Method for treatment of trigger finger
AssigneeBiomet, Inc.
InventorsSuheil M. Khuri, Richard R. Whipple
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Trigger finger release surgery is performed percutaneously using an instrument, having a prong with a blade about 3 to 7 mm from the distal end of said prong. The prong is inserted into the flexor tendon such that the blade is positioned adjacent the flexor sheath. Flexion or extension of the afflicted finger moves the flexor tendon along with the inserted instrument along the length of the sheath causing the blade to cut the sheath and release the tendon. The movement of the tendon safely directs the knife through the pulley sheath.
Claims20
A method of cutting a flexor sheath, comprising:
- locating a flexor tendon and sheath;
- inserting a surgical tool, said surgical tool having a blade edge and a prong, into a flexor tendon wherein the prong extends into the flexor tendon and the blade edge is positioned adjacent said sheath;
- moving said flexor tendon relative to said sheath wherein said blade edge cuts said sheath;
- and
- removing said tool.
A method for cutting a flexor sheath with a surgical tool having a first prong and a blade edge adjacent to the first prong, said method comprising the steps of:
- locating a flexor tendon and a sheath;
- inserting the first prong of the surgical tool into the flexor tendon up to a depth where the blade edge is operable to cut the sheath;
- moving the flexor tendon relative to the sheath, whereby the first prong moves relative to the sheath with the blade edge cutting the sheath;
- and
- removing the surgical tool.
A method for cutting a flexor sheath of a finger, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a surgical tool having a first prong and a blade edge adjacent to the first prong;
- locating a flexor tendon and a sheath of the finger;
- inserting the first prong of the surgical tool into the flexor tendon of the finger;
- moving the finger, whereby the flexor tendon moves relative to the sheath and the blade edge cuts the sheath;
- and
- removing the surgical tool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.