Vacuum powered rotary devices and methods

• US 9,770,289 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2013
• Issued: 09/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Myromed, LLC
• Original Assignee: Myromed, LLC
• Inventors: Dubois, Brian R., Nielsen, James T., Gordon, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Victor
• Application Number:
  US13/734,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20130218186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,726 Days
• Field of Search: 606115, 606177, 606180, 604 26
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32053 Punch like cutting instruments, e.g. using a cylindrical or oval knife A61B17/326 takes precedence; trepans A61B17/1695; for use on the cornea A61F9/007
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/148 having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0023 disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00544 pneumatically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320024 Morcellators, e.g. having a hollow cutting tube with an annular cutter for morcellating and removing tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320064 with tissue or sample retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system

Abstract

The present devices and methods relate generally to vacuum or suction powered medical devices and methods for cutting, resecting, excising, morcellating and/or evacuating tissue from various regions of a patient'"'"'s body. In certain variations, the devices may produce a rotational motion by converting a linear reciprocating motion to a rotational motion, causing a cutting shaft or other tool to rotate to perform work on a tissue in various regions of the body.

Claims

1. A method for performing work on tissue in the human body comprising:

positioning an operable element located on a distal end of a medical device against a target tissue;

powering the medical device with suction created by a vacuum source such that the suction drives a mechanism that produces linear reciprocating motion;

converting the linear reciprocating motion into a rotary motion with a rack and pinion gear assembly, wherein the rack and pinion gear assembly comprises a rack and a pinion gear, wherein the rack is coupled to the mechanism such that linear reciprocating motion produced by the mechanism causes the rack to reciprocate, wherein the reciprocating rack drives the pinion gear in an oscillating rotary motion; and

causing, via the rotary motion, the operable element to rotate, whereby the operable element performs work on the target tissue.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mechanism is powered solely by suction created by a vacuum source.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical device produces an oscillating rotary motion.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one electrical conductor positioned on a patient contact portion of the device, wherein electrical energy from the conductor is used to cauterize tissue.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one electrical conductor positioned on a patient contact portion of the device, wherein electrical energy from the conductor is used to ablate tissue.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising convening the linear reciprocating motion into a rotary motion with a rack and pinion gear assembly having a spring ratchet mechanism.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising convening the linear reciprocating motion into a rotary motion with a rack and pinion gear assembly having a pivoting rack assembly.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying the suction to both sides of a piston within the medical device in an alternating manner to cause the piston to reciprocate in a linear manner, wherein the piston is reciprocated solely by the applied suction.

9. A method for performing work on tissue in the human body comprising:

positioning an operable element located on a distal end of a medical device against a target tissue;

powering the medical device with suction created by a vacuum source such that the suction drives a mechanism that produces linear reciprocating motion;

converting the linear reciprocating motion into a rotary motion with a component comprising a gear and a crank arm, wherein the gear is coupled to the mechanism via the crank arm and the linear reciprocating motion produced by the mechanism causes the crank arm to rotate the gear; and

causing, via the rotary motion, the operable element to produce an oscillating rotary motion, whereby the operable element performs work on the target tissue.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the mechanism is powered solely by suction created by a vacuum source.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising at least one electrical conductor positioned on a patient contact portion of the device, wherein electrical energy from the conductor is used to cauterize tissue.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising at least one electrical conductor positioned on a patient contact portion of the device, wherein electrical energy from the conductor is used to ablate tissue.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the component further comprises a cam lobe coupled to the gear and a cam follower, wherein the cam follower is configured to exert a force on the cam lobe to cause the gear to translate into a position in which the vacuum powered mechanism is unlikely to stall.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the gear is coupled to a shaft such that rotation of the gear causes rotation of the shaft.

15. A method for performing work on tissue in the human body comprising:

positioning an operable element located on a distal end of a medical device against a target tissue;

powering the medical device with suction created by a vacuum source such that the suction chives a mechanism that produces linear reciprocating motion;

converting the linear reciprocating motion into a rotary motion; and

causing, via the rotary motion, the operable element to rotate, whereby the operable element performs work on the target tissue.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the mechanism is powered solely by suction created by a vacuum source.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising at least one electrical conductor positioned on a patient contact portion of the device, wherein electrical energy from the conductor is used to cauterize tissue.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising at least one electrical conductor positioned on a patient contact portion of the device, wherein electrical energy from the conductor is used to ablate tissue.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising converting the linear reciprocating motion into a rotary motion with at least one of a crank mechanism, an anti-stall crank mechanism, a rack and pinion gear assembly, a rack and pinion gear assembly having a spring ratchet mechanism, and a rack and pinion gear assembly having a pivoting rack assembly.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising converting the linear reciprocating motion into a rotary motion with a component comprising a gear and a crank arm, wherein the gear is coupled to the mechanism via the crank arm and the linear reciprocating motion produced by the mechanism causes the crank arm to rotate the gear.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the component further comprises a cam lobe coupled to the gear and a cam follower, wherein the cam follower is configured to exert a force on the cam lobe to cause the gear to translate into a position in which the vacuum powered mechanism is unlikely to stall.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the gear is coupled to a shaft such that rotation of the gear causes rotation of the shaft.

23. The method of claim 15, further comprising applying the suction to both sides of a piston within the medical device in an alternating manner to cause the piston to reciprocate in a linear manner, wherein the piston is reciprocated solely by the applied suction.