# US 12,004,765 B2 · Arthroscopic devices and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,004,765 B2 - Document ID: US12004765B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/348,275 - Filed: 2021-06-15 - Published: 2021-10-07 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-17 - Assignees: RELIGN Corporation - Applicants: Relign Corporation - Inventors: Aaron Germain; Jeff Norton; Jan Echeverry; Steffan Benamou - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12004765B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/320016: {Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes (A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence)} - A61B 17/1615: {Drill bits, i.e. rotating tools extending from a handpiece to contact the worked material} - A61B 17/1626: {Control means; Display units} - A61B 17/1628: {Motors; Power supplies} - A61B 17/1631: {Special drive shafts, e.g. flexible shafts (A61B17/1642, A61B17/164 take precedence)} - A61B 17/1633: {Sleeves, i.e. non-rotating parts surrounding the bit shaft, e.g. the sleeve forming a single unit with the bit shaft (A61B17/1644 takes precedence)} - A61B 17/32002: {with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments} - A61B 18/04: by heating (by applying electromagnetic radiation A61B18/18) - A61B 18/148: {having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy} - A61B 2017/00119: {alarm; indicating an abnormal situation} - A61B 2017/00123: {and automatic shutdown} - A61B 2017/00398: {using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids} - A61B 2017/00415: {having power generation near the working tip of the tool} - A61B 2017/0088: {ceramic} - A61B 2017/320028: {with reciprocating movements} - A61B 2017/32004: {having a laterally movable cutting member at its most distal end which remains within the contours of said end} - A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation} - A61B 2217/005: with suction drainage system - A61B 2218/007: Aspiration - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A medical device includes an elongated sleeve having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end. A ceramic cutting member includes both a cutting window having sharp edges and one or more flutes with cutting burrs circumferentially spaced-apart from the cutting window. An electrode may be placed between a pair of flutes and opposite to the cutting window. A motor drive is coupled to the proximal end of the elongated sleeve to rotate the ceramic cutting member cut bone with the flute(s) and soft tissue with the cutting window. The electrode provides cautery or radiofrequency ablation of tissue when the sleeve and ceramic cutting member are not being rotated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A medical device for removing tissue in a patient, comprising: an elongated outer sleeve with a distal cut-out; a ceramic cutting member rotatably disposed in the elongated outer sleeve for exposure in the distal cut-out, the ceramic cutting member including a longitudinal axis that extends between a proximal end and a distal end of the ceramic cutting member; and an electrode carried on the ceramic cutting member, wherein a cutting window is formed in the ceramic cutting member, the cutting window configured to cut soft tissue as the cutting member is rotated or rotationally oscillated and engaged against soft tissue, wherein at least a first flute and a second flute with a first burr cutting edge and a second burr cutting edge, respectively, are formed in the ceramic cutting member, the first burr cutting edge and the second burr cutting edge each configured to cut bone as the cutting member is rotated or rotationally oscillated and engaged against bone, wherein the first burr cutting edge and the second burr cutting edge are asymmetrically positioned relative to the longitudinal axis of the ceramic cutting member, wherein the cutting window is disposed circumferentially between the first burr cutting edge and the second burr cutting edge, wherein the electrode is also disposed circumferentially between the first burr cutting edge and the second burr cutting edge but is diametrically opposed to the cutting window on the ceramic cutting member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1, wherein the cutting window includes at least a first sharp window cutting edge. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The medical device of claim 2, wherein the first burr cutting edge and the second burr cutting edge are circumferentially spaced-apart from the first sharp window cutting edge around the ceramic cutting member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The medical device of claim 3, wherein the first burr cutting edge and the second burr cutting edge each extend at least partially alongside the first sharp window cutting edge in an axial direction along the ceramic cutting member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The medical device of claim 4, wherein a proximal end of the first burr cutting edge and a proximal end of the second burr cutting edge each extend proximally of a distal end of the first sharp window cutting edge in the axial direction along the ceramic cutting member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The medical device of claim 4, wherein a distal end of the window extends distally of a distal end of the first burr cutting edge and a distal end of the second burr cutting edge in the axial direction along the ceramic cutting member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The medical device of claim 6, wherein a proximal end of the window extends proximally of a proximal end of the first burr cutting edge and a proximal end of the second burr cutting edge in the axial direction along the ceramic cutting member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1, further comprising an inner sleeve, the ceramic cutting member carried on a distal end of the inner sleeve, wherein the cutting window opens to a central channel in the ceramic cutting member that communicates with an interior channel in the inner sleeve, wherein the interior channel is configured to be connected to a negative pressure source to aspirate material cut by any one of the cutting window, the first flute, and the second flute. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1, wherein the first sharp window cutting edge is aligned generally with the longitudinal axis of the ceramic cutting member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first burr cutting edge and the second burr cutting edge is aligned generally with the longitudinal axis of the ceramic cutting member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1, wherein the first flute and the second flute each have an axial length in the range of 4 mm to 8 mm. ### Claim 12 A medical device for removing tissue in a patient, comprising: an elongated outer sleeve with a distal cut-out; a ceramic cutting member rotatably disposed in the elongated outer sleeve for exposure in the distal cut-out, the ceramic cutting member including a longitudinal axis that extends between a proximal end and a distal end of the ceramic cutting member; and an electrode carried on the ceramic cutting member, wherein a cutting window is formed in the ceramic cutting member, the cutting window configured to cut soft tissue as the cutting member is rotated or rotationally oscillated and engaged against soft tissue, wherein at least a first flute and a second flute with a first burr cutting edge and a second burr cutting edge, respectively, are formed in the ceramic cutting member, the first burr cutting edge and the second burr cutting edge each configured to cut bone as the cutting member is rotated or rotationally oscillated and engaged against bone, wherein the ceramic cutter is rotatable in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction in the elongated outer sleeve, the first burr cutting edge facing in the first rotational direction for cutting bone when the ceramic cutter is rotated in the first rotational direction in the elongated outer sleeve, the second burr cutting edge facing in the second rotational direction for cutting bone when the ceramic cutter is rotated in the second rotational direction in the elongated outer sleeve, the second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction, wherein the cutting window is disposed circumferentially between the first burr cutting edge and the second burr cutting edge, wherein the electrode is also disposed circumferentially between the first burr cutting edge and the second burr cutting edge but is diametrically opposed to the cutting window on the ceramic cutting member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The medical device of claim 12, wherein the first burr cutting edge and the second burr cutting edge are asymmetrically positioned relative to the longitudinal axis of the ceramic cutting member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The medical device of claim 12, wherein the cutting window includes at least a first sharp window cutting edge. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The medical device of claim 14, wherein the first burr cutting edge and the second burr cutting edge are circumferentially spaced-apart from the first sharp window cutting edge around the ceramic cutting member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The medical device of claim 15, wherein the first burr cutting edge and the second burr cutting edge each extend at least partially alongside the first sharp window cutting edge in an axial direction along the ceramic cutting member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The medical device of claim 16, wherein a proximal end of the first burr cutting edge and a proximal end of the second burr cutting edge each extend proximally of a distal end of the first sharp window cutting edge in the axial direction along the ceramic cutting member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The medical device of claim 17, wherein a proximal end of the window extends proximally of a proximal end of the first burr cutting edge and a proximal end of the second burr cutting edge in the axial direction along the ceramic cutting member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The medical device of claim 16, wherein a distal end of the window extends distally of a distal end of the first burr cutting edge and a distal end of the second burr cutting edge in the axial direction along the ceramic cutting member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The medical device of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first burr cutting edge and the second burr cutting edge is aligned generally with the longitudinal axis of the ceramic cutting member.