Surgical instrument and method of using the same
OwnerRobert D. Riemaninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A surgical instrument has a slender rod with a sharp point which is pushed inside out through skin tissue at a location remote from an incision so that the rod can be manipulated to perform a surgical procedure at the remote location by means of a surgical tool mounted on the other end of the rod. An electro-meniscectome has a handle supporting an insulative blade holder which insulates a portion of a cutting blade and which has a pair of guides extending forward from opposite sides of the blade. The cutting blade is connected to an energizing wire.
Claims10
A surgical instrument comprising
- a slender rigid rod having a sharp point at one end for being inserted inward through an incision and then outward by penetration through skin tissue at a location remote from the incision;
- a tool mounted on the other end of the rod for being manipulated by a portion of the rod extending outside of the skin tissue to perform a surgical procedure;
- and
- said tool including an insulative blade holder, a metal blade mounted in the blade holder, and an insulation coated electrical wire connected to the blade for connecting the blade to an electrical surgical generator.
A method of performing a surgical procedure at a position relatively remote and inaccessible from an incision, comprising the steps of
- inserting a sharp pointed end of a slender rigid rod through the incision,
- pushing the sharp pointed end through the skin tissue from the inside outward at a point adjacent the remote and inaccessible position,
- manipulating a portion of the rod extending outside the skin tissue to perform a surgical procedure at the remote and inaccessible position by means of a tool mounted on the other end of the rod, and
- applying an electrical signal to the tool to perform coagulation and cutting.
A method of detaching a posterior portion of a meniscus in a knee, comprising the steps of
- inserting a sharp pointed end of a slender rigid rod through an anterior incision and through an opening between the meniscus and a collateral ligament,
- pushing the sharp pointed end through skin tissue from the inside out to the rear of the collateral ligament at a position adjacent the posterior attachment of the meniscus, and
- manipulating a portion of the rod extending outside of the skin tissue including pushing the rod to perform a surgical detachment of the posterior portion of the meniscus by means of a cartilage cutting tool mounted on the other end of the rod.
A surgical instrument for detaching a posterior portion of a meniscus in a knee comprising
- a slender rigid rod having a sharp point at one end for being inserted through an anterior incision, inside a collateral ligament and then outward by penetration through skin tissue at a location behind the collateral ligament;
- and
- a cartilage cutting tool mounted on the other end of the rod for being manipulated by a portion of the rod extending outside of the skin tissue to perform a surgical procedure,
- said tool including an electrically insulative blade holder mounted on the handle, a metal blade having a forward transverse cutting edge mounted in the blade holder, an insulation coated electrical wire connected to the blade for connecting the blade to a surgical electrical generator, said blade holder including a pair of guide members extending forward on opposite sides of the blade for guiding the blade against a posterion knee meniscus attachment, and said metal blade being insulatively covered by means including said blade holder so that only the forward cutting edge of the blade is exposed.
A surgical instrument for detaching a posterior portion of a meniscus in a knee comprising
- a slender rigid rod having a sharp point at one end for being inserted through an anterior incision, inside a collateral ligament and then outward by penetration through skin tissue at a location behind the collateral ligament;
- a cartilage cutting tool mounted on the other end of the rod for being manipulated by a portion of the rod extending outside of the skin tissue to perform a surgical procedure;
- and
- said cartilage cutting tool including an insulative blade holder, a metal blade mounted in the blade holder, and an insulation coated electrical wire connected to the blade for connecting the blade to an electrical surgical generator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.