Tympanostomy tube delivery device with cutter force clutch
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a handpiece having a cannula extending from the handpiece;
a piercer disposed at least partially within the cannula, the piercer comprising a first cylindrical portion, a second cylindrical portion having a diameter larger than the first cylindrical portion, and a conical portion between the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion;
a clutch having a flexible leaf, the clutch has a first orientation in which the flexible leaf directly abuts the conical portion;
a driver releasably coupled to the piercer via the clutch and configured to drive the piercer; and
a drive assembly coupled to the driver and configured to move the driver to translate the piercer relative to the handpiece;
the clutch has a second orientation, responsive to a force greater than a threshold force applied to the piercer, in which the flexible leaf directly abuts the second cylindrical portion, such that the driver can move in a distal direction relative to the piercer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tympanostomy tube delivery device comprises a drive assembly and a force limiting shaft assembly. The shaft assembly comprises a cannula and a piercer operable to translate relative to the cannula so as to pierce the tympanic membrane of a patient. The piercer is mechanically coupled with the drive assembly such that actuation of the drive assembly causes translation of the piercer relative to the cannula. The piercer is mechanically coupled with the drive assembly by a clutch. The clutch is resiliently biased to couple the piercer with the drive assembly. The clutch is configured to uncouple the piercer from the drive assembly in response to a threshold force being imposed upon the piercer so as to inhibit translation of piercer relative to the cannula.
238 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a handpiece having a cannula extending from the handpiece; a piercer disposed at least partially within the cannula, the piercer comprising a first cylindrical portion, a second cylindrical portion having a diameter larger than the first cylindrical portion, and a conical portion between the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion; a clutch having a flexible leaf, the clutch has a first orientation in which the flexible leaf directly abuts the conical portion; a driver releasably coupled to the piercer via the clutch and configured to drive the piercer; and a drive assembly coupled to the driver and configured to move the driver to translate the piercer relative to the handpiece; the clutch has a second orientation, responsive to a force greater than a threshold force applied to the piercer, in which the flexible leaf directly abuts the second cylindrical portion, such that the driver can move in a distal direction relative to the piercer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus, comprising:
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a means for piercing tissue; a cam follower engageable with a cam, the cam configured to move the cam follower to drive the piercing element; a means for selectively coupling the cam follower to the means for piercing tissue, the means for selectively piercing configured to decouple the cam follower from the means for piercing tissue in response to a force greater than a threshold force acting on the means for piercing tissue. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification