Surgical instrument with retractable sheath
First Claim
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1. A surgical instrument comprising:
- a shaft hub;
an electrically conductive member which has a proximal end mounted to the shaft hub and which has a distal end including a conductive operating tip;
a sheath to cover the conductive member such that the sheath covers the operating tip when the sheath is in an extended position and the operating tip is exposed when the sheath is in a retracted position;
a sheath hub coupled to the sheath and movably engaged with the shaft hub;
a locking mechanism to lock the sheath in the retracted position, the locking mechanism includinga flexible beam protruding from the shaft hub at an angle, to engage the sheath hub at an opening in the sheath hub while the sheath is in the retracted position, anda cantilever beam extending from the sheath hub which, if depressed while the sheath is in the retracted position, repositions the flexible beam to disengage the flexible beam from the opening in the sheath hub; and
a bias element to bias the sheath toward the extended position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrosurgical suction/irrigation instrument includes a shaft hub, an electrically conductive member, and a sheath. The conductive member has a proximal end mounted to the shaft hub and a distal end including a conductive operating tip. The sheath covers the conductive member so that the operating tip is covered when the sheath is in an extended position and exposed when the sheath is in a retracted position. The sheath hub is coupled to the sheath and is movably engaged with the shaft hub. The surgical instrument further includes a locking mechanism to lock the sheath in the retracted position, and a bias element to bias the sheath toward the extended position.
67 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument comprising:
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a shaft hub; an electrically conductive member which has a proximal end mounted to the shaft hub and which has a distal end including a conductive operating tip; a sheath to cover the conductive member such that the sheath covers the operating tip when the sheath is in an extended position and the operating tip is exposed when the sheath is in a retracted position; a sheath hub coupled to the sheath and movably engaged with the shaft hub; a locking mechanism to lock the sheath in the retracted position, the locking mechanism including a flexible beam protruding from the shaft hub at an angle, to engage the sheath hub at an opening in the sheath hub while the sheath is in the retracted position, and a cantilever beam extending from the sheath hub which, if depressed while the sheath is in the retracted position, repositions the flexible beam to disengage the flexible beam from the opening in the sheath hub; and a bias element to bias the sheath toward the extended position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A surgical instrument comprising:
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a shaft hub; an electrically conductive tube which has a proximal end mounted to the shaft hub and which has a distal end with a conductive operating tip formed thereon; a flexible beam protruding from the shaft hub, the flexible beam having an actuator formed thereon, the flexible beam further having a latch formed thereon; a retractable tubular sheath covering the conductive tube and which covers the operating tip when the sheath is in an extended position, wherein the operating tip is exposed when the sheath is in a retracted position; a sheath hub coupled to the sheath and movably engaged with the shaft hub, the sheath hub including a latch opening which engages the latch when the sheath is retracted, the sheath hub further including a slot through which the actuator extends; and a bias element to bias the sheath toward the extended position. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An electrosurgical suction/irrigation instrument comprising:
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a shaft hub that is removably connectable to a handpiece from which suction and irrigation are controlled; an electrically conductive tube which has a proximal end mounted to the shaft hub and which has a distal end with a conductive operating tip formed thereon, the electrically conductive tube to channel irrigation solution to an operative site and to channel fluid away from the operative site; a flexible beam protruding from the shaft hub and extending parallel to the electrically conductive tube, the flexible beam having an actuator and a latch formed thereon; a retractable tubular sheath covering the conductive tube and which covers the operating tip when the sheath is in an extended position, wherein the operating tip is exposed when the sheath is in a retracted position; a sheath hub coupled to the sheath and slideably engaged with the shaft hub, the sheath hub including a latch opening which engages the latch when the sheath is retracted to a fully retracted position to lock the sheath in the fully retracted position, the sheath hub further including a slot through which the actuator slideably extends, such that actuating the actuator causes flexing of the flexible beam to disengage the latch from the latch opening to unlock the sheath from the fully retracted position; and a spring disposed around the conductive tube between the sheath hub and the shaft hub to bias the sheath toward the extended position. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification