Atraumatic arthroscopic instrument sheath

• US 9,375,207 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2014
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• 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:
  US14/475,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20150087906A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. The sheath is provided with a cylindrical grip on the proximal end to resiliently squeeze the proximal end of the arthroscopic instrument. A level is provided to move the grip radially outwardly to release the grip from the arthroscopic instrument.

Claims

1. A surgical device comprising:

arthroscopic means for performing an arthroscopic surgical procedure, said arthroscopic means having an outer diameter and a proximal end;

a tubular means for removably enclosing the arthroscopic means, the tubular means having a proximal portion, a proximal end, an outer surface and an inner diameter sized and dimensioned to closely conform to the outer diameter of the arthroscopic means;

a means for gripping the tubular means disposed coaxially over the outer surface of the tubular means on the proximal portion of the tubular means, said means for gripping having a proximal portion that extends proximally beyond the proximal end of the tubular means;

wherein the proximal portion of the means for gripping frictionally engages the proximal end of the arthroscopic means; and

a first lever means operably attached to the means for gripping to move a first segment of the proximal portion of the means for gripping in a radially outwardly direction.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a second lever means operably attached to the means for gripping to move a second segment of the proximal portion of the means for gripping in a radially outwardly direction.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein:

the first lever means and the second lever means extend distally from the means for gripping;

the first lever means and the second lever means are characterized by a distal portion; and

the distal portions of the first lever means and second lever means comprise arcuate segments that extend radially outwardly from the tubular means.

4. The device of claim 3 further comprising:

a first fulcrum disposed on the distal portion of the first lever means and a second fulcrum disposed on the distal portion of the second lever means.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising a first tab disposed on the tubular means, said tab adapted to prevent fluids disposed outside the tubular means from moving proximally of the tab.

6. The device of claim 5 further comprising a second tab disposed on the tubular means and distally of the first tab, said second tab adapted to prevent fluids disposed outside the tubular means from moving proximally of the second tab.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the tubular means is further characterized by a distal portion and the tubular means further comprises:

a hole disposed in the distal portion of the tubular means, said hole communicating from the outer diameter of the tubular means to a lumen disposed within the tubular means, whereby fluids may be introduced into and suctioned from a surgical site through the hole.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the tubular means is characterized by a distal tip and wherein:

the distal tip comprises a material having a hardness less than the hardness of the material of the tubular means; and

the distal tip has an inner diameter less than the inner diameter of the tubular means.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the tubular means is further characterized by a distal portion and the tubular means further comprises a hole disposed in the distal portion of the tubular means, said hole communicating from the outer diameter of the tubular means to a lumen disposed within the tubular means, whereby fluids may be introduced into and suctioned from a surgical site through the hole.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the tip is split in at least one location on the tip.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the tubular means is further characterized by a distal portion and wherein the tubular means further comprises:

a hole disposed in the distal portion of the tubular means, said hole communicating from the outer diameter of the tubular means to a lumen disposed within the tubular means, whereby fluids may be introduced into and suctioned from a surgical site through the hole.

12. An arthroscopic device comprising:

a surgical means for performing an arthroscopic surgical procedure;

an atraumatic tubular means comprising a tube characterized by a proximal portion and a proximal end, said tubular means having an inner diameter sized and dimensioned to closely conform to an outer diameter of the arthroscopic instrument, wherein the atraumatic tubular means is adapted to be removably disposed over the arthroscopic instrument;

a cylindrical grip disposed on the proximal portion of the tubular means, said grip characterized by a proximal portion;

wherein the proximal portion of the grip extends proximally past the proximal end of the tubular means;

wherein the material of the proximal portion of the grip and the size and dimensions of the proximal portion of the grip are selected such that the proximal portion of the grip is biased to assume a shape having an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of the arthroscopic instrument, whereby the proximal portion of the grip may squeeze the arthroscopic instrument;

a first lever means for moving a first segment of the proximal portion of the grip in a radially outwardly direction, the first lever means operably attached to the grip;

a second lever means for moving a second segment of the proximal portion of the grip in a radially outwardly direction, the second lever means operably attached to the grip;

wherein the first lever means and the second lever means extend distally from the grip;

the first lever means and the second lever means are characterized by a distal portion;

and the distal portions of the first lever means and second lever means comprise arcuate segments that extend radially outwardly from the tubular means; and

further comprising a first fulcrum disposed on the distal portion of the first lever means and a second fulcrum disposed on the distal portion of the second lever means.

13. The device of claim 12 further comprising a first tab disposed on the tubular means, said tab adapted to prevent fluids disposed outside the tubular means from moving proximally of the tab.

14. The device of claim 13 further comprising a second tab disposed on the tubular means and distally of the first tab, said second tab adapted to prevent fluids disposed outside the tubular means from moving proximally of the second tab.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the tubular means is further characterized by a distal portion and the tubular means further comprises:

a hole disposed in the distal portion of the tubular means, said hole communicating from the outer diameter of the tubular means to a lumen disposed within the tubular means, whereby fluids may be introduced into and suctioned from a surgical site through the hole.

16. The device of claim 12 wherein the tubular means is characterized by a distal tip and wherein:

the distal tip comprises a material having a hardness less than the hardness of the material of the tubular means; and

the distal tip has an inner diameter less than the inner diameter of the tubular means.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the tubular means is further characterized by a distal portion and the tubular means further comprises:

a hole disposed in the distal portion of the tubular means, said hole communicating from the outer diameter of the tubular means to a lumen disposed within the tubular means, whereby fluids may be introduced into and suctioned from a surgical site through the hole.

18. The device of claim 12 wherein the tip is split in at least one location on the tip.

19. The device of claim 12 wherein the tubular means is further characterized by a distal portion and wherein the tubular means further comprises:

a hole disposed in the distal portion of the tubular means, said hole communicating from the outer diameter of the tubular means to a lumen disposed within the tubular means, whereby fluids may be introduced into and suctioned from a surgical site through the hole.