US 5,683,359 AGranted

Arthroscopic surgical instruments having suction capability

AssigneeSymbiosis Corporation

InventorsLaszlo Farkas, Kevin F. Hahnen, Boris Kesler

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An arthroscopic surgical instrument includes a surgical punch end effector assembly, a hollow tube defining a fluid passageway, a push rod extending through the hollow tube, an actuating lever coupled to a proximal end of the push rod, and a fluid coupler extending into the hollow tube and coupling to a vacuum source which applies suction through the fluid passageway. The end effector assembly has movable punch and stationary die end effectors. The stationary die end effector includes separate upper die and lower cup portions which are coupled to the distal end of the hollow tube, and which are fixed together during an assembly procedure. The upper die portion has a groove into which a tongue of the movable end effector is fitted prior to fixing the separate portions of the stationary end effector. When the stationary die end effector is assembled with the movable punch end effector pivoting therein, and the end effectors are in a closed position, a substantially closed cavity or hollow is formed in the end effectors with the cavity having a proximal opening to the tube. Tissue punched by the movable end effector falls into the cavity, and due to the fact that the cavity is substantially closed, the suction extends into the cavity and suctions the tissue out through the fluid passageway.

Claims22

Dependent claims

An arthroscopic surgical instrument, comprising:

a) a hollow tube having a distal end and a proximal end;
b) an end effector assembly having a longitudinal axis and coupled to said distal end of said hollow tube, wherein said end effector assembly includes a stationary end effector and a movable end effector with pivot means for permitting said movable end effector to rotate relative to said stationary end effector about an axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said end effector assembly, said stationary end effector being cupped and having a bottom inner cup surface, and said movable end effector comprising a punch having a hollowed distal portion, a substantially solid middle portion, and a proximal portion, with a bottom surface of said substantially solid middle portion of said movable end effector and said bottom inner cup surface of said stationary end effector defining a first passageway of sufficient size to receive and pass material punched by said movable end effector;
c) actuating means extending through said hollow tube and coupled to said proximal portion of said movable end effector, said actuating means for actuating said end effector to open and closed positions, wherein said actuating means and said hollow tube together define an annular second passageway from said distal end of said hollow tube to said proximal end of said hollow tube, said first passageway being in fluid communication with said annular second passageway;
and
d) a suctioning means for applying suction through said annular second passageway and through said first passageway to a space defined by and between said stationary end effector and said movable end effector when said movable end effector is in said closed position, wherein
said stationary end effector is comprised of a separate lower cup portion and a separate upper die portion, said upper die portion defining an opening, said separate lower cup and upper die portions being fixed together,
said movable end effector punch is sized to fit in said opening of said upper die portion of said stationary end effector, and
each of said lower cup portion and said upper die portion has a proximal substantially semicylindrical shank, said shanks coupling to said distal end of said hollow tube.

5 more elements

An arthroscopic surgical instrument, comprising:

a) a hollow tube having a distal end and a proximal end;
b) an end effector assembly coupled to said distal end of said hollow tube and being in fluid communication therewith, wherein said end effector assembly includes a stationary end effector and a movable end effector, said stationary end effector having a die portion with a plurality of walls defining an opening, at least two of said plurality of walls having arcuate tongues, and said movable end effector comprising a punch sized to fit in said opening, said punch having opposed sides each having an arcuate groove, wherein said arcuate tongues fit in said arcuate grooves, said stationary end effector having a lower cupped portion with a bottom inner cup surface, and said punch having a hollowed distal portion, a substantially solid middle portion, and a proximal portion, with a bottom surface of said substantially solid middle portion of said movable end effector and said bottom inner cup surface of said stationary end effector defining a first passageway of sufficient size to receive and pass material punched by said punch;
c) actuating means extending through said hollow tube and coupled to said proximal portion of said movable end effector at a location between said arcuate grooves and said bottom inner cup surface, said actuating means for actuating said end effector to open and closed positions, with said actuating means and said hollow tube defining an annular second passageway from said distal end of said hollow tube to said proximal end of said hollow tube, said first passageway being in fluid communication with said annular second passageway;
and
d) a suctioning means for applying suction through said annular second passageway and through said first passageway to said end effector assembly.

2 more elements

An arthroscopic surgical instrument, comprising:

a) a hollow tube having a distal end and a proximal end;
b) an end effector assembly coupled to said distal end of said hollow tube, wherein said end effector assembly includes a stationary end effector and a movable end effector, said stationary end effector being comprised of a separate lower cup portion and a separate upper die portion, said upper die portion defining an opening, said separate lower cup portion having a peripheral upwardly directed upper edge and said separate upper die portion having a peripheral downwardly directed lower edge with said upper edge and said lower edge being coextensive throughout substantially their entire length when said lower cup and upper die portions are fixed together, and said movable end effector comprises a punch sized to fit in said opening of said upper die portion of said stationary end effector;
c) actuating means extending through said hollow tube and coupled to said movable end effector, said actuating means for actuating said end effector to open and closed positions;
and
d) a suctioning means for applying suction through said hollow tube to said end effector assembly.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/515,937Filed 16 Aug 1995 · continuation
Priority: 18 Nov 1992
Granted: 4 Nov 1997
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

A61B 17/1608
Of forceps type, i.e. having two jaw elements moving relative to each other: the two jaw elements being linked to two elongated shaft elements…
A61B 10/06
Instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy: biopsy forceps , e.g. with cup-shaped jaws
A61B 18/1815
By applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves: using microwaves
A61B 2017/0088
Material properties: ceramic

Family

Serial978,249Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 18 Nov 1992
Serial74,790Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 10 Jun 1993
Serial180,434Parent of this continuation · filed 12 Jan 1994
US 5,395,375 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,395,364 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,683,359 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.