Method of performing sinus surgery utilizing & sinus debrider instrument

• US 6,293,957 B1
• Filed: 01/26/1999
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Peters, Gary, Cleveland, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robert, Eduardo C.
• Application Number:
  US09/237,404
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 606/167, 606/180, 606/170, 606/159, 606/162, 606/161, 606/171, 128/898
• US Class Current: 606/167
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 with irrigation system

Abstract

A method of performing sinus surgery utilizes a sinus debrider instrument having an outer tubular member, an inner member rotatably disposed within the outer member and carrying a tissue cutting surface at a distal end thereof, a suction passage through the instrument for removing cut tissue from a sinus and an annular space between the inner and outer members forming a fluid passage for supplying fluid to the tissue cutting surface. The method includes the steps of positioning the distal end of the instrument at an operative site within the sinus, cutting tissue at the operative site within the sinus by rotating the tissue cutting surface, removing the cut tissue from the sinus through the suction passage and supplying fluid to the tissue cutting surface through the fluid passage to facilitate the removal of cut tissue without introducing fluid to the operative site.

Claims

1. A method of performing sinus surgery utilizing a sinus debrider instrument having an outer tubular member with an opening at a distal end thereof, an inner member rotatably disposed within the outer tubular member with a tissue cutting surface of the inner member adjacent the opening in the outer tubular member, and an annular space between the outer tubular member and the inner member forming a fluid passage to deliver fluid to the tissue cutting surface, said method comprising the steps of

positioning a distal end of the sinus debrider instrument at an operative site within a sinus;

cutting tissue at the operative site within the sinus with the tissue cutting surface by rotating the inner member relative to the outer tubular member;

removing tissue cut by the tissue cutting surface from the sinus through a suction passage in the sinus debrider instrument; and

supplying fluid to the tissue cutting surface through the fluid passage in the sinus debrider instrument to facilitate the removing of cut tissue from the sinus.

2. The method of performing sinus surgery as recited in claim 1 wherein the inner member is tubular and has a lumen therein and wherein said step of removing cut tissue from the sinus includes aspirating the cut tissue through the lumen in the inner member.

3. A method of performing sinus surgery utilizing a sinus debrider instrument having an outer tubular member with an opening at a distal end thereof, an inner member rotatably disposed within the outer tubular member with a tissue cutting surface of the inner member adjacent the opening in the outer tubular member, and an annular space between the outer tubular member and the inner member forming a fluid passage to deliver fluid to the tissue cutting surface, said method comprising the steps of

positioning a distal end of the sinus debrider instrument at an operative site within a sinus;

cutting tissue at the operative site within the sinus with the tissue cutting surface by rotating the inner member relative to the outer tubular member;

removing tissue cut by the tissue cutting surface from the sinus through a suction passage in the sinus debrider instrument; and

supplying fluid to the tissue cutting surface through the fluid passage in the sinus debrider instrument to facilitate the removing of cut tissue from the sinus, said step of supplying fluid including supplying fluid from the fluid passage directly to the tissue cutting surface.