Tissue removal assembly with provision for an electro-cautery device

A surgical assembly for the removal of body tissue in surgery, the assembly comprising:

• an outer cannula having an open proximal end, an open distal end, and a side wall extending therebetween and defining an interior region, the side wall being formed to include a first notch for allowing tissue to enter the interior region;
• a conduit piece coupled to the proximal end of the outer cannula, the conduit piece having a first channel, and a second channel in fluid communication with the first channel, wherein the first channel is in fluid communication with the distal end of the outer cannula;
• a hollow inner cannula defining a cannula passageway and having a distal end, a proximal end, and a side wall, wherein the inner cannula is positioned for movement inside the interior region and the inner cannula includes a plurality of longitudinal slots positioned adjacent its proximal end and the first channel to allow fluid communication between a vacuum source and the distal end of the inner cannula;
• first means coupled to the proximal end of the inner cannula for sealing the proximal end of the inner cannula and allowing a surgical instrument to be sealingly inserted into the inner cannula;
• second means coupled to the second channel of the conduit piece for sealing the second channel around the inner cannula;
• and
• means formed on the inner cannula for cutting tissue entering the interior region, wherein the cutting means cooperates with the first notch in the outer cannula to cut tissue that enters the interior region.

A surgical assembly for the removal of body tissue during surgery, the assembly comprising:

• an outer cannula having an open proximal ed, an open distal end, and a side wall extending therebetween and defining an interior region, the side wall being formed to include a first notch for allowing tissue to enter the interior region;
• a conduit piece coupled to the proximal end of the outer cannula, the conduit piece having a first channel, and a second channel in fluid communication with the first channel and a vacuum source, wherein the first channel is in fluid communication with the distal end of the outer cannula;
• a hollow inner cannula defining a cannula passageway and having a distal end, a proximal end, and a side wall, wherein the inner cannula is positioned for movement inside the interior region and the inner cannula includes a plurality of longitudinal slots positioned adjacent its proximal end and the first channel to allow fluid communication between the vacuum source and the distal end of the inner cannula;
• first means coupled to the proximal end of the inner cannula for sealing the proximal end of the inner cannula and allowing a surgical instrument to be sealingly inserted into the inner cannula;
• and
• means coupled to the inner cannula for cutting tissue entering the interior region.

A surgical assembly for removal of body tissue during surgery, the assembly comprising:

• an outer cannula having an open proximal end, an open distal end, and a side wall defining an interior region connecting the ends, the distal end being insertible into a patient's body;
• a conduit piece coupled to the proximal end of the outer cannula, the conduit piece having a first channel in fluid communication with the distal end of the outer cannula;
• a hollow inner cannula defining a cannula passageway and having a proximal end and a distal end, the inner cannula being movably situated in the first channel of the conduit piece and the interior region of the outer cannula and having means formed at or adjacent the distal end for cutting tissue;
• means coupled to the conduit piece for removing tissue cut by the cutting means through the inner cannula;
• wherein the conduit piece includes a second channel and the removing means includes a vacuum source fluidly connected to the second channel;
• and
• wherein the inner cannula includes a plurality of apertures positioned adjacent its proximal end and the first channel to allow fluid communication between the vacuum source and the distal end of the inner cannula so that vacuum from the vacuum source draws the cut tissue through the inner cannula, through the plurality of apertures, and through the second channel of the conduit piece.

A surgical assembly for the removal of body tissue in surgery, the assembly comprising:

• an outer cannula having an open proximal end and a distal end insertable into a patient's body, and a side wall extending therebetween and defining an interior region, the side wall being formed at or adjacent said distal end to allow tissue to enter the interior region;
• a conduit piece coupled to the proximal end of the outer cannula, the conduit piece having a first channel, in fluid communication with the distal end of the outer cannula;
• a hollow inner cannula defining a cannula passageway and having a distal end, a proximal end, and a side wall, wherein the inner cannula is positioned for movement inside the interior region of the outer cannula and the inner cannula includes a plurality of longitudinal slots positioned adjacent its proximal end and the first channel to allow fluid communication between a vacuum source and the distal end of the inner cannula;
• first means coupled to the proximal end of the inner cannula for sealing the proximal end of the inner cannula and allowing a surgical instrument to be sealingly inserted into the inner cannula;
• second means coupled to the conduit piece for sealing around the inner cannula;
• and
• means formed on the inner cannula at or adjacent its distal end for cutting tissue, wherein the cutting means cooperates with the outer cannula to cut tissue.

A surgical assembly for the removal of body tissue during surgery, the assembly comprising:

• an outer cannula having an open proximal end, and a distal end, and a side wall extending therebetween and defining an interior region, the side wall being formed to allow tissue to enter the interior region at or adjacent the distal end;
• a conduit piece coupled to the proximal end of the outer cannula, the conduit piece having a first channel, and a second channel in fluid communication with the first channel and a vacuum source, wherein the first channel is in fluid communication with the distal end of the outer cannula;
• a hollow inner cannula defining a cannula passageway and having a distal end, a proximal ed, and a side wall, wherein the inner cannula is positioned for movement inside the interior region of the outer cannula and the inner cannula includes a plurality of longitudinal slots positioned adjacent its proximal end and the first channel to allow fluid communication between the vacuum source and the distal end of the inner cannula;
• first means coupled to the proximal end of the inner cannula for sealing the proximal end of the inner cannula and allowing a surgical instrument to be sealingly inserted into the inner cannula;
• and
• means coupled to the inner cannula for cutting tissue entering the interior region of the outer cannula.

A surgical assembly for removal of body tissue during surgery, the assembly comprising:

• an outer cannula having an open proximal end, an open distal end, and a side wall defining an interior region connecting the ends, the distal end being positionable into a patient's body;
• a conduit piece rigidly coupled to the proximal end of the outer cannula, the conduit piece having a first channel in fluid communication with the distal end of the outer cannula;
• a hollow cutter defining a passageway and having a proximal end and a distal end, the hollow cutter being movably situated in the first channel of the conduit piece and the interior region of the outer cannula and having cutting means formed adjacent the hollow cutter distal end for cooperating with the outer cannula to cut patient tissue;
• the conduit piece including a second channel connectable to a vacuum source for removing tissue cut by the cutting means of the hollow cutter;
• valve means rigidly coupled with the rigidly coupled conduit piece and outer cannula for controlling flow through the second channel;
• wherein the rigidly coupled conduit piece and valve means has a hand grip portion for holding the coupled conduit piece, outer cannula and valve means for positioning the outer cannula in the patent by a hand gripping the hand grip portion;
• wherein the valve means is actuable by a digit of the hand gripping the hand grip portion while the hand positions the outer cannula in the patient;
• and
• means for moving the hollow cutter and operable by a digit of the hand gripping the hand grip portion while the hand positions the outer cannula in the patient's body.