of the tubular casing;

a rod lens means disposed within said tubular casing, said rod lens means being disposed in alignment with said lens;

a plurality of optical fibers disposed within said tubular casing, said optical fibers occupying interstitial space in said tubular casing between said laser channel, said irrigation tube, said suction tube, and said rod lens, said optical fibers being in light transmitting relation with a source of light external to said tool;

said irrigation tube distal end disposed, by a predetermined distance, in leading relation to said rod lens distal end so that irrigation fluid from said irrigation tube cleans said rod lens;

said laser channel disposed, by a predetermined distance, in leading relation to the distal end of said rod lens so that smoke produced by said laser channel does not impair the physician'"'"'s view through said rod lens;

said suction channel disposed, by a predetermined distance, in leading relation to the distal end of said laser channel so that irrigation fluid is vacuumed by said suction tube and thus does not interfere with operation of said laser channel;

whereby said arthroscope has utility in arthroscopic surgery when a physician views the operation site through said lens and said rod lens, illuminates the site through said optical fibers, performs a surgical operation with laser radiation transmitted to the site through said laser channel, irrigates the site with liquid fluid transmitted to the site through said irrigation tube, and vacuums the site through said suction tube.

2. The arthroscope of claim 1, further comprising a base means having a predetermined width, said base means at least in part receiving said laser channel, said irrigation tube, said suction tube, said rod lens, and said optical fibers.

3. The arthroscope of claim 2, further comprising a first connector means for detachably connecting a source of laser radiation external to said arthroscope to said laser channel, said first connector means being mounted to said base means.

4. The arthroscope of claim 3, further comprising a second connector means for detachably securing an external source of an irrigating solution under positive pressure to said irrigation tube, said second connector means being mounted to said base means.

5. The arthroscope of claim 4, further comprising an irrigation control valve, formed in said second connector means, for controlling the flow rate of liquid fluid introduced to the operation site through said irrigation tube.

6. The arthroscope of claim 5, further comprising a third connector means for detachably securing an external source of negative pressure to said suction tube, said third connector means being mounted to said base means.

7. The arthroscope of claim 6, further comprising a suction control valve, formed in said third connector means, for controlling the flow rate of liquid fluid from said operation site through said suction tube.

8. The arthroscope of claim 7, wherein said rod lens is disposed in parallel relation to said tubular casing along the entire extent of said tubular casing.

9. The arthroscope of claim 8, wherein said laser channel has a proximal end that is disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to said base means.

10. The arthroscope of claim 9, wherein said irrigation tube has a proximal end disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to said base means.

11. The arthroscope of claim 10, wherein said suction tube has a proximal end disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to said base means.

12. The arthroscope of claim 11, further comprising a fourth connector means for detachably connecting an external source of light to said rod lens and to said optical fibers, said fourth connector means being mounted to said base means.

13. The arthroscope of claim 12, wherein said fourth connector means is disposed normal to a preselected surface of said base member.

14. The arthroscope of claim 13, further comprising a prism disposed in operative relation to said fourth connector means, said prism being operative to transmit light from said external source of light to said rod lens and to said optical fibers.

15. The arthroscope of claim 14, further comprising adjustment means for adjusting the focus of said lens.

16. The arthroscope of claim 15, wherein said optical fibers are encased within an adhesive means.

17. The arthroscope of claim 16, wherein said adhesive means forms a cylindrical layer around said optical fibers and wherein said adhesive means further adheres said optical fibers to said tubular casing.

18. The arthroscope of claim 17, wherein said tubular casing is a stainless steel tube.

19. The arthroscope of claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance by which said irrigation tube leads said rod lens distal end is about one-half mm.

20. The arthroscope of claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance by which said distal end of said laser channel leads said distal end of said rod lens is about two mm.

21. The arthroscope of claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance by which said suction tube distal end leads said rod lens distal end is about five mm.

22. An arthroscope, comprising:

a tubular casing;

a laser channel disposed within said tubular casing;

an irrigation tube disposed within said tubular casing;

a suction tube disposed within said tubular casing;

a rod lens disposed within said tubular casing;

said laser channel, said irrigation tube, said suction tube, and said rod lens being disposed in substantially parallel relation to one another;

a plurality of optical fibers disposed between and around said laser channel, said irrigation tube, said suction tube, and said rod lens;

a cylindrical layer of adhesive disposed around said optical fibers;

said adhesive securing said optical fibers to said tubular casing;

a base means mounted on said tubular casing;

a first connector means, mounted on said base means, for detachably connecting a proximal end of said laser channel to an external source of laser radiation;

a second connector means, mounted on said base means, for detachably connecting a proximal end of said irrigation tube to an external source of irrigating liquid fluid under positive pressure;

a third connector means, mounted on said base means, for detachably connecting a proximal end of said suction tube to an external source of negative pressure;

a fourth connector means, mounted on said base means, for connecting respective proximal ends of said rod lens and said optical fibers to an external source of electromagnetic radiation;

an adjustable lens means disposed in light transmitting relation to said rod lens;

said irrigation tube distal end disposed, by a predetermined distance, in leading relation to said rod lens distal end so that irrigation fluid from said irrigation tube cleans said rod lens;

said laser channel disposed, by a predetermined distance, in leading relation to the distal end of said rod lens so that smoke produced by said laser channel does not impair the physician'"'"'s view through said rod lens;

said suction channel disposed, by a predetermined distance, in leading relation to the distal end of said laser channel so that irrigation fluid is vacuumed by said suction tube and thus does not interfere with operation of said laser channel;

whereby said arthroscope performs multiple functions and is employed to perform multiple surgical procedures with a single insertion through a single incision.

23. The arthroscope of claim 22, wherein the predetermined distance by which said irrigation tube leads said rod lens distal end is about one-half mm.

24. The arthroscope of claim 22, wherein the predetermined distance by which said distal end of said laser channel leads said distal end of said rod lens is about two mm.

25. The arthroscope of claim 22, wherein the predetermined distance by which said suction tube distal end leads said rod lens distal end is about five mm.