Surgical instrument, system, and method for biofilm removal
First Claim
1. A system for removal of bacterial biofilm from a target site of a human patient, the system comprising:
- a surgical instrument for removing bacterial biofilm from the target site, the instrument comprising;
an elongate introducer adapted for minimally invasive surgical insertion into a human patient, the introducer including a proximal portion and a distal portion terminating at a distal end, the distal portion being transitionable between a plurality of bend angles relative to the proximal portion, wherein the instrument is adapted to independently maintain the distal portion at each of the plurality of bend angles relative to the proximal portion;
an irrigation duct for conveying irrigant;
a nozzle rotatably mounted to the introducer and in fluid communication with the irrigation duct, the nozzle being maintained relative to the distal end of the introducer and being adapted to dispense pressurized fluid from the irrigation duct toward a layer of bacterial biofilm to disrupt the bacterial biofilm from the target site;
a first actuator assembly adapted to selectively rotate the nozzle relative to the introducer;
wherein the instrument further includes a handle maintaining the introducer, and further wherein the first actuator assembly includes;
a first wheel rotatably secured to the handle;
a rigid irrigation duct segment connected to and extending from the wheel; and
a flexible irrigation duct segment extending between the rigid irrigation duct segment and the nozzle.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for removal of bacterial biofilm from a target site of a human patient includes a surgical instrument having an introducer for bodily insertion and maintaining an irrigation duct and a nozzle. A distal portion of the introducer is transitionable between a plurality of bend angles relative to a proximal portion thereof. In particular, the instrument is adapted to independently maintain the distal portion at each of the plurality of bend angles relative to the proximal portion. The nozzle is maintained relative to the distal portion of the introducer and is adapted to dispense pressurized irrigant from the irrigation duct toward a layer of bacterial biofilm.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system for removal of bacterial biofilm from a target site of a human patient, the system comprising:
a surgical instrument for removing bacterial biofilm from the target site, the instrument comprising; an elongate introducer adapted for minimally invasive surgical insertion into a human patient, the introducer including a proximal portion and a distal portion terminating at a distal end, the distal portion being transitionable between a plurality of bend angles relative to the proximal portion, wherein the instrument is adapted to independently maintain the distal portion at each of the plurality of bend angles relative to the proximal portion; an irrigation duct for conveying irrigant; a nozzle rotatably mounted to the introducer and in fluid communication with the irrigation duct, the nozzle being maintained relative to the distal end of the introducer and being adapted to dispense pressurized fluid from the irrigation duct toward a layer of bacterial biofilm to disrupt the bacterial biofilm from the target site; a first actuator assembly adapted to selectively rotate the nozzle relative to the introducer; wherein the instrument further includes a handle maintaining the introducer, and further wherein the first actuator assembly includes; a first wheel rotatably secured to the handle; a rigid irrigation duct segment connected to and extending from the wheel; and a flexible irrigation duct segment extending between the rigid irrigation duct segment and the nozzle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of disrupting bacterial biofilm from a target site of a human patient, the method comprising:
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providing a bacterial biofilm removal system including; a surgical instrument for removing the bacterial biofilm from the target site having an elongate introducer adapted for minimally invasive surgical insertion into the human patient including a proximal portion and a distal portion terminating at a distal end, the distal portion being articulatable and transitionable between a plurality of bend angles relative to the proximal portion, wherein the instrument is adapted to independently maintain the distal portion at each of the plurality of bend angles relative to the proximal portion, wherein the introducer maintains an irrigation duct for conveying irrigant and a nozzle in fluid communication with the irrigation duct, wherein the nozzle is positioned at the distal end and is rotatably mounted to the introducer and adapted to dispense pressurized fluid from the irrigation duct toward a layer of bacterial biofilm to disrupt the bacterial biofilm from the target site; the surgical instrument further comprising a first actuator assembly adapted to selectively rotate the nozzle relative to the introducer; and wherein the instrument further includes a handle maintaining the introducer, and further wherein the first actuator assembly includes; a first wheel rotatably secured to the handle; a rigid irrigation duct segment connected to and extending from the first wheel; and a flexible irrigation duct segment extending between the rigid irrigation duct segment and the nozzle; surgically inserting the distal portion of the introducer into the patient; delivering the nozzle proximate the target site, the target site including a layer of bacterial biofilm adhered to a surface; rotating the nozzle relative to the introducer following delivering of the nozzle proximate the target site; and dispensing a pressurized flow of irrigant through the nozzle toward the target site to mechanically remove a substantial portion of the layer of bacterial biofilm from the surface. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification