Carpal tunnel device and method
First Claim
1. A method of performing carpal tunnel release surgery, comprising the steps of:
- making an incision adjacent one of the distal edge and proximal edge of the transverse carpal ligament;
retracting the incision until the transverse carpal ligament is visible;
providing a carpal ligament capture clip, said capture clip comprising a guide body including a central guide channel therethrough, said guide body including a proximal and a distal end, said capture clip further including an upper skid, located at the distal end of said guide body and a lower skid located at the distal end of said guide body opposite and facing said upper skid;
positioning a portion of said carpal ligament capture clip in the incision so that the transverse carpal ligament is enveloped between said upper and lower skids;
providing a knife adapted to be inserted into and slideably received through said central guide channel;
inserting said knife into said central guide channel at said proximal end of said guide body;
advancing said knife through said central guide channel between said upper and lower skids until the transverse carpal ligament is completely divided; and
withdrawing said capture clip and said knife from the patient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A carpal tunnel device and method for performing carpal tunnel release surgery is provided. The carpal tunnel device includes a carpal ligament capture clip and a knife, useable therewith. The carpal tunnel capture clip includes a handle, a body portion and upper and lower skids. A central guide channel extends through the body portion of the capture clip. Channels located in the skids are aligned with the central guide channels. Under anesthesia an incision is made in a patient'"'"'s palm. The carpal ligament capture clip is placed into the palm, facing towards the wrist with the upper and lower skids straddling the transverse carpal ligament. The capture clip is then advanced towards the wrist until the distal ends of the upper and lower skids extend beyond the carpal ligament and the carpal ligament is entrapped between the portions of the skids containing the upper and lower guide channels. At that time the knife blade is introduced through the central guide channel and advanced into the upper and lower guide channels. The knife, bounded by the clip on all sides, is advanced until the transverse carpal ligament is completely divided. The capture clip and knife are removed. The incision is closed and an appropriate dressing is applied.
134 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of performing carpal tunnel release surgery, comprising the steps of:
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making an incision adjacent one of the distal edge and proximal edge of the transverse carpal ligament;
retracting the incision until the transverse carpal ligament is visible;
providing a carpal ligament capture clip, said capture clip comprising a guide body including a central guide channel therethrough, said guide body including a proximal and a distal end, said capture clip further including an upper skid, located at the distal end of said guide body and a lower skid located at the distal end of said guide body opposite and facing said upper skid;
positioning a portion of said carpal ligament capture clip in the incision so that the transverse carpal ligament is enveloped between said upper and lower skids;
providing a knife adapted to be inserted into and slideably received through said central guide channel;
inserting said knife into said central guide channel at said proximal end of said guide body;
advancing said knife through said central guide channel between said upper and lower skids until the transverse carpal ligament is completely divided; and
withdrawing said capture clip and said knife from the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A carpal tunnel device for dividing the transverse carpal ligament, comprising:
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a carpal tunnel capture clip, including;
a body portion, having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a central guide channel therethrough, a lower skid extending from the distal end of said body portion and an upper skid extending from said distal end of said body portion generally parallel to said lower skid, and a knife, adapted to be slideably received through said central guide channel and between said upper skid and said lower skid. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A carpal tunnel device for dividing the transverse carpal ligament, comprising:
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a carpal tunnel capture clip, comprising;
a guide body, including;
a guide handle, having a proximal end and a distal end, a body portion, having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end connected to the distal end of said guide handle, said body portion including a central guide channel therethrough, a lower skid extending from the distal end of said body portion, a capture arm, comprising;
a capture arm handle, an upper skid extending from the distal end of said capture arm handle, a pivot, connected between said guide body and said capture arm, such that said capture arm pivots with respect to said guide body, and wherein the inner surface of said upper skid is connected proximal to and facing the inner surface of said lower skid, and wherein said capture arm handle is disposed above at least a portion of said guide handle, said pivot located between said upper skid and said capture arm handle, wherein when a force is applied to said capture arm handle in a direction towards said guide handle, said capture arm pivots at said pivot, and lifts said portion of said upper skid off said lower skid, thus separating the distal end of said upper skid from said lower skid, and a knife, adapted to be inserted into and slideably received through said central guide channel. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. For use in a carpal tunnel release system with a carpal tunnel capture clip having a body portion with a proximal end and a distal end and a central guide channel therethrough, a lower skid extending from the distal end of said body portion including a lower guide channel aligned with the central guide channel and an upper skid including an upper guide channel aligned with the central guide channel, the upper skid extending from said distal end of said body portion generally parallel to said lower skid, a knife comprising:
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a shaft, at least a portion of which is slidably receivable through the central guide channel, said shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; and
a blade portion located at the distal end of said shaft, said blade portion including a top channel riding portion, a bottom channel riding portion and a cutting edge bounded therebetween, said top and bottom channel riding portions configured to be slidably received in the upper and lower guide channels of the upper and lower skids when said knife is passed through the central guide channel; and
wherein a cutting edge plane defined through said cutting edge, said top channel riding portion and said bottom channel portion is generally perpendicular to a skid plane parallel to a plane defined through the inner surfaces of the upper and lower skids when the top and bottom channel riding portions ride in the upper and lower guide channels. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification