US5997560A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surgical cutting instrument
Assignee: SDGI Holdings Inc
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Filing: 1998-07-17
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Granted: 1999-12-07
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Expires: 2018-07-17
Abstract
Abstract A surgical cutting instrument for cutting joint tissue includes an outer tubular member, or cannula, sized for percutaneous insertion into an anatomical space, such as s joint space in the spine. The outer tubular member has a cutting opening at its blunt-tipped distal end. The proximal end is supported by a handpiece. A cutting member is slidably disposed within the outer tubular member and includes a tubular cutting head portion defining an end opening and a cutting edge at the end opening. In the specific embodiment, the cutting member is a tubular tubular member having a cutting head portion at its distal end and a body portion extending therefrom to the handpiece. A hinge is integrally formed in the tubular cannula to connect the cutting head portion with said body portion, to permit pivoting of the cutting head portion relative to the body portion. As the cutting member is reciprocated within the outer cannula, the cutting edge contacts tissue drawn into the cutting opening. Resistance from the tissue causes the cutting head to pivot about the hinge to form an essentially zero clearance between the cutting head and the cutting opening in the outer cannula.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael E. Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:20
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/320016; A61B17/32002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
252 words
A surgical cutting instrument for use in cutting tissue within an anatomical space comprising: an outer tubular member sized for percutaneous insertion into the anatomical space, said outer tubular member defining a central bore along the length thereof and having a proximal end and a distal end, said outer tubular member further defining a cutting opening sized to receive tissue therethrough and having a first a cutting opening sized to receive tissue therethrough and having a first cutting edge adjacent said distal end; a cutting member slidably disposed within said central bore of said outer tubular member, said cutting member including; a tubular cutting head portion defining an end opening and a second cutting edge at said end opening; a body portion extending through said central bore, said body portion having a distal end adjacent said cutting head portion and an opposite proximal end; a drive mount connected to said proximal end and engageable to a drive source to reciprocate said second cutting edge relative to said first cutting edge; and a hinge portion connecting said cutting head portion with said body portion to permit pivoting of said cutting head portion relative to said body portion, whereby said cutting head portion pivots about said hinge portion toward said cutting opening when said cutting head contacts tissue extending through said cutting opening to form an essentially zero clearance between said second cutting edge and said first cutting edge as said cutting member is advanced toward said distal end of said outer tubular member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
252 words
A surgical cutting instrument for use in cutting tissue within an anatomical space comprising: an outer tubular member sized for percutaneous insertion into the anatomical space, said outer tubular member defining a central bore along the length thereof and having a proximal end and a distal end, said outer tubular member further defining a cutting opening sized to receive tissue therethrough and having a first a cutting opening sized to receive tissue therethrough and having a first cutting edge adjacent said distal end; a cutting member slidably disposed within said central bore of said outer tubular member, said cutting member including; a tubular cutting head portion defining an end opening and a second cutting edge at said end opening; a body portion extending through said central bore, said body portion having a distal end adjacent said cutting head portion and an opposite proximal end; a drive mount connected to said proximal end and engageable to a drive source to reciprocate said second cutting edge relative to said first cutting edge; and a hinge portion connecting said cutting head portion with said body portion to permit pivoting of said cutting head portion relative to said body portion, whereby said cutting head portion pivots about said hinge portion toward said cutting opening when said cutting head contacts tissue extending through said cutting opening to form an essentially zero clearance between said second cutting edge and said first cutting edge as said cutting member is advanced toward said distal end of said outer tubular member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The surgical cutting instrument according to claim 1, wherein: said cutting member is tubular; said body portion and said cutting head portion are integral; and said hinge portion includes a diametrical slot defined in said tubular cutting member to form a hinge segment connecting said body portion and said cutting head portion, said hinge segment defining an arc segment from a tubular form.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The surgical cutting instrument according to claim 2, wherein said diametical slot extends through about 90% (ninety percent) of the diameter of said tubular cutting member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The surgical cutting instrument according to claim 2, wherein said hinge segment subtends an arc angle of between about 70 degrees and about 80 degrees (70-80°).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The surgical cutting instrument according to claim 2, wherein said hinge segment has a length dimension about one-fourth (1/4) the diameter of said tubular cutting head.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The surgical cutting instrument according to claim 2, wherein said cutting head defines a slot extending across said cutting head from said second cutting edge to said diametrical slot.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The surgical cutting instrument according to claim 1, wherein: said body portion of said cutting member is tubular and defines an aspiration passageway therethrough.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The surgical cutting instrument according to claim 7, wherein: said cutting head portion, said body portion and said hinge portion are integral; and said cutting head defines a slot extending across said cutting head from said second cutting edge to said hinge portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The surgical cutting instrument according to claim 1, wherein: said cutting opening has a width dimension along the length of said outer tubular member; and said cutting head portion has a length dimension along the length of said cutting member, wherein said length dimension is at least equal to said width dimension.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
The surgical cutting instrument according to claim 1, wherein: said cutting head portion, said body portion and said hinge portion are integrally formed; said cutting head portion is tubular; and said hinge portion and said body portion are defined by an arc segment from a tubular form extending from said cutting head portion to said connecting means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The surgical cutting instrument according to claim 10, wherein said arc segment defining said hinge portion and said body portion subtends an arc angle of between 70 degrees and 80 degrees (70-80°).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
Tie surgical cutting instrument according to claim 10, wherein said cutting head defines a slot extending across said cutting head from said second cutting edge to said hinge portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
177 words
A surgical cutting instrument for use in cutting tissue, comprising: an outer tubular member defining a central bore therethrough and a cutting opening at one end thereof in communication with said central bore, said cutting opening having a first cutting edge; and a cutting member slidably disposed within said central bore of said outer tubular member and including; a cutting head portion having a second cutting edge configured to cooperate with said first cutting edge to excise tissue therebetween; a body portion extending through at least a portion of said central bore and having a distal end adjacent said cutting head portion and an opposite proximal end; means for connecting said proximal end to a drive source to reciprocate said cutting member relative to said first cutting edge; and a hinge portion connecting said cutting head portion to said body portion to permit pivoting of said cuffing head portion relative to said body portion when said cutting head portion contacts tissue extending through said cutting opening as said cutting member is advanced toward said first cutting edge.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
177 words
A surgical cutting instrument for use in cutting tissue, comprising: an outer tubular member defining a central bore therethrough and a cutting opening at one end thereof in communication with said central bore, said cutting opening having a first cutting edge; and a cutting member slidably disposed within said central bore of said outer tubular member and including; a cutting head portion having a second cutting edge configured to cooperate with said first cutting edge to excise tissue therebetween; a body portion extending through at least a portion of said central bore and having a distal end adjacent said cutting head portion and an opposite proximal end; means for connecting said proximal end to a drive source to reciprocate said cutting member relative to said first cutting edge; and a hinge portion connecting said cutting head portion to said body portion to permit pivoting of said cuffing head portion relative to said body portion when said cutting head portion contacts tissue extending through said cutting opening as said cutting member is advanced toward said first cutting edge.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The surgical cutting instrument according to claim 13, wherein said cutting head portion is tubular and defines an end opening, said second cutting edge being defined at said end opening.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The surgical instrument according to claim 14, wherein said hinge portion defines an arc segment from a tubular form.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The surgical instrument according to claim 15, wherein said arc segment subtends an angle of between about 70 degrees and about 80 degrees (70-80°).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The surgical instrument according to claim 15, wherein said arc segment has a length dimension about one-fourth (1/4) the diameter of said tubular cutting head portion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
57 words
The surgical cutting instrument according to claim 13, wherein: said cutