Surgical instrument

Claim 2

A surgical instrument for manipulating selected tissue in a body cavity under visual inspection, comprising: (a) a probe having an upper surface, a generally closed distal end, and a lateral aperture in said upper surface and adjacent said closed distal end; wherein the upper surface adjacent to the lateral aperture is configured generally as a flat or concave surface; wherein said distal end slopes away from said upper surface in a manner such that said distal end diverts displaceable tissue it contacts away from the region of the lateral aperture and said upper surface; (b) means for accepting an optical system disposed at least partially within the probe, said system having a distal portion terminating adjacent the lateral aperture, thereby defining a viewing space between the distal portion of the optical system, and the distal end and the lateral aperture, said viewing space located within the field-of-view of the optical system; (c) a working tool mounted within the viewing space and capable of being extended from the viewing space and through the lateral aperture; and (d) means for extending the working tool outwardly from the viewing space and through the lateral aperture; (e) a grip handle rotatably connected to said probe; and (f) adjustment means for adjusting the rotational orientation between said lateral aperture of said probe and said grip handle; wherein said adjustment means is adapted to temporarily fix said rotational orientation.

Claim 3

An instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein the grip handle comprises actuator means for extending the working tool through the lateral aperture of the probe.

Claim 4

An instrument as recited in claim 2, wherein the instrument further comprises means for automatically retracting the working tool upon release of the actuating means.

Claim 5

An instrument as recited in claim 1 wherein the distal end is configured generally as an inclined plane which forms an acute angle with the upper surface of the probe.

Claim 6

An instrument as recited in claim 1, said probe further comprising means for exchanging or replacing the working tool of the probe without requiring additional implements.

Claim 7

An instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein the working tool comprises a cutting blade capable of dividing the selected tissue.

Claim 8

An instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein means for accepting an optical system accommodates a conventional examination telescope.

Claim 9

An instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for extending the working tool through the viewing space and the lateral aperture of the probe comprises a longitudinally displaceable actuation shaft contained within the probe, said actuation shaft being connected to said working tool in actuating relationship therewith providing means for transforming longitudinal displacement of the actuation shaft into outward extension of the working tool.

Claim 10

An instrument as recited in claim 8, wherein said actuation shaft is adapted to respond to actuating movement by an operator of the instrument; and wherein each additional increment of longitudinal displacement of the actuation shaft produces a correspondingly greater increment in the extension of the working tool.

Claim 11

An instrument as recited in claim 9, wherein the working tool is cooperatively engaged with an axially fixed, rotatable pivot in the distal end of the probe so that longitudinal displacement of the actuation shaft produces an angular displacement of the working tool as the actuation shaft approaches the pivot, thereby outwardly extending the working tool.

Claim 12

An instrument in accordance with claim 1, wherein said probe is detachably connected to said grip handle and is disposable.

Claim 13

An instrument in accordance with claim 1, wherein said probe includes a flat upper surface, parallel sides, and a convex lower surface.

Claim 14

A surgical instrument for dividing the flexor retinaculum under visual inspection during carpal tunnel release, while minimizing the risk of injury to surrounding tissue, comprising: (a) a probe having an upper surface, a generally closed distal end, and a lateral aperture in said upper surface and adjacent said closed distal end; wherein said distal end slopes away from said upper surface in a manner such that said distal end diverts displaceable tissue it contacts away from the region of the lateral aperture and said upper surface; wherein said upper surface of said probe adjacent to said lateral aperture is configured generally as a flat or concave surface; (b) means for accepting an optical system disposed at least partially within the probe, said system having a distal portion terminating adjacent the lateral aperture, thereby defining a viewing space between the distal portion of the optical system, and the distal end and the lateral aperture, said viewing space located within the field-of-view of the optical system; (c) a cutting blade mounted within the viewing space and capable of being extended from the viewing space and through the lateral aperture; (d) means for extending the working tool outwardly from the viewing space and through the lateral aperture; (e) a grip handle rotatably connected to said probe; wherein said handle includes actuator means for extending said cutting blade through said lateral aperture; (f) adjustment means for adjusting the rotational orientation between said lateral aperture of said probe and said grip handle; wherein said adjustment means is adapted to temporarily fix said rotational orientation; and (g) retraction means for automatically retracting said cutting blade upon release of said actuator means.

Claim 15

A surgical instrument for dividing the flexor retinaculum under visual inspection during carpal tunnel release, while minimizing the risk of injury to surrounding tissue, comprising: (a) a probe having an upper surface, a generally closed distal end, and a lateral aperture in said upper surface and adjacent said closed distal end; wherein said distal end slopes away from said upper surface in a manner such that said distal end diverts displaceable tissue it contacts away from the region of the lateral aperture and said upper surface; wherein said upper surface of said probe adjacent to said lateral aperture is configured generally as a flat or concave surface; (b) means for accepting an optical system disposed at least partially within the probe, said system having a distal portion terminating adjacent the lateral aperture, thereby defining a viewing space between the distal portion of the optical system, and the distal end and the lateral aperture, said viewing space located within the field-of-view of the optical system; (c) a cutting blade mounted within the viewing space and capable of being extended from the viewing space and through the lateral aperture; (d) means for extending the working tool outwardly from the viewing space and through the lateral aperture; (e) a grip handle rotatably connected to said probe; wherein said handle includes actuator means for extending said cutting blade through said lateral aperture; (f) adjustment means for adjusting the rotational orientation between said lateral aperture of said probe and said grip handle; wherein said adjustment means is adapted to temporarily fix said rotational orientation; and (g) retraction means for automatically retracting said cutting blade upon release of said actuator means.

Claim 16

An instrument as recited in claim 13 wherein the probe is configured to be inserted into the carpal tunnel before the flexor retinaculum is divided.

Claim 17

An instrument as recited in claim 13, wherein the distal end is configured generally as an inclined plane which forms an acute angle with the upper surface of the probe.

Claim 18

An instrument as recited in claim 13, said probe further comprising means for exchanging or replacing the cutting blade of the probe without requiring additional implements.

Claim 19

An instrument as recited in claim 13, wherein the means for accepting an optical system accommodates a conventional examination telescope.

Claim 20

An instrument as recited in claim 13, wherein the means for extending the cutting blade through the viewing space and the lateral aperture of the probe comprises a longitudinally displaceable actuation shaft contained within the probe, said actuation shaft being connected to said cutting blade in actuating relationship therewith providing means for transforming longitudinal displacement of the actuation shaft into outward extension of the cutting blade; wherein said actuation shaft is adapted to respond to movement of said actuator means.

Claim 21

An instrument as recited in claim 18 wherein each additional increment of longitudinal displacement of the actuation shaft produces a correspondingly greater increment in the extension of the cutting blade.

Claim 22

An instrument as recited in claim 19 wherein the cutting blade is cooperatively engaged with pivot means in the distal end of the probe so that longitudinal displacement of the actuation shaft produces an angular displacement of the cutting blade as the actuation shaft approaches the pivot means, thereby outwardly extending the cutting blade.

Claim 23

An instrument in accordance with claim 18, wherein said probe is detachably connected to said grip handle; wherein said upper surface adjacent to said lateral aperture is flat; and wherein said actuation shaft is adapted to respond to actuating movement of a trigger carried by said grip handle.

Claim 24

An instrument in accordance with claim 13, wherein said probe is detachably connected to said grip handle and is disposable.

Claim 25

An instrument in accordance with claim 13, wherein said probe includes a flat upper surface, parallel sides, and a convex lower surface.