# US 2019/0167291 A1 · Morcellator with auger tissue feeder > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0167291 A1 - Document ID: US20190167291A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/208,759 - Filed: 2018-12-04 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-05 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: Scott J. Prior; Danial P. Ferreira; Henry E. Holsten; Stanislaw Kostrzewski - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167291A1 ## CPC - A61B 17/32002: {with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments} - A61B 17/00234: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 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 17/3423: {Access ports, e.g. toroid shape introducers for instruments or hands (access sites for liquids A61M39/0247)} - A61B 17/3462: {with means for changing the diameter or the orientation of the entrance port of the cannula, e.g. for use with different-sized instruments, reduction ports, adapter seals (expandable cannulas A61B17/3417)} - A61B 2017/00287: {Bags for minimally invasive surgery} - A61B 2017/00349: {Needle-like instruments having hook or barb-like gripping means, e.g. for grasping suture or tissue (A61B17/06066 takes precedence)} - A61B 2017/00353: {one mechanical instrument performing multiple functions, e.g. cutting and grasping} - A61B 2017/320024: {Morcellators, e.g. having a hollow cutting tube with an annular cutter for morcellating and removing tissue} - A61B 2017/320064: {with tissue or sample retaining means} - A61B 2017/320775: {Morcellators, impeller or propeller like means} - A61B 2017/3466: {for simultaneous sealing of multiple instruments} - A61B 2017/347: {Locking means, e.g. for locking instrument in cannula} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A morcellator include a housing, a knife, and a first auger. The housing defies a longitudinal axis and has an inner wall that defines a passage along the longitudinal axis. The knife is disposed about an inner wall of the housing and is secured to a distal portion of the housing. The knife extends distally from the distal portion of the housing. The first auger is disposed within the housing and has a first auger shaft and a first auger blade. The first auger shaft extends in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing. The first auger is configured to rotate relative to the housing such that the first auger blade moves tissue proximally through the passage. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A morecellator comprising: a housing defining a longitudinal axis and having an inner wall defining a passage along the longitudinal axis; a knife disposed about an inner wall of the housing and secured to a distal portion of the housing, the knife extending distally from the distal portion of the housing; a first auger disposed within the housing having a first auger shaft and a first auger blade, the first auger shaft extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing, the first auger configured to rotate relative to the housing such that the first auger blade moves tissue proximally through the passage. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The morcellator according to claim 1, wherein a distal end of the first auger is positioned proximal of a distal end of the knife. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The morcellator according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes a shield that extends distally beyond the knife. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The morcellator according to claim 3, wherein the shield is configured to guide tissue into the passage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The morcellator according to claim 1, further comprising a second auger disposed within the housing and having a second auger shaft and a second auger blade, the second auger shaft parallel to the first auger shaft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The morcellator according to claim 5, wherein the passage of the housing has an ovular cross-section with a first dimension equal to diameters of the first and second augers and a second dimension, perpendicular to the first dimension, less than the sum of the diameters of the first and second augers. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The morcellator according to claim 6, wherein the first and second auger blades have opposite pitches such that as the first auger and the second auger are rotated in opposite directions about a respective auger shaft, the first and second augers configured to draw tissue proximally through the passage. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The morcellator according to claim 6, wherein the first and second auger blades are windowed relative to one another and positioned such that the longitudinal axis of the housing passes through each of the first and second auger blades. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The morcellator according to claim 5, further comprising: a third auger having a third auger shaft and a third auger blade, the third auger shaft parallel to the first auger shaft, the third auger positioned adjacent the second auger and on an opposite side of the housing from the first auger; and a fourth auger having a fourth auger shaft and a fourth auger blade, the fourth auger shaft parallel to the first auger shaft, the fourth auger positioned adjacent the first and third auger shafts and on an opposite side of the housing from the second auger. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The morcellator according to claim 6, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth auger blades are spaced apart from one another and are pitched in the same direction such that rotation of each of the first, second, third, and fourth augers in the same direction about a respective auger shaft is configured to draw tissue proximally through the passage. ### Claim 11 A method of morcellating tissue, the method comprising: rotating a housing of a morcellator about a longitudinal axis of the housing, the housing having an inner surface defining a passage therethrough and including a spiral projection extending inward from the inner surface to form an auger; and engaging tissue with the rotating auger to draw tissue proximally through the passage. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein engaging tissue with the rotating auger includes passing a tool through the passage to engage tissue distal of the housing and drawing the tissue proximally into the auger. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein engaging tissue with the tool includes rotating a threaded portion of the tool in a first direction into the tissue and wherein engaging tissue with the rotating auger includes rotating the auger in a second direction opposite the first direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein rotating the housing includes rotating an elongate shaft extending distally from a handle to rotate the housing, the housing rotatably fixed to a distal portion of the elongate shaft. ### Claim 15 A morcellator comprising: a housing defining a longitudinal axis and having an inner surface defining a passage along the longitudinal axis, the housing including a spiral projection extending inward from the inner surface to form an auger, the housing configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis such that the auger draws tissue proximally through the passage. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The morcellator according to claim 15, wherein the housing has a proximal end and a distal end, the housing being tapered from the distal end towards the proximal end. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The morcellator according to claim 15, further comprising an elongate shaft having a distal portion which supports the housing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The morcellator according to claim 17, wherein the housing is rotatably fixed to the distal portion of the elongate shaft. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The morcellator according to claim 17, further comprising a handle, the elongate shaft extending distally from the handle. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The morcellator according to claim 19, wherein the handle is configured to rotate the elongate shaft relative to the handle, thereby rotating the housing about the longitudinal axis.