Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
1 . A device for working human and/or animal tissue, in particular an arthroscope, an endoscope or a core drill, in particular an intermedullary reamer for tubular bones, comprising a flexible shaft ( 14 ) with an inner channel ( 40 ), a working head ( 12 ) connected with the flexible shaft ( 14 ) and having openings ( 34 ) communicating with the inner channel ( 40 ), and a washing unit ( 18 ) with a contact surface ( 64 ) for a substantially sealed application on an object ( 10 ), the diameter (D) of the working head ( 12 ) being greater than the outer diameter (d) of the flexible shaft so that a washing channel ( 30 ) is formed by the outer surface of the flexible shaft ( 14 ) and a bore made in the object ( 10 ), the washing channel serving to pass a washing medium therethrough.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
1 . A device for working human and/or animal tissue, in particular an arthroscope, an endoscope or a core drill, in particular an intermedullary reamer for tubular bones, comprising a flexible shaft ( 14 ) with an inner channel ( 40 ), a working head ( 12 ) connected with the flexible shaft ( 14 ) and having openings ( 34 ) communicating with the inner channel ( 40 ), and a washing unit ( 18 ) with a contact surface ( 64 ) for a substantially sealed application on an object ( 10 ), the diameter (D) of the working head ( 12 ) being greater than the outer diameter (d) of the flexible shaft so that a washing channel ( 30 ) is formed by the outer surface of the flexible shaft ( 14 ) and a bore made in the object ( 10 ), the washing channel serving to pass a washing medium therethrough.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the washing unit ( 18 ) is connected with a suction device tor create a vacuum at the working head ( 12 ).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the suction device is connected with the inner channel ( 40 ) of the shaft ( 14 ) so that the washing medium is sucked off through the inner channel ( 40 ) together with the removed material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
4 . The device of one of claims 1 - 3 , wherein the flexible shaft ( 14 ) has a plurality of articulately connected shaft segments ( 44 ) and a hose ( 50 ) is provided in the flexible shaft ( 14 ).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
5 . The device of one of claims 1 - 4 , wherein the washing unit ( 18 ) comprises a washing head ( 42 ) in which the flexible shaft ( 14 ) is rotatably supported.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
6 . The device of claim 5 , wherein the washing head ( 42 ) is supported for displacement in a guiding element ( 22 ) of the washing unit ( 18 ).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
7 . The device of one of claims 1 - 6 , wherein the flexible shaft ( 14 ) has a plurality of shaft segments ( 44 ) with mutually engaging projections ( 46 ) and recesses ( 48 ) which engage behind each other in the longitudinal direction, leaving a gap around the shaft circumference, so that the shaft segments ( 44 ) are permanently connected in the longitudinal direction having mutual play.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein all projections ( 46 ) are of the same size and are distributed regularly over the circumference of the shaft ( 14 ).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
9 . The device of claim 7 or 8 , wherein the gap has a constant width in the circumferential direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
10 . The device of one of claims 7 - 9 , wherein the ratio of gap width and shaft diameter (d) is between 1:100 and 1:10.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
11 . The device of one of claims 1 - 10 , wherein the flexible shaft ( 14 ) is connected to a tensioning device for stiffening the shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the flexible shaft ( 14 ) has an anchoring device for anchoring the shaft in the bone.