Instrument with integral imaging and irrigation features

A method of concurrently accommodating a first surgical tool and a second surgical tool within a guide lumen of a surgical instrument, the method comprising:

• (a) providing the surgical instrument including
• (a) an instrument body;
• (b) a guide shaft distally projecting from the instrument body along a central axis, including:
• (i) a guide sidewall surrounding the central axis, (ii) the guide lumen defined by the guide sidewall, and (iii) a clearance opening radially extending through the guide sidewall in communication with the guide lumen;
• and
• (c) the first surgical tool, including:
• (i) an elongate body at least partially positioned within the guide lumen, and (ii) a distal head extending from the elongate body proximate to the clearance opening, the distal head being configured to deflect relative to the elongate body from a first position to a second position, the distal head in the first position being positioned within the guide lumen along the central axis, and the distal head in the second position being deflected from the central axis and extends at least partially through the clearance opening thereby vacating at least a portion of the guide lumen;
• and
• (b) engaging the second surgical tool against the distal head of the first surgical tool to thereby urge the distal head of the first surgical tool from the first position to the second position and concurrently accommodate both of the first and second surgical tools within the guide lumen, the distal head being parallel with the central axis in the first position, the distal head being oriented obliquely relative to the central axis in the second position.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• (a) an instrument body;
• (b) a guide shaft distally projecting from the instrument body along a central axis, including:
• (i) a guide sidewall surrounding the central axis,
• (ii) a guide lumen defined by the guide sidewall, and
• (iii) a clearance opening radially extending through the guide sidewall in communication with the guide lumen;
• and
• (c) a first surgical tool, including:
• (i) an elongate body at least partially positioned within the guide lumen, and
• (ii) a distal head extending from the elongate body proximate to the clearance opening, the distal head being configured to deflect relative to the elongate body from a first position to a second position;
• the distal head, in the first position, being positioned within the guide lumen along the central axis,
• the distal head, in the second position, being deflected from the central axis such that the distal head is obliquely oriented relative to the central axis and vacates at least a portion of the guide lumen for introducing a second surgical tool through the guide lumen.