Atraumatic arthroscopic instrument sheath

• US 7,413,542 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2004
• Issued: 08/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Psip2 LLC
• Original Assignee: Cannuflow Inc.
• Inventors: Kucklick, Theodore R., Trieb, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker; John P
• Application Number:
  US10/769,629
• Publication Number:
  US 20050171470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,664 Days
• Field of Search: 600/114, 600/115, 600/121, 600/125, 600/124, 600/129, 600/156
• US Class Current: 600/114
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00082 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00135 Oversleeves mounted on the endoscope prior to insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0014 Fastening element for attaching accessories to the outside of an endoscope, e.g. clips, clamps or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00154 using guiding arrangements for insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/012 characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/317 for bones or joints, e.g. osteoscopes, arthroscopes
• 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 17/3415 for introducing tubes or catheters, e.g. gastrostomy tubes, drain catheters A61B17/3417 takes precedence; body piercing catheter guide needles A61M25/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/349 Trocar with thread on outside
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/85 with gas or fluid supply means, e.g. for supplying rinsing fluids or anticoagulants for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92, A61M1/94; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463; dental instruments with combined rinsing and aspirating A61C17/0208
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0662 Guide tubes

Abstract

A removable, resilient atraumatic sheath for arthroscopic instruments. The sheath covers sharp edges on the arthroscopic instrument, particularly the distal tip of the rigid cannula, and thereby protects tissue and objects near a surgical site from accidental trauma. The sheath may be provided in the form of an inflow/outflow sheath that allows a surgeon to irrigate and drain a surgical field without the use of a separate irrigation instrument.

Claims

1. A system for performing arthroscopic surgery, said system comprising:

an arthroscopic instrument suitable for performing an arthroscopic surgical procedure, said arthroscopic instrument characterized by a distal tip;

a rigid cannula, said rigid cannula characterized by a lumen and a distal tip, said rigid cannula sized and dimensioned such that the arthroscopic instrument may be extended through the lumen and distally of the distal tip of the rigid cannula;

an atraumatic sheath comprising a tube of resilient material having a distal end, said sheath having an opening at the distal end of the sheath, said sheath having an inner diameter sized and dimensioned to closely conform to an outer diameter of the rigid cannula and said sheath having a flange disposed at the distal end of the sheath, said flange having an opening, said flange disposed, sized and dimensioned to prevent the distal tip of the rigid cannula from extending distally from the sheath, said flange disposed, sized and dimensioned to allow the arthroscopic instrument to extend distally from the distal end of the sheath;

wherein the atraumnatic sheath is adapted to be removably disposed over the arthroscopic instrument.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the sheath is characterized by an outer surface and an inner surface and wherein the outer surface is provided with a smooth coating.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the inner surface of the sheath is provided with a nonslip coating.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the sheath is provided with a tab disposed on the proximal end of the sheath, said tab sized and dimensioned to allow the sheath to be pulled onto and off of the arthroscopic instrument.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a first set fittings disposed on the proximal end of the sheath and a second set of fittings disposed on the arthroscopic instrument, wherein the first and second sets of fittings are adapted for releasable coupling, whereby the sheath is secured to the arthroscopic instrument when the first and second sets of fittings are secured together.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the sheath is characterized by a distal portion and wherein the sheath further comprises a balloon disposed on the distal portion of the sheath.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the sheath further comprises a working tube, said working tube sized, dimensioned and disposed to allow fluid communication between a surgical site and the lumen of the working tube.