Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A surgical instrument for operating percutaneously in a living body comprising: an elongated hollow handle, a shaft having a proximal portion extending within and secured, during use, to said handle and a distal portion extending distally of said handle, surgical cutting means fixedly supported during use by the distal end of said shaft, a slidable tubular sheath having a distal portion extending distally of said handle, about said shaft, to the region of said cutting means, said sheath sized and constructed for introduction into the living body through a puncture opening in its flesh, and means for moving said sheath axially relative to said handle between a first position in which the distal portion of said sheath surrounds said cutting means, enabling safe positioning of said instrument in the body without cutting, and a second, retracted position exposing said surgical cutting means, the position of said cutting means relative to said handle being fixed during movement of said sheath.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
A surgical instrument for operating percutaneously in a living body comprising: an elongated hollow handle, a shaft having a proximal portion extending within and secured, during use, to said handle and a distal portion extending distally of said handle, surgical cutting means fixedly supported during use by the distal end of said shaft, a slidable tubular sheath having a distal portion extending distally of said handle, about said shaft, to the region of said cutting means, said sheath sized and constructed for introduction into the living body through a puncture opening in its flesh, and means for moving said sheath axially relative to said handle between a first position in which the distal portion of said sheath surrounds said cutting means, enabling safe positioning of said instrument in the body without cutting, and a second, retracted position exposing said surgical cutting means, the position of said cutting means relative to said handle being fixed during movement of said sheath.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1 further comprising a proximal cap removably connected to said handle, and wherein said sheath and said handle define an elongated passage extending axially the length of said instrument, and said shaft and said cutting means are sized relative to said passage through said sheath and said handle whereby, upon disassembly of said cap from said handle, said shaft and blade are adapted for removal proximally through said passage, while said sheath remains in said puncture opening in the flesh of the living body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said means for moving said sheath axially relative to said handle comprises a knob disposed for movement along the outer surface of said handle, and engagement means extending through said handle into fixed engagement with the proximal portion of said sheath disposed within said handle, whereby movement of said knob along the outer surface of said handle results in movement of said sheath between said first and second positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
The surgical instrument of claim 3 wherein said means for moving said sheath axially relative to said handle further comprises a sleeve sized and constructed for axial sliding movement within said handle, the distal portion of said sheath being fixedly connected to said sleeve, and said engagement means being disposed in a slot defined through said handle, between fixed connection to said knob and to said sleeve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The surgical instrument of claim 3 or 4 wherein said knob is disposed to slide generally axially along the outer surface of said handle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The surgical instrument of claim 3 or 4 wherein said knob comprises an annular ring disposed to rotate about said handle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The surgical instrument of claim 3 or 4 further comprising means for positively retaining said sheath in said first position surrounding said cutting means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the outer diameter of said sheath is of the order of about 4 mm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the inner diameter of said sheath is of the order of about 3 mm, and said cutting means and said shaft are sized for passage therethrough.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said sheath has a proximal portion slidably disposed within said handle.