Atraumatic arthroscopic instrument sheath

• US 8,012,083 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2008
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• 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:
  US12/251,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20090043165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 600/114, 600/128, 600/153, 600/156, 600/130, 604/164.02, 604/264
• US Class Current: 600/114
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00066 Proximal part of endoscope body, e.g. handles A61B1/0052 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00121 Connectors, fasteners and adapters, e.g. on the endoscope handle
• 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 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/317 for bones or joints, e.g. osteoscopes, arthroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0218 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1675 for the knee
• 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 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3423 Access ports, e.g. toroid shape introducers for instruments or hands access sites for liquids A61M39/0247
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00336 with a protective sleeve, e.g. retractable or slidable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3445 used as instrument channel for multiple instruments catheters A61B2017/22072
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3456 blunt
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/349 Trocar with thread on outside
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 with irrigation system
• 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. The distal tip of the sheath may comprise a dissimilar material of a higher modulus of elasticity than the material comprising the remainder of the tube.

Claims

1. An atraumatic sheath comprising:

a tube having a distal tip, said tube characterized by a distal portion, an inner surface, and an inner diameter;

wherein the inner diameter of said tube is sized and dimensioned to permit fluid flow between the inner surface of the tube and an outer surface of an arthroscopic instrument when the arthroscopic instrument is disposed within the tube;

wherein the distal tip expands to form a seal around the outer surface of the arthroscopic instrument when the arthroscopic instrument is disposed within the tube and wherein the distal tip is comprised of a dissimilar material from material comprising the tube, said dissimilar material having a higher modulus of elasticity than the material comprising the tube; and

a plurality of ribs extending inwardly from the inner surface of the tube and running longitudinally along the tube;

wherein said ribs form a seal between the outer surface of the arthroscopic instrument and ribs when the arthroscopic instrument is disposed within the sheath;

wherein said ribs further define outer lumens between the outer surface of the arthroscopic instrument and the inner surface of the tube.

2. An atraumatic sheath comprising:

a tube having a distal tip, said tube characterized by a distal portion, an inner surface, and an inner diameter;

wherein the inner diameter of said tube is sized and dimensioned to permit fluid flow between the inner surface of the tube and an outer surface of an arthroscopic instrument when the arthroscopic instrument is disposed within the tube;

wherein the distal tip expands to form a seal around the outer surface of the arthroscopic instrument when the arthroscopic instrument is disposed within the tube, wherein the distal tip is split in at least one location on the tip; and

a plurality of ribs extending inwardly from the inner surface of the tube and running longitudinally along the tube;

wherein said ribs form a seal between the outer surface of the arthroscopic instrument and ribs when the arthroscopic instrument is disposed within the sheath;

wherein said ribs further define outer lumens between the outer surface of the arthroscopic instrument and the inner surface of the tube.

3. An atraumatic sheath comprising:

a tube having a distal tip, said tube characterized by a distal portion, an inner surface, and an inner diameter;

wherein the inner diameter of said tube is sized and dimensioned to permit fluid flow between the inner surface of the tube and an outer surface of an arthroscopic instrument when the arthroscopic instrument is disposed within the tube;

wherein the distal tip expands to form a seal around the outer surface of the arthroscopic instrument when the arthroscopic instrument is disposed within the tube; and

a plurality of ribs extending inwardly from the inner surface of the tube and running longitudinally along the tube;

wherein said ribs form a seal between the outer surface of the arthroscopic instrument and ribs when the arthroscopic instrument is disposed within the sheath;

wherein said ribs further define outer lumens between the outer surface of the arthroscopic instrument and the inner surface of the tube; and

wherein the distal portion of the tube further comprises a plurality of holes in fluid communication with one or more outer lumens and a surgical site.

4. The atraumatic sheath of claim 3 wherein a distal end of the arthroscopic instrument may extend distally from the distal tip of the atraumatic sheath when the arthroscopic instrument is disposed within the atraumatic sheath.

5. An atraumatic sheath comprising:

a tube having a distal tip, said tube characterized by a distal portion, an inner surface, and an inner diameter;

wherein the inner diameter of said tube is sized and dimensioned to permit fluid flow between the inner surface of the tube and an outer surface of an arthroscopic instrument when the arthroscopic instrument is disposed within the tube;

wherein the distal tip expands to form a seal around the outer surface of the arthroscopic instrument when the arthroscopic instrument is disposed within the tube; and

a plurality of ribs extending inwardly from the inner surface of the tube and running longitudinally along the tube;

wherein said ribs form a seal between the outer surface of the arthroscopic instrument and ribs when the arthroscopic instrument is disposed within the sheath;

wherein said ribs further define outer lumens between the outer surface of the arthroscopic instrument and the inner surface of the tube; and

further comprising one or more check valves coupled to one or more outer lumens.

6. A method of performing arthroscopic surgery, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a system for performing arthroscopic surgery, said system comprising;

an arthroscopic instrument suitable for performing an arthroscopic surgical procedure;

an atraumatic sheath comprising a distal tip, a distal portion, and an inner diameter sized and dimensioned to permit fluid flow between the inner surface of the sheath and an outer surface of the arthroscopic instrument disposed within the sheath, said sheath further comprising a plurality of ribs extending inwardly from an inner surface of said sheath and running longitudinally along said sheath;

wherein said ribs define outer lumens between an outer surface of the arthroscopic instrument and the inner surface of the sheath, said lumens facilitating the inflow and outflow of fluid to and from a surgical site;

wherein the atraumatic sheath is adapted to be removably disposed over the arthroscopic instrument;

wherein the distal tip expands to form a seal around the outer surface of the arthroscopic instrument when the arthroscopic instrument is disposed within the atraumatic sheath and extends distally from the distal tip;

wherein the distal tip comprises a material having a different modulus of elasticity than the rest of the atraumatic sheath;

placing the arthroscopic instrument inside the sheath; and

performing an arthroscopic surgical procedure with the system for performing arthroscopic surgery.

7. A method of performing arthroscopic surgery, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a system for performing arthroscopic surgery, said system comprising;

an arthroscopic instrument suitable for performing an arthroscopic surgical procedure;

an atraumatic sheath comprising a distal tip, a distal portion, and an inner diameter sized and dimensioned to permit fluid flow between the inner surface of the sheath and an outer surface of the arthroscopic instrument disposed within the sheath, said sheath further comprising a plurality of ribs extending inwardly from an inner surface of said sheath and running longitudinally along said sheath;

wherein said ribs define outer lumens between an outer surface of the arthroscopic instrument and the inner surface of the sheath, said lumens facilitating the inflow and outflow of fluid to and from a surgical site;

wherein the atraumatic sheath is adapted to be removably disposed over the arthroscopic instrument;

wherein the distal tip expands to form a seal around the outer surface of the arthroscopic instrument when the arthroscopic instrument is disposed within the atraumatic sheath and extends distally from the distal tip;

wherein the distal portion of the sheath further comprises a plurality of holes in fluid communication with one or more outer lumens and a surgical site

placing the arthroscopic instrument inside the sheath; and

performing an arthroscopic surgical procedure with the system for performing arthroscopic surgery.