# US 10,441,306 B2 · Reciprocating rotary arthroscopic surgical instrument > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,306 B2 - Document ID: US10441306B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/584,377 - Filed: 2017-05-02 - Published: 2017-08-17 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2001-10-26 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: Peter M. Cesarini; Karen Drucker; Rafal Jezierski; Roger R. Cassidy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441306B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/32002: {with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments} - A61B 17/320016: {Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes (A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence)} - A61B 17/320758: {with a rotating cutting instrument, e.g. motor driven (A61B17/320725, A61B17/32075 and A61B17/320783 take precedence; for removing intra-ocular material A61F9/00763; endoscopic rotatable cutting instruments A61B17/32002)} - A61B 18/148: {having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy} - A61B 2017/2913: {cams or guiding means} - A61B 2017/320028: {with reciprocating movements} - A61B 2017/320032: {Details of the rotating or oscillating shaft, e.g. using a flexible shaft} - A61B 2217/005: with suction drainage system - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A surgical instrument includes a cutting member with an implement for cutting tissue, and a drive coupled to the cutting member to simultaneously rotate and translate the cutting member in response to a three applied to the drive. A method of cutting tissue includes positioning an outer member such that tissue is located within the outer member, engaging the tissue with an inner member, and simultaneously rotating and translating the inner member to cut the tissue. A tangential cutting force is applied to the tissue with the inner member to mechanically cut the tissue. The inner member is mechanically driven to undergo simultaneous rotation and translation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A driving assembly of a surgical instrument, comprising: a drive coupler configured to receive a rotational input; a helical member operably coupled to the drive coupler such that rotation of the drive coupler rotates the helical member, the helical member defining a helical groove having a first threaded helical channel and a second threaded helical channel, the first and second threaded helical channels blended together at their ends to form a continuous groove such that there is a smooth transition from the first threaded helical channel to the second threaded helical channel; and a translation piece engaged within the helical groove such that the helical member provides both a rotational output and translational output in response to the rotational input, wherein the helical member is adapted to connect to a cutting member to provide the rotational output and the translational output thereto. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The driving assembly according to claim 1, wherein the drive coupler is adapted to connect to a rotary driver configured to provide the rotational input to the drive coupler. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The driving assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first threaded helical channel defines a right-handed configuration, and wherein the second threaded helical channel defines a left-handed configuration. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The driving assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an outer hub at least partially housing the helical member and the translation piece therein. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The driving assembly according to claim 4, wherein the drive coupler extends proximally from the outer hub. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The driving assembly according to claim 4, wherein the translation piece extends through a cut-out defined within the outer hub and is longitudinally fixed within the cut-out. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The driving assembly according to claim 1, wherein the helical member is operably coupled to the drive coupler via a key-slot arrangement rotationally coupling the drive coupler to the helical member and permitting translation of the helical member relative to the drive coupler. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The driving assembly according to claim 1, wherein helical groove extends at least two full revolutions about the drive member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The driving assembly according to claim 1, wherein the translation piece is configured to swivel when moving between the first threaded the helical channel and the second threaded helical channel. ### Claim 10 A driving assembly of a surgical instrument, comprising: a drive coupler configured to receive a rotational input; a helical member operably coupled to the drive coupler such that rotation of the drive coupler rotates the helical member, the helical member defining a helical groove having a first threaded helical channel and a second threaded helical channel, the first and second threaded helical channels coupled together at their ends to define transitions therebetween, wherein the first threaded helical channel defines a first pitch and wherein the second threaded helical channel defines a second pitch different from the first pitch; and a translation piece engaged within the helical groove such that the helical member provides both a rotational output and translational output in response to the rotational input, wherein, as a result of the different first and second pitches, the translation output defines a first speed in a first direction and a second, different speed in a second, opposite direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The driving assembly according to claim 10, wherein the drive coupler is adapted to connect to a rotary driver configured to provide the rotational input to the drive coupler. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The driving assembly according to claim 10, wherein the helical member is adapted to connect to a cutting member to provide the rotational output and the translational output thereto, and wherein the cutting member is configured to translate the first speed in the first direction and the second speed in the second, opposite direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The driving assembly according to claim 10, wherein the first threaded helical channel defines a right-handed configuration, and wherein the second threaded helical channel defines a left-handed configuration. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The driving assembly according to claim 10, further comprising an outer hub at least partially housing the helical member and the translation piece therein. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The driving assembly according to claim 14, wherein the drive coupler extends proximally from the outer hub. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The driving assembly according to claim 14, wherein the translation piece extends through a cut-out defined within the outer hub and is longitudinally fixed within the cut-out. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The driving assembly according to claim 10, wherein the helical member is operably coupled to the drive coupler via a key-slot arrangement rotationally coupling the drive coupler to the helical member and permitting translation of the helical member relative to the drive coupler. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The driving assembly according to claim 10, wherein helical groove extends at least two full revolutions about the drive member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The driving assembly according to claim 10, wherein the translation piece is configured to swivel when moving between the first threaded helical channel and the second threaded helical channel.