Patent US5593416A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5593416A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of using flexible surgical instrument
Assignee: Smith and Nephew Inc
•
Filing: 1993-01-26
•
Granted: 1997-01-14
•
Expires: 2013-01-26
Abstract
Abstract A flexible surgical instrument is provided which is ideal for providing flexibility in surgery performed through a small incision, such as arthroscopic surgery. In one embodiment, the surgical instrument is provided with an outer member having at least one opening in a distal region and a hollow inner member disposed within the outer member for transmitting force applied to the proximal end to move a cutting implement disposed at the distal end. The cutting implement is constructed and adapted to perform a cutting function at the opening in the outer member. The hollow inner member is substantially flexible between its proximal and distal ends. The outer member is provided with a predetermined flexibility and rigidity such that the outer member is provided with sufficient flexibility to be manually bent by a surgeon during and operation, and provided with sufficient rigidity to retain such bend during the continued performance of the operation with the surgical instrument.
Inventors
- 👤 John R. Donahue
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 08:02
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/320016; A61B17/32002; A61B90/00; A61B90/90; A61B90/94; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B2017/00831; A61B2017/00867; A61B2017/00946; A61B2017/2901; A61B2017/2904; A61B2017/2905; A61B90/06; A61B2090/061; A61B2090/062; A61B90/39; A61B2090/3937
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of performing a surgical procedure involving cutting in a body, comprising the steps of: inserting a flexible surgical instrument through an incision wherein said surgical instrument has markings on its outer surface; viewing the location of the flexible surgical instrument in relation to the natural curvatures of body components and determining the location of desired bends in the instrument; withdrawing said flexible instrument and manually placing bends at the noted locations along the instrument as indicated by the markings; and reinserting said flexible bent instrument into the body through said incision.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of performing a surgical procedure involving cutting in a body, comprising the steps of: inserting a flexible surgical instrument through an incision wherein said surgical instrument has markings on its outer surface; viewing the location of the flexible surgical instrument in relation to the natural curvatures of body components and determining the location of desired bends in the instrument; withdrawing said flexible instrument and manually placing bends at the noted locations along the instrument as indicated by the markings; and reinserting said flexible bent instrument into the body through said incision.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of performing a surgical procedure involving cutting in a body, comprising the steps of: inserting a flexible surgical instrument through an incision; viewing the location of the flexible surgical instrument in relation to natural curvatures of body components and determining the location of a desired bend in the instrument; withdrawing said flexible instrument and manually placing a bend at a noted location along the instrument, said instrument having sufficient rigidity to maintain said bend during the continued performance of the surgical procedure; and reinserting said flexible bent instrument into the body through said incision.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of performing a surgical procedure involving cutting in a body, comprising the steps of: inserting a flexible surgical instrument through an incision; viewing the location of the flexible surgical instrument in relation to natural curvatures of body components and determining the location of a desired bend in the instrument; withdrawing said flexible instrument and manually placing a bend at a noted location along the instrument, said instrument having sufficient rigidity to maintain said bend during the continued performance of the surgical procedure; and reinserting said flexible bent instrument into the body through said incision.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US518600A
Cited
US1677337A
Cited
US1636636A
Cited
US3890977A
Cited
US4203444B1
Cited
US4203444A
Cited
US4274414A
Cited
US4665906A
Cited
US5067957A
Cited
US4705038A
Cited
US4646738A
Cited
US4842578A
Cited
US4834729A
Cited
US4983179A
Cited
US4945920A
Cited
US5152744A
Cited
US5411514A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-01-14 | 2000-07-15 | 2001-01-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-01-14 | 2004-07-15 | 2005-01-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-01-14 | 2008-07-15 | 2009-01-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |