Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A single-motor surgical system adapted to operate a set of different surgical devices (12, 14, 16) having different operational limits, comprising: a handpiece (10) containing said motor (21) and adapted to alternately receive a proximal portion of each of said surgical devices, characterized in that each of said surgical devices has an indicator (36, 36') on its proximal portion that denotes its operational limit, said handpiece including automatic sensor means (34, 34') for sensing said indicator; and means responsive to said sensor to automatically establish the operational limit of said motor in accordance with the respective surgical device received by said handpiece.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
A single-motor surgical system adapted to operate a set of different surgical devices (12, 14, 16) having different operational limits, comprising: a handpiece (10) containing said motor (21) and adapted to alternately receive a proximal portion of each of said surgical devices, characterized in that each of said surgical devices has an indicator (36, 36') on its proximal portion that denotes its operational limit, said handpiece including automatic sensor means (34, 34') for sensing said indicator; and means responsive to said sensor to automatically establish the operational limit of said motor in accordance with the respective surgical device received by said handpiece.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
122 words
An arthroscopic handpiece (10) constructed according to claim 1 and having a plurality of surgical devices (12, 14, 16) adapted to receive different removable rotary tips (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31) that have different operational limits of rotation, each of said plurality of said devices having the vacuum passage connectible at one end to a vacuum passage of the respective rotary tip and, adjacent the other end, to a vacuum passage associated with said handpiece, whereby tissue severed by said rotary tip can be removed from the surgical site, characterized in that the indicators (36, 36') of said surgical devices indicate to said sensor means (34, 34') the rotational limits of the tips which the devices are adapted to receive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The surgical system of claim 1 or 2 characterized in that said sensor is adapted to limit the torque applied by the motor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The surgical system of claim 1 or 2 characterized in that said sensor is adapted to limit the range of speed of the motor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The surgical system of claim 1 or 2 wherein said motor is electrical and has an associated power source (12), characterized in that said sensor means is responsive to said indicator of a given surgical device to establish a limit on the electrical power delivered by said power source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The surgical system of claim 5 characterized in that said sensor means is responsive to limit the voltage applied to said motor and said motor is adapted to maintain its speed in accordance with the voltage applied.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The surgical system of claim 5 characterized in that said sensor means is responsive to limit the electrical current applied to said motor to limit the torque delivered by said motor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
The surgical system of claim 1 characterized in that said indicator for each of said set of surgical devices comprises a magnet means adapted to produce a magnetic field different from that of other surgical devices of said set, said sensor means in said handpiece being responsive to said magnetic field to switch said motor to the respective operational limit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The surgical system of claim 1 characterized in that said surgical devices include magnets in their proximal portions and said handpiece includes a set of switches actuatable by the presence of said magnets.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
69 words
The surgical system of claim 2 characterized in that a vacuum passage is defined through said handpiece from adjacent said surgical device to adjacent the proximal end of said handpiece, and said handpiece includes means (38, 39, 40, 42) for connecting said vacuum passage to an external source of suction (44, 46), whereby tissue severed by said rotary tip can be removed from the surgical site through said handpiece.