# US 9,872,604 B2 · Atraumatic arthroscopic instrument sheath and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,872,604 B2 - Document ID: US9872604B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/979,246 - Filed: 2015-12-22 - Published: 2016-04-21 - Granted: 2018-01-23 - Earliest claimed: 2004-01-29 - Assignees: Cannuflow, Inc. - Applicants: Cannuflow, Inc. - Inventors: Theodore R. Kucklick; Martin Trieb - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9872604B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/320016: {Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes (A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence)} - A61B 1/00082: {Balloons} - A61B 1/00135: {Oversleeves mounted on the endoscope prior to insertion} - A61B 1/0014: {Fastening element for attaching accessories to the outside of an endoscope, e.g. clips, clamps or bands} - A61B 1/00154: {using guiding arrangements for insertion} - A61B 1/012: characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor - A61B 1/317: for bones or joints, e.g. osteoscopes or arthroscopes - A61B 17/3415: {for introducing tubes or catheters, e.g. gastrostomy tubes, drain catheters (A61B17/3417 takes precedence; body piercing catheter guide needles A61M25/06)} - A61M 1/85: {with gas or fluid supply means, e.g. for supplying rinsing fluids or anticoagulants (for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92, A61M1/94; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463; dental instruments with combined rinsing and aspirating A61C17/0208)} - A61M 25/0662: {Guide tubes} - A61B 2017/349: {Trocar with thread on outside} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A removable, resilient atraumatic sheath for arthroscopic instruments. The sheath covers sharp edges on the arthroscopic instrument, particularly the distal tip of the rigid cannula, and thereby protects tissue and objects near a surgical site from accidental trauma. The sheath may be provided in the form of an inflow/outflow sheath that allows a surgeon to irrigate and drain a surgical field without the use of a separate irrigation instrument. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for performing arthroscopic surgery, said system comprising: an arthroscopic instrument suitable for performing an arthroscopic surgical procedure, said arthroscopic instrument characterized by a distal tip; a rigid cannula, said rigid cannula characterized by a lumen and a distal tip, said rigid cannula sized and dimensioned such that the arthroscopic instrument may be extended through the lumen and distally of the distal tip of the rigid cannula; an atraumatic sheath comprising a tube of resilient material having a distal end, said sheath having an opening at the distal end of the sheath, said sheath having an inner diameter sized and dimensioned to closely conform to an outer diameter of the rigid cannula, said sheath having an interior surface; a ring secured to the interior surface of the sheath at the distal end of the sheath, said ring disposed, sized and dimensioned to prevent the distal tip of the rigid cannula from extending distally from the sheath, said ring disposed, sized and dimensioned to allow the arthroscopic instrument to extend distally from the distal end of the sheath; wherein the atraumatic sheath is adapted to be removably disposed over the arthroscopic instrument. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the sheath is provided with a tab disposed on the proximal end of the sheath, said tab sized and dimensioned to allow the sheath to be pulled onto and off of the arthroscopic instrument. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising a first set of fittings disposed on the proximal end of the sheath and a second set of fittings disposed on the arthroscopic instrument, wherein the first and second sets of fittings are adapted for releasable coupling, whereby the sheath is secured to the arthroscopic instrument when the first and second sets of fittings are secured together. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the atraumatic sheath is characterized by a distal portion and wherein the atraumatic sheath further comprises a balloon disposed on the distal portion of the sheath. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the sheath further comprises a working tube, said working tube sized, dimensioned and disposed to allow fluid communication between a surgical site and the lumen of the working tube. