Tympanostomy tube delivery device with replaceable shaft portion
First Claim
1. An instrument, comprising:
- (a) a shaft assembly including a plurality of coaxially-arranged shafts and a tympanostomy tube, wherein at least two shafts of the plurality of coaxially-arranged shafts include respective cam followers;
(b) a handpiece body, the handpiece body defining an opening in an external surface of the handpiece body, the handpiece body configured to removably receive the at least two shafts of the plurality of coaxially-arranged shafts and the respective cam followers through the opening such that the shaft assembly extends distally from the handpiece body, the opening including an elongate channel and a plurality of slots such that the plurality of slots intersect the elongate channel, the plurality of slots configured to receive the cam followers; and
(c) a drive assembly disposed within the handpiece body, the drive assembly including a cam configured to engage the cam followers upon insertion of the at least two shafts of the plurality of coaxially-arranged shafts through the opening, wherein the drive assembly is operable to drive the plurality of coaxially-arranged shafts of the shaft assembly in a predetermined sequence to deploy the tympanostomy tube.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tympanostomy tube delivery device comprises a shaft assembly, a pressure equalization tube, and a handpiece. All or a portion of the shaft assembly is selectively coupleable and removable from the handpiece. The shaft assembly comprises a cannula, a piercer/dilator tube, a shield tube, and a pusher tube operable to translate relative to the cannula. The pressure equalization tube is positioned within the shield tube of the shaft assembly. The piercer/dilator tube and the shield tube are operable to pierce the tympanic membrane and dilate an opening formed therein. The pusher tube is operable to drive the pressure equalization tube out of the shield tube of the shaft assembly and into the opening formed in the tympanic membrane. Upon completion of the procedure, all or a portion of the shaft assembly may then be removed and replaced.
215 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An instrument, comprising:
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(a) a shaft assembly including a plurality of coaxially-arranged shafts and a tympanostomy tube, wherein at least two shafts of the plurality of coaxially-arranged shafts include respective cam followers; (b) a handpiece body, the handpiece body defining an opening in an external surface of the handpiece body, the handpiece body configured to removably receive the at least two shafts of the plurality of coaxially-arranged shafts and the respective cam followers through the opening such that the shaft assembly extends distally from the handpiece body, the opening including an elongate channel and a plurality of slots such that the plurality of slots intersect the elongate channel, the plurality of slots configured to receive the cam followers; and (c) a drive assembly disposed within the handpiece body, the drive assembly including a cam configured to engage the cam followers upon insertion of the at least two shafts of the plurality of coaxially-arranged shafts through the opening, wherein the drive assembly is operable to drive the plurality of coaxially-arranged shafts of the shaft assembly in a predetermined sequence to deploy the tympanostomy tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An instrument, comprising:
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(a) a shaft assembly including a plurality of coaxially arranged shafts, wherein at least one shaft of the plurality of coaxially arranged shafts includes a distal end having a piercing element, wherein the at least one shaft including the piercing element further includes a cam follower; (b) a handpiece body, the handpiece body defining a laterally-presented channel in an external surface of the handpiece body, the handpiece body configured to removably receive the at least one shaft and the cam follower through the laterally-presented channel such that the shaft assembly extends distally from the handpiece body, the laterally-presented channel including a plurality of slots such that the plurality of slots intersect the laterally-presented channel, at least one of the plurality of slots configured to receive the cam follower; and (c) a drive assembly disposed within the handpiece body, the drive assembly including a cam configured to engage the cam follower upon insertion of the at least one shaft in the laterally-presented channel, wherein the drive assembly is operable to drive the at least one shaft including the piercing element. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of using an instrument, the instrument comprising a handpiece body, a shaft assembly extending distally from the handpiece body, the shaft assembly including a plurality of coaxially-arranged shafts and a tympanostomy tube, at least two shafts of the plurality of coaxially-arranged shafts including respective cam followers, and a drive assembly disposed within the handpiece body, the drive assembly including a cam, the method comprising the steps of:
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inserting the at least two shafts of the plurality of coaxially-arranged shafts and the respective cam followers through an opening defined in an external surface of the handpiece body, the opening including an elongate channel and a plurality of slots such that the plurality of slots intersect the elongate channel, the plurality of slots configured to receive the cam followers, wherein the step of inserting the at least two shafts causes the cam of the drive assembly to engage the cam followers of the shaft assembly; and actuating the drive assembly to thereby drive the at least two shafts of the plurality of coaxially-arranged shafts in a predetermined sequence to deploy the tympanostomy tube. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification