Arthroscopic shaver incorporating electrocautery
First Claim
1. In an arthroscopic shaver of the type including a handle for supporting an outer, stationary, elongated, tubular metal cutting blade and an inner, rotatable, elongated, tubular, metal cutting blade, where the outer tubular metal blade includes a window opening proximate a distal end thereof, the handle including an aspiration lumen adapted to be connected to a vacuum source and in fluid communication with a lumen of the inner tubular cutting blade, and motor means for rotating the inner tubular metal cutting blade, the improvement comprising:
- (a) means for defining an electrode surface proximate the distal end of the outer tubular cutting blade;
(b) means for applying an electrical cautery voltage to said electrode surface; and
(c) flexible drive shaft means for coupling the motor means to the rotatable cutting blade and for electrically isolating the electrocautery voltage from the motor means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An arthroscopy instrument for debriding tissue also includes an electrocautery electrode for effecting hemostasis in the surgical site. The drive motor for the debriding instrument is placed remotely from the instrument'"'"'s handle and provision is made for electrically insulating the handle from the drive motor and associated power supply even though the arthroscopic surgery is taking place under saline.
346 Citations
19 Claims
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1. In an arthroscopic shaver of the type including a handle for supporting an outer, stationary, elongated, tubular metal cutting blade and an inner, rotatable, elongated, tubular, metal cutting blade, where the outer tubular metal blade includes a window opening proximate a distal end thereof, the handle including an aspiration lumen adapted to be connected to a vacuum source and in fluid communication with a lumen of the inner tubular cutting blade, and motor means for rotating the inner tubular metal cutting blade, the improvement comprising:
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(a) means for defining an electrode surface proximate the distal end of the outer tubular cutting blade; (b) means for applying an electrical cautery voltage to said electrode surface; and (c) flexible drive shaft means for coupling the motor means to the rotatable cutting blade and for electrically isolating the electrocautery voltage from the motor means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An arthroscopic shaver incorporating an electrocautery electrode comprising:
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(a) a rigid, elongated, tubular handle member having a plurality of lumens extending longitudinally therein; (b) a drive shaft journaled by bearing means within a first of said plurality of lumens; (c) a cutter assembly comprising (i) an outer tube having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending therebetween, the outer tube having an opening in a side wall thereof proximal said distal end of said outer tube leading to the lumen of the outer tube and a first hub affixed to the proximal end of the outer tube, (ii) a generally rigid inner tube coaxially disposed and rotatable within the lumen of the outer tube, the inner tube having a cutting element formed thereon proximal a distal end and cooperating with the opening in the side wall of the outer tube, the inner tube including a second hub affixed to a proximate end thereof and journaled to rotate within the first hub on the outer tube; (d) coupling means on the drive shaft for mating with the second hub when said cutter assembly is inserted into said first of said plurality of lumens; (e) a tubular insulative sheath coaxially disposed about the outer tube, and having a length dimension less than that of the outer tube to leave the opening unobstructed; (f) means for applying an electrocautery voltage to the outer tube; and (g) motor means located remote from the tubular handle and coupled to the drive shaft for driving the drive shaft, the motor means being electrically isolated from the electrocautery voltage. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. In an arthroscopic shaver of the type including a handle for supporting an outer, stationary, elongated, tubular metal cutting blade and an inner, rotatable, elongated, tubular, metal cutting blade, where the outer tubular metal blade includes a window opening proximate a distal end thereof, the handle including an aspiration lumen adapted to be connected to a vacuum source and in fluid communication with a lumen of the inner tubular cutting blade, and motor means for rotating the inner tubular metal cutting blade, the improvement comprising:
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(a) means for defining an electrode surface proximate the distal end of the outer tubular cutting blade, that comprises a sheath member having a proximal and a distal end and first and second lumens extending therebetween, the first lumen for containing the outer tubular metal cutting blade and the second lumen for containing an elongated wire conductor with a distal end portion of the wire conductor extendable beyond the distal end of the sheath; and (b) means for applying an electrical cautery voltage to said elongated wire conductor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification