Working tool for accurate lateral resection of biological tissue and a method for use thereof

• US 7,300,447 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2003
• Issued: 11/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Roei Medical Technologies, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Roei Medical Technologies, Ltd.
• Inventors: Yossepowitch, Ofer, Eliachar, Eli
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson; Glenn K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sonnett; Kathleen
• Application Number:
  US10/514,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20050171531A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,658 Days
• Field of Search: 606/167, 606169-171, 606176-180, 606/46, 128/898, 604/22, 600104-107, 600/112, 600/114
• US Class Current: 606/170
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32056 Surgical snare instruments for removing or smashing calculi A61B2017/2212; tonsillotomes A61B17/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/149 bow shaped or with rotatable body at cantilever end, e.g. for resectoscopes, or coagulating rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2913 cams or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320028 with reciprocating movements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32007 with suction or vacuum means

Abstract

The present invention provides a novel and most useful working tool for a resectoscope, adapted to side-to-side resection of biological tissue using predetermined lateral movement. Said resectoscope is adapted to either cold or hot resection and is either flexible or rigid. The present invention also provides for a suitable cutting member assembly and to a method useful for lateral resection.

Claims

1. A working tool for a resectoscope for side-to-side resection of biological tissue using determined lateral movement, said working tool having a distal end which is inserted into a body cavity, a proximal end which is adjacent to a user, and a longitudinal axis, and wherein said tool includes:

a rotation mechanism which includes;

a handle assembly located at said proximal end of said tool, which includes at least two handles, at least one handle being movable in the longitudinal direction of the tool;

a drive screw in communication via a cam element with said handle assembly, said drive screw positioned along the longitudinal axis and rotatable there around upon a predetermined translation of said at least one movable handle, the translation transformed to a rotation by said cam element;

the drive screw is anchored within said working tool by at least one linear lock, which prevents said screw from traveling along the longitudinal axis (x-axis) of working tool, allowing it to rotate around said axis;

said cam element travels linearly along said drive screw, thereby causing said drive screw to rotate around the longitudinal axis of said working tool;

at least one cutting member assembly positioned at said distal end of said tool, and each of said at least one assembly includes;

a cutting member axle connected by at least one connecting element to said drive screw, said cutting member axle thereby being rotatable upon rotation of said drive screw;

and at least one cutting member connected to said cutting member axle and positioned at an end of said cutting member axle distal from said drive screw, said cutting member, when held in a determined position with respect to tissue to be resected, being operable to rotate and resect tissue to a predetermined depth in a substantially side-to-side manner upon rotation of said cutting member axles,

wherein a chassis of said working tool is fitted with at least one snap-in element positioned along said chassis'"'"'s length, and wherein said cutting member axle is positioned and held within said at least one snap-in element while being free to rotate around the tool'"'"'s longitudinal axis (x-axis).

2. A working tool according to claim 1, wherein said at least one snap-in element comprises a groove with a female notch-like recess and said cutting member axle comprises a male protruding member, said protruding member being adapted for mating with the groove'"'"'s female notch-like recess while said cutting member axle is positioned in said groove.

3. A working tool according to claim 1, wherein said at least one snap-in element is fixed on said drive screw by fixing pins, which prevent movement of said snap-in element along and around said chassis.

4. A working tool for a resectoscope for side-to-side resection of biological tissue using determined lateral movement, said working tool having a distal end which is inserted into a body cavity, a proximal end which is adjacent to a user, and a longitudinal axis, and wherein said tool includes:

a rotation mechanism which includes;

a handle assembly located at said proximal end of said tool, which includes at least two handles, at least one handle being movable in the longitudinal direction of the tool;

a drive screw in communication via a cam element with said handle assembly, said drive screw positioned along the longitudinal axis and rotatable there around upon a predetermined translation of said at least one movable handle, the translation transformed to a rotation by said cam element;

the drive screw is anchored within said working tool by at least one linear lock, which prevents said screw from traveling along the longitudinal axis (x-axis) of working tool, allowing it to rotate around said axis;

said cam element travels linearly along said drive screw, thereby causing said drive screw to rotate around the longitudinal axis of said working tool;

at least one cutting member assembly positioned at said distal end of said tool, and each of said at least one assembly includes;

a cutting member axle connected by at least one connecting element to said drive screw, said cutting member axle thereby being rotatable upon rotation of said drive screw;

at least one cutting member connected to said cutting member axle and positioned at an end of said cutting member axle distal from said drive screw, said cutting member, when held in a determined position with respect to tissue to be resected, being operable to rotate and resect tissue to a predetermined depth in a substantially side-to-side manner upon rotation of said cutting member axle, and

at least one vibrator, said at least one vibrator comprising a motor which further includes an eccentric pin positionable in a slot in a linear actuator and affixed thereto, and wherein said linear actuator additionally includes at least one female slot-like recess, which is spaced and dimensioned to fit at least one male member located on said cutting member axle, thereby affixing said actuator to said cutting member axle.

5. A working tool according to claim 4, wherein said motor is selected from a group consisting of an AC electrical motor, a DC electrical motor, a hydraulic motor, and a pneumatic motor.

6. A working tool for a resectoscope for side-to-side resection of biological tissue using determined lateral movement, said working tool having a distal end which is inserted into a body cavity, a proximal end which is adjacent to a user, and a longitudinal axis, and wherein said tool includes:

a rotation mechanism which includes;

a handle assembly located at said proximal end of said tool, which includes at least two handles, at least one handle being movable in the longitudinal direction of the tool;

a drive screw in communication via a cam element with said handle assembly, said drive screw positioned along axis and rotatable there around upon a predetermined translation of said at least one movable handle, the translation transformed to a rotation by said cam element;

the drive screw is anchored within said working tool by at least one linear lock, which prevents said screw from traveling along the longitudinal axis (x-axis) of working tool, allowing it to rotate around said axis;

said cam element travels linearly along said drive screw, thereby causing said drive screw to rotate around the longitudinal axis of said working tool;

least one cutting member assembly positioned at said distal end of said tool, and each of said at least one assembly includes;

a cutting member axle connected by at least one connecting element to said drive screw, said cutting member axle thereby being rotatable upon rotation of said drive screw;

and at least one cutting member connected to said cutting member axle and positioned at an end of said cutting member axle distal from said drive screw, said cutting member, when held in a determined position with respect to tissue to be resected, being operable to rotate and resect tissue to a predetermined depth in a substantially side-to-side manner upon rotation of sad cutting member axle,

wherein a chassis of said working tool is fitted with at least one snap-in element positioned along said chassis'"'"'s length, and wherein said cutting member axle is positioned and held within said at least one snap-in element while being free to rotate around the tool'"'"'s longitudinal axis (x-axis) and translate along the longitudinal axis.