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Surgical instrument, system, and method for biofilm removal

  • US 9,326,665 B2
  • Filed: 04/09/2007
  • Issued: 05/03/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2007
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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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.

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