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the sheath further comprising a balloon disposed on the distal portion of the sheath, said sheath further comprising a working tube, said working tube sized, dimensioned and disposed to allow fluid communication between a surgical site and the lumen of the working tube. ### Claim 7 A method of performing arthroscopic surgery, said method comprising the steps of: providing a system for performing arthroscopic surgery, said system comprising: an arthroscopic instrument suitable for performing an arthroscopic surgical procedure, said arthroscopic instrument characterized by a distal tip; a rigid cannula, said rigid cannula characterized by a lumen and a distal tip, said rigid cannula sized and dimensioned such that the arthroscopic instrument may be extended through the lumen and distally of the distal tip of the rigid cannula; an atraumatic sheath comprising a tube of resilient material having a distal end, said sheath having an opening at the distal end of the sheath, said sheath having an inner diameter sized and dimensioned to closely conform to an outer diameter of the rigid cannula, said sheath having an interior surface; a ring secured to the interior surface of the sheath at the distal end of the sheath, said ring disposed, sized and dimensioned to prevent the distal tip of the rigid cannula from extending distally from the sheath, said ring disposed, sized and dimensioned to allow the arthroscopic instrument to extend distally from the distal end of the sheath; wherein the atraumatic sheath is adapted to be removably disposed over the arthroscopic instrument; placing the arthroscopic instrument inside of the rigid cannula; placing the rigid cannula inside of the atraumatic sheath; performing an arthroscopic surgical procedure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein the sheath is provided with a tab disposed on the proximal end of the sheath, said tab sized and dimensioned to allow the sheath to be pulled onto and off of the arthroscopic instrument. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 further comprising a first set of fittings disposed on the proximal end of the sheath and a second set of fittings disposed on the arthroscopic instrument, wherein the first and second sets of fittings are adapted for releasable coupling, whereby the sheath is secured to the arthroscopic instrument when the first and second sets of fittings are secured together. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein the atraumatic sheath is characterized by a distal portion and wherein the atraumatic sheath further comprises a balloon disposed on the distal portion of the sheath. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein the sheath further comprises a working tube, said working tube sized, dimensioned and disposed to allow fluid communication between a surgical site and the lumen of the working tube. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein the sheath further comprising a balloon disposed on the distal portion of the sheath, said sheath further comprising a working tube, said working tube sized, dimensioned and disposed to allow fluid communication between a surgical site and the lumen of the working tube. ### Claim 13 A system for performing arthroscopic surgery, said system comprising: an optical instrument suitable for performing an arthroscopic surgical procedure, said optical instrument characterized by a distal tip; a rigid cannula, said rigid cannula characterized by a lumen and a distal tip, said rigid cannula sized and dimensioned such that the optical instrument may be extended through the lumen and distally of the distal tip of the rigid cannula; an atraumatic sheath comprising a tube of resilient material having a distal end, said sheath having an opening at the distal end of the sheath, said sheath having an inner diameter sized and dimensioned to closely conform to an outer diameter of the rigid cannula, said sheath having an interior surface; a ring secured to the interior surface of the sheath at the distal end of the sheath, said ring disposed, sized and dimensioned to prevent the distal tip of the rigid cannula from extending distally from the sheath, said ring disposed, sized and dimensioned to allow the optical instrument to extend distally from the distal end of the sheath; wherein the atraumatic sheath is adapted to be removably disposed over the optical instrument. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13 wherein the sheath is provided with a tab disposed on the proximal end of the sheath, said tab sized and dimensioned to allow the sheath to be pulled onto and off of the optical instrument. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13 further comprising a first set of fittings disposed on the proximal end of the sheath and a second set of fittings disposed on the optical instrument, wherein the first and second sets of fittings are adapted for releasable coupling, whereby the sheath is secured to the optical instrument when the first and second sets of fittings are secured together. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13 wherein the atraumatic sheath is characterized by a distal portion and wherein the atraumatic sheath further comprises a balloon disposed on the distal portion of the sheath. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13 wherein the sheath further comprises a working tube, said working tube sized, dimensioned and disposed to allow fluid communication between a surgical site and the lumen of the working tube. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13 wherein the sheath further comprising a balloon disposed on the distal portion of the sheath, said sheath further comprising a working tube, said working tube sized, dimensioned and disposed to allow fluid communication between a surgical site and the lumen of the working tube.