Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
46 words
A surgical apparatus for cutting organic tissue, said apparatus comprising: mechanical cutting means for cutting and removing said tissue; sheath means surrounding said mechanical cutting means for enclosing said mechanical cutting means therein; and laser means extending through said sheath means for cutting said organic tissue.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
46 words
A surgical apparatus for cutting organic tissue, said apparatus comprising: mechanical cutting means for cutting and removing said tissue; sheath means surrounding said mechanical cutting means for enclosing said mechanical cutting means therein; and laser means extending through said sheath means for cutting said organic tissue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sheath means comprises: a hollow outer sheath having proximal and distal ends, said outer sheath being closed at the distal end thereof and having a side opening therethrough at the distal end thereof; and a hollow inner sheath spaced from and within said outer sheath, said inner sheath having distal and proximal ends and said distal end being spaced from the closed distal end of said outer sheath.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said mechanical cutting means is positioned within said inner sheath and extends through said inner sheath into the space between the distal ends of said inner and outer sheaths adjacent said side opening in said outer sheath.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said mechanical cutting means comprises: a hollow tube member having helical threading therearound; and a cutting member at the distal end of said hollow tube, said cutting member being positioned in said space between the distal ends of said inner and outer sheaths adjacent said side opening in said outer sheath.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said laser means comprises: a laser generator for generating a laser light beam; an optic fiber operatively connected to said laser generator through which said light beam travels; and a third sheath between said inner and outer sheaths, said optic fiber passing through said third sheath.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said third sheath surrounding said optic fiber is affixed at at least one point therealong to said inner sheath.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said laser means further comprises biasing means connected between said inner sheath and said third sheath for biasing said third sheath toward said inner sheath.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
128 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein: said hollow tube member is rotatable within said inner sheath; said inner sheath has a cam surface along the outside surface thereof; and said mechanical cutting means further comprises a projection extending radially from said hollow tube member for contacting said third sheath positioned between said inner and outer sheaths when said hollow tube member is rotated, said projection extending radially outwardly from said cutting means a distance less than the radial distance of said cam surface around said inner sheath, whereby when said hollow tube member is rotated, said projection contacts and urges said third sheath along said cam surface until said third sheath reaches the top of said cam surface and said projection passes under said third sheath.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said cutting member is a blade positioned on said tubular member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said cutting member is removable.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said cutting member is curved.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising telescope means positioned through said hollow tube member for viewing the tissue being cut.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
72 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising: irrigation means connected to said outer sheath for supplying irrigation fluid into the space between said inner and outer sheaths and toward the distal end of said outer sheath containing said side opening; and withdraw means connected to said inner sheath for withdrawing through said inner sheath irrigation fluid provided to the space between said inner and outer sheaths by said irrigation means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparats as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a drive mechanism connected to said mechanical cutting means for rotating said mechanical cutting means within said sheath means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said drive means comprises a pneumatic drive mechanism operatively connected to said cutting means for rotating said cutting means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said drive means further comprises manual drive means for manually rotating said cutting means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a handle member connected to said sheath means.