Hand-held instruments that access interior body regions

• US 6,575,919 B1
• Filed: 10/24/2000
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Orthophoenix, LLC (Marathon Patent Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kyphon Incorporated
• Inventors: Ferdinand, Arthur E, Reiley, Mark A, Scribner, Robert M, Reo, Michael L
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROY DEAN
• Application Number:
  US09/695,566
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 606/1, 606/108, 606/167, 606/184, 606/185, 604/164.01, 604/165.01, 600/567
• US Class Current: 600/567
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/34 Trocars; Puncturing needles pointed biopsy instruments A61B10/0233; devices for piercing the ear-lobes A44C7/001; seals or hemostasis valves A61M39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3417 Details of tips or shafts, e.g. grooves, expandable, bendable; Multiple coaxial sliding cannulas, e.g. for dilating syringe needles A61M5/32; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8816 characterised by the conduit, e.g. tube, along which fluid flows into the body or by conduit connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8819 characterised by the introducer proximal part, e.g. cannula handle, or by parts which are inserted inside each other, e.g. stylet and cannula A61B17/8825 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8822 characterised by means facilitating expulsion of fluid from the introducer, e.g. a screw pump plunger, hydraulic force transmissions, application of vibrations or a vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/885 Tools for expanding or compacting bones or discs or cavities therein A61B17/8805, A61B17/7097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8855 inflatable, e.g. kyphoplasty balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00261 Discectomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00424 ergonomic, e.g. fitting in fist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00429 with a roughened portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0813 Accessories designed for easy sterilising, i.e. re-usable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 Preventing re-use

Abstract

A composite instrument is provided comprising a first functional instrument and a second functional instrument when the first functional instrument is coupled with the second functional instrument. A composite handle for the composite instrument is provided comprising a first handle and a second handle when the first handle is coupled with the second handle. The handle makes possible the reliable transmission, with increased mechanical advantage, of both torsional and longitudinal loads by the physician to the composite instrument, while resisting relative rotation between the first and second instruments.

Claims

1. A tool comprising:

a first functional instrument including a first handle, the first handle including a first distal finger gripping surface and a first proximal finger gripping surface,

a second functional instrument including a second handle, the second handle including a second distal finger gripping surface and a second proximal finger gripping surface,

the first functional instrument engaging the second functional instrument, forming a composite instrument, and

the first handle mating with the second handle when the first functional instrument is engaged with the second instrument forming a composite handle, whereby the first distal gripping surface and the second distal gripping surface fit together to form a composite finger gripping surface that includes the first distal gripping surface and the second distal gripping surface.

2. A tool according to claim 1,

wherein the first functional instrument is a trocar instrument.

3. A tool according to claim 1,

wherein the second functional instrument is a cannula instrument.

4. A tool according to claim 1

wherein the composite handle is adapted, in use, to transmit longitudinal force to the composite instrument.

5. A tool according to claim 1

wherein the composite handle is adapted, in use, to transmit rotational force to the composite instrument.

6. A tool according to claim 1

wherein the composite handle is adapted, in use, to transmit both longitudinal and rotational forces to the composite instrument.

7. A tool according to claim 1,

wherein the composite handle is adapted, in use, to receive a striking force.

8. A tool according to claim 1,

wherein the composite handle is constructed of material capable of resisting deformation when a striking force is applied.

9. A tool according to claim 1, wherein

the second functional instrument is a cannula, and

the first functional instrument is a trocar sized for passage through the cannula.

10. A tool according to claim 9, wherein the trocar is longer than the cannula.

11. A tool according to claim 1

wherein the first gripping surface includes two adjacent finger receivers, and

wherein the second gripping surface includes two spaced-apart finger receivers, and

wherein the two adjacent finger receivers fit between the two spaced-apart finger receivers to provide an array of adjacent finger receivers that form the composite gripping surface.

12. A tool according to claim 1

wherein the composite handle includes a latching mechanism to resist disengagement of the first and second functional instruments.

13. A method of manipulating an instrument that, in use, accesses bone comprising the steps of

providing a first functional instrument including a first handle, the first handle including a first distal finger gripping surface and a first proximal finger gripping surface,

providing a second functional instrument including a second handle, the second handle including a second distal finger gripping surface and a second proximal finger gripping surface,

engaging the second functional instrument with the first functional instrument to form a composite instrument, and

mating the first handle with the second handle when the first functional instrument is engaged with the second instrument to form a composite handle in which the first distal gripping surface and the second distal gripping surface fit together to form a composite finger gripping surface that includes the first distal gripping surface and the second distal gripping surface, and

manipulating the composite instrument while gripping the composite finger gripping surface.

14. A tool comprising:

a first functional instrument including a first handle, the first handle including a first finger gripping surface including two adjacent finger receivers,

a second functional instrument including a second handle, the second handle including a second finger gripping surface including two spaced-apart finger receivers,

the first functional instrument engaging the second functional instrument, forming a composite instrument, and

the first handle mating with the second handle when the first functional instrument is engaged with the second instrument forming a composite handle, whereby the two adjacent finger receivers of the first gripping surface fit between the two spaced-apart finger receivers of the second gripping surface to provide an array of adjacent finger receivers that form a composite finger gripping surface that includes the first and second finger gripping surfaces.

15. A tool comprising:

a first functional instrument including a first handle, the first handle including a first finger gripping surface,

a second functional instrument including a second handle, the second handle including a second finger gripping surface,

the first functional instrument engaging the second functional instrument, forming a composite instrument, and

the first handle mating with the second handle when the first functional instrument is engaged with the second instrument forming a composite handle, whereby the first gripping surface and the second gripping surface fit together to form a composite finger gripping surface that includes the first and second finger gripping surfaces, the composite handle including a latching mechanism to resist disengagement of the first and second functional instruments.