US4874375A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tissue retractor
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1987-04-13
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Granted: 1989-10-17
•
Expires: 2007-04-13
Abstract
Abstract An improved tissue retractor serves as a multifunctional surgical instrument particularly adapted for use during arthroscopic surgery. The instrument is preferably capable of putting tissue into tension either in a direction toward the arthroscopic portal or away from the portal. When tensioning toward the portal, the instrument acts as a tissue retractor. When tensioning away from the portal, the instrument acts as a distender or stretcher of tissue. The instrument includes a pointed obturator slidingly contained within a hollow sheath. The obturator includes a reduced cross-sectional area near the pointed end which acts as a barb when retracting tissue. In one embodiment, the hollow sheath has a bevelled, pointed end which disengages tissue from the obturator. A nozzle attached to the remote end of the hollow sheath may be attached to a syringe for introduction of fluid into the tissue. The instrument can also be used as a needle probe.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur E. Ellison
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:50
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/320016; A61B17/02; A61B17/0218; A61B17/16; A61B17/1604; A61B17/1606; A61B17/1608; A61B17/1611; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00349
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
An apparatus for use during arthroscopic surgery on tissue comprising: a substantially tubular sheath having a hollow interior and an outer surface, and an obturator having an outer surface slidingly contained within said sheath, said obturator having a first end which is sharp and pointed, and a reduced cross-sectional area near said first end, the outer surface of said obturator between said first end and said reduced cross-sectional area being without a slicing edge, so that the tissue may be retained against said reduced cross-sectional area without slicing through the tissue when said obturator is advanced out of said sheath.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
100 words
An apparatus for use during arthroscopic surgery on tissue comprising: a substantially tubular sheath having a hollow interior and an outer surface, and an obturator having an outer surface slidingly contained within said sheath, said obturator having a first end which is sharp and pointed, and a reduced cross-sectional area near said first end, the outer surface of said obturator between said first end and said reduced cross-sectional area being without a slicing edge, so that the tissue may be retained against said reduced cross-sectional area without slicing through the tissue when said obturator is advanced out of said sheath.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tubular sheath has a first end which is sharply bevelled so that said sheath may disengage the tissue from said reduced cross-sectional area when said sheath is advanced along said obturator, so that the tissue may be engaged by said sheath when said obturator is withdrawn.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising means attached to said obturator and said sheath for maintaining a first axial position of said obturator relative to said sheath, and means for permitting linear displacement of said obturator relative to said sheath from said first axial position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
83 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said reduced cross-sectional area is enclosed within said sheath when said first axial position is maintained so that the outer surface of said obturator at said first end and the outer surface of said sheath cooperate to form a generally smoothly shaped surface in the vicinity of the interface between said sheath and said obturator, whereby the tissue may be pierced by the apparatus without catching, and the apparatus may be withdrawn from the tissue without catching.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
98 words
The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising means attached to said obturator and said sheath for maintaining an additional axial position of said obturator relative to said sheath, other than said first axial position, so that said reduced cross-sectional area is exposed out of said sheath when said additional axial position is maintained, said additional axial position maintaining means being aligned with said first axial position maintaining means so that changing position from one said axial position maintaining means to the other said axial position maintaining means is performed by linearly sliding said obturator relative to said sheath.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
86 words
The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising means for maintaining an additional axial position of said obturator relative to said sheath so that the first end of said obturator is enclosed within said sheath when said additional axial position is maintained, said additional axial position maintaining means being aligned with said first axial position maintaining means so that changing position from one said axial position maintaining means to the other said axial position maintaining means is performed by linearly sliding said obturator relative to said sheath.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a handle attached to an end of said sheath.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of any of claims 3-6 further comprising a handle attached to the end of said sheath opposite said sharp end, said handle including each said axial position maintaining means and said means for permitting linear displacement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: an obturator tube attached to the end of said obturator opposite said first end, and a sheath tube attached to an end of said sheath and slidingly contained within said obturator tube so that said sheath tube and said obturator tube cooperate to form a handle.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of any of claims 3-6 further comprising: an obturator tube attached to the end of said obturator opposite said first end; a sheath tube attached to the end of said sheath opposite said first end and slidingly contained within said obturator tube so that said sheath tube and said obturator tube cooperate to form a handle; and wherein said handle includes each said axial position maintaining means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for attaching said sheath to fluid introducing means whereby said sheath provides a fluid flow passage from said fluid introducing means to the tissue.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said attaching means includes a nozzle having means to engage the threads of a syringe.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus for use during arthroscopic surgery on tissue comprising, in combination: means for tensioning tissue in a first direction without slicing through the tissue, and means for tensioning tissue in a second direction, co-axial with and opposite to said first direction, whereby both said tensioning means may be slidingly adjusted relative to each other so that together they cooperate to form means for piercing tissue.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus for use during arthroscopic surgery on tissue comprising, in combination: means for tensioning tissue in a first direction without slicing through the tissue, and means for tensioning tissue in a second direction, co-axial with and opposite to said first direction, whereby both said tensioning means may be slidingly adjusted relative to each other so that together they cooperate to form means for piercing tissue.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination of claim 13 whereby said second direction tensioning means comprises means for introducing a fluid into said tissue.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination of claim 13 wherein said means for tensioning tissue in said first direction includes a barbed obturator.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
The combination of claim 13 wherein said means for tensioning tissue in said first direction includes an obturator having an outer surface and a first end which is pointed and a reduced cross-sectional area near said end, the surface of said obturator between said pointed end and said reduced cross-sectional area being without a slicing edge.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination of claim 13 wherein said means for tensioning tissue in said second direction includes a sheath with a sharp end.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 13 wherein said means for piercing tissue includes a pointed obturator slidingly contained within a sheath, wherein the axial position of said obturator within said sheath may be adjusted by linearly sliding said obturator to a fixed position.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination of claim 14 wherein said fluid introducing means includes a hollow sheath, and a nozzle at one end of said hollow sheath.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
the combination of claim 19 wherein said nozzle includes means for attaching a syringe.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-10-16 | 1993-04-17 | 1993-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-10-16 | 1997-04-17 | 1997-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-10-16 | 2001-04-17 | 2001-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |