Meniscal probe cutter
AssigneeArthrex, Inc.
InventorsChristopher G. Papangelou, Brandon L. Roller, Sean Murphy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Instruments and methods that allow for a minimally invasive way to probe, locate, and cut a meniscus during a meniscectomy procedure. The instrument is a single hybrid probe/cutter instrument provided with both probing and cutting means that allow probing and cutting of the meniscus with the same hybrid instrument. A minimally invasive technique for probing and cutting (resecting) a torn area of a meniscus by employing the single, hybrid probing/cutting instrument is also provided. The technique provides a consistently good-quality meniscus with improved cosmetic results, and is simple and easily reproducible, strong, and time-saving for meniscal repairs.
Claims24
A hybrid probe/cutter instrument for meniscal probing and cutting, comprising:
- a handle;
- an outer tube attached to the handle and stationary relative to the handle, the outer tube having a proximal end, a distal end, a diameter, and a longitudinal axis;
- a probe tip comprising a hook at a most distal end of the outer tube and configured to hook tissue, wherein a most distal surface of the hook of the outer tube is curved, the hook comprises a longitudinal portion having an elongated slot and a curved portion extending from the longitudinal portion having another slot to receive a cutting device, and the longitudinal portion does not extend outside the diameter of the outer tube relative to the longitudinal axis;
- the cutting device extending through the outer tube and housed within the outer tube, the cutting device configured to move within the elongated slot of the longitudinal portion from a first position proximal to the probe tip in which the cutting device is housed inside the outer tube to a second position in which the cutting device is received within the elongated slot formed in the probe tip, is nested within the another slot, and is exposed for cutting the tissue;
- and
- an actuator mechanism for actuating the cutting device from the first position to the second position.
A hybrid probe/cutter instrument for meniscal probing and cutting, comprising:
- a handle;
- an outer tube attached to the handle, the outer tube having a proximal end and a distal end;
- a probe tip comprising a hook at a most distal end of the outer tube and configured to hook tissue, wherein the hook comprises a longitudinal portion having an elongated slot and a curved portion extending from the longitudinal portion having another slot to receive a cutting device;
- the cutting device extending through the outer tube and housed within the outer tube, the cutting device configured to move within the elongated slot of the longitudinal portion from a first position proximal to the probe tip in which the cutting device is housed inside the outer tube to a second position in which the cutting device is received within the elongated slot formed in the probe tip, is nested within the another slot, and is exposed for cutting the tissue;
- and
- an actuator mechanism for actuating the cutting device from the first position to the second position.
A hybrid probe/cutter instrument, comprising:
- a handle;
- an outer tube attached to the handle at a first end portion, the outer tube is fully cannulated between the first end portion and a second end portion opposite from the first end portion, wherein the outer tube is stationary relative to the handle, the outer tube including a diameter and a longitudinal axis;
- a hooked probe tip comprising a hook disposed at the second end portion of the outer tube and configured to hook tissue, wherein the hook comprises a longitudinal portion having an elongated slot and a curved portion extending from the longitudinal portion having another slot to receive a cutting blade, a most distal surface of the hook of the outer tube is curved, and the longitudinal portion does not extend outside the diameter of the outer tube relative to the longitudinal axis;
- a cutting blade extending inside the outer tube and movable within the elongated slot of the longitudinal portion between a first position proximal to the probe tip in which the cutting blade is housed inside the outer tube and a second position in which the cutting blade is received within the elongated slot formed in the hooked probe tip, is nested within the another slot, and is exposed for cutting the tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.