Meniscectomy knife
First Claim
1. A meniscectomy knife comprisinga handle having distal and proximal ends and a handle axis,a guide tube affixed to the distal end of the handle and extending away from the handle along the handle axis, at least a portion of the guide tube being preformed to include an arc portion defined by a cutting radius, the arc portion having a first surface and a slot extending along at least a portion thereof to define a cutting trace therein,an actuating wire disposed within the guide tube and movable therethrough along a longitudinal axis thereof,motion producing means disposed within said handle for imparting longitudinal motion to the actuating wire along the actuating wire axis, a proximal end of the actuating wire being affixed to said motion producing means such that activation of said motion producing means causes longitudinal movement of the actuating wire within the guide tube along the actuating wire axis, a distal end of the actuating wire moving along the arcuate path defined by the arc portion of the guide tube, anda cutting element affixed to the distal end of the actuating wire and extending through the slot in the arc portion of the guide tube, the cutting element being movable along the cutting trace.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A meniscectomy knife includes a preformed cutting trace through which a cutting element moves in response to motion producing means disposed on a handle. The cutting trace defines an arc having a size and shape which closely correspond to the lines of stress along a meniscus in the meniscal region of a human knee joint.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A meniscectomy knife comprising
a handle having distal and proximal ends and a handle axis, a guide tube affixed to the distal end of the handle and extending away from the handle along the handle axis, at least a portion of the guide tube being preformed to include an arc portion defined by a cutting radius, the arc portion having a first surface and a slot extending along at least a portion thereof to define a cutting trace therein, an actuating wire disposed within the guide tube and movable therethrough along a longitudinal axis thereof, motion producing means disposed within said handle for imparting longitudinal motion to the actuating wire along the actuating wire axis, a proximal end of the actuating wire being affixed to said motion producing means such that activation of said motion producing means causes longitudinal movement of the actuating wire within the guide tube along the actuating wire axis, a distal end of the actuating wire moving along the arcuate path defined by the arc portion of the guide tube, and a cutting element affixed to the distal end of the actuating wire and extending through the slot in the arc portion of the guide tube, the cutting element being movable along the cutting trace.
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2. A meniscectomy knife comprising
a hollow handle having distal and proximal ends and a handle axis, a retractable plunger disposed within the handle and movable therein along the handle axis, a guide tube affixed to the distal end of the handle and extending away from the handle along the handle axis, at least a portion of the guide tube being preformed to include an arc portion defined by a cutting radius, the arc portion having a first surface and a slot extending along at least a portion thereof to define a cutting trace therein, an actuating wire disposed within the guide tube and movable therethrough along a longitudinal axis thereof, a proximal end of the actuating wire being affixed to the distal end of the retractable plunger such that movement of the plunger along the handle axis causes longitudinal movement of the actuating wire within the guide tube along the actuating wire axis, a distal end of the actuating wire moving along the arcuate path defined by the arc portion of the guide tube, and a cutting element affixed to the distal end of the actuating wire and extending through the slot in the arc portion of the guide tube, the cutting element being movable along the crating trace.
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3. A meniscectomy knife comprising
a hollow handle having distal and proximal ends and a handle axis, a guide tube affixed to the distal end of the handle and extending away from the handle along the handle axis, at least a portion of the guide tube being optionally preformed to include an offset portion defined by an offset distance from the handle axis and an arc portion defined by a cutting radius, the arc portion having a first surface and a slot extending along at least a portion thereof to define a cutting trace therein, an actuating wire disposed within the guide tube and movable therethrough along a longitudinal axis thereof, motion producing means disposed within said handle for imparting longitudinal motion to the actuating wire along the actuating wire axis, a proximal end of the actuating wire being affixed to the motion producing means such that activation of the motion producing means causes longitudinal movement of the actuating wire within the guide tube along the actuating wire axis, a distal end of the actuating wire moving along the arcuate path defined by the arc portion of the guide tube, and a cutting element affixed to the distal end of the actuating wire and extending through the slot in the arc portion of the guide tube, the cutting element being movable along the cutting trace.
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4. A meniscectomy knife comprising
a hollow handle having distal and proximal ends and a handle axis, a retractable plunger disposed within the handle and movable therein along the handle axis, a guide tube affixed to the distal end of the handle and extending away from the handle along the handle axis, at least a portion of the guide tube being optionally preformed to include an offset portion defined by an offset distance from the handle axis and an arc portion defined by a cutting radius, the arc portion having a first surface and a slot extending along at least a portion thereof to define a cutting trace therein, an actuating wire disposed within the guide tube and movable therethrough along a longitudinal axis thereof, a proximal end of the actuating wire being affixed to the distal end of the retractable plunger such that movement of the plunger along the handle axis causes longitudinal movement of the actuating wire within the guide tube along the actuating wire axis, a distal end of the actuating wire moving along the arcuate path defined by the arc portion of the guide tube, and a cutting element affixed to the distal end of the actuating wire and extending through the slot in the arc portion of the guide tube, the cutting element being movable along the cutting trace.
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5. A meniscectomy knife for use with a handle having a handle actuating member comprising:
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a guide tube for affixing to the distal end of said handle, at least a portion of the guide tube being preformed to include an arc portion defined by a cutting radius, the arc portion having a first surface and a slot extending along at least a portion thereof to define a cutting trace therein, an actuating wire disposed within the guide tube and movable therethrough along a longitudinal axis thereof for affixing to said handle actuating member at the proximal end of said actuating wire, such that activation of said handle actuating member causes longitudinal movement of the actuating wire within the guide wire tube along the actuating wire axis, a distal end of the actuating wire moving along the arcuate path defined by the arc portion of the guide tube, and a cutting element affixed to the distal end of the actuating wire and extending through the slot in the arc portion of the guide tube, the cutting element being movable along the cutting trace. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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Specification