Surgical cutting tool

• US 6,939,341 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2004
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: D.O.R.C. Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center (International) B.V.
• Original Assignee: D.O.R.C. Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center (International) B.V.
• Inventors: Vijfvinkel, Gerrit Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stein, James D.
• Application Number:
  US11/023,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20050135776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 253 Days
• Field of Search: 385/147, 604/22, 604/213, 606/2, 606/126, 606/170, 600/178, 600/179, 835/20
• US Class Current: 606/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/306 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 with irrigation system
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00763 with rotating or reciprocating cutting elements, e.g. concentric cutting needles atherectomy cutting instruments A61B17/3207; endoscopic cutting instruments A61B17/320016

Abstract

This invention provides a cutting tool, comprising a sleeve enclosing a suction chamber where, during use, a reduced pressure prevails and wherein a cutting member is arranged so as to be movable along a suction opening provided in the wall of the sleeve. The wall of the sleeve forms a light conductor. The sleeve can be tubular and is preferably manufactured from light conduction material, in particular glass.

Claims

1. A cutting tool comprising a sleeve enclosing a suction chamber where, during use, a reduced pressure prevails and wherein a cutting member is arranged so as to be movable along a suction opening formed in the wall of the sleeve, characterized in that the wall of the sleeve forms a light conductor.

2. A cutting tool according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises a tube part with a cutting opening formed adjacent one extremity of the tube part in the tube wall and wherein the tube channel enclosed by the tube wall forms the suction chamber.

3. A cutting tool according to claim 1, wherein the cutting member comprises an inner tube included in the tube channel so as to be coaxially moveable, the inner tube channel of the inner tube being connected to a suction duct during use.

4. A cutting tool according to claim 3, wherein tube and inner tube are designed as capillaries.

5. A cutting tool according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve is manufactured at least partly from light conducting material.

6. A cutting tool according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve is provided with a light exit window located adjacent the cutting opening.

7. A cutting tool according to claim 6, wherein the light exit window is designed as a lens.

8. A cutting tool according to claim 1, wherein the inner and/or outer wall of the tube is provided, at least partly, with a covering which prevents exit of light from the sleeve.

9. A cutting tool according to claim 8, wherein the covering is formed by a reflective coating for reflecting exiting light back into the tube wall.

10. A cutting tool according to claim 8, wherein the covering is formed by a refractive structure of the surface of the tube wall for reflecting exiting light back.

11. A cutting tool according to claim 8, wherein the covering is formed by a further tube part provided against the inner and/or outer wall of the light conducting sleeve.

12. A cutting tool according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve is included in a handle.

13. A cutting tool according to claim 1, wherein in the handle, a movement mechanism is accommodated for moving the cutting member along the suction opening provided in the wall of the sleeve.

14. A cutting tool according to claim 12, wherein the handle is provided with a connecting plug four connection of the suction duct, which plug is in communication with the suction chamber.

15. A cutting tool according to claim 12, wherein the handle is provided with a connection which is in light conducting communication with the sleeve for the connection of a flexible light conductor.

16. A cutting tool according to claim 5, wherein the light conducting material is glass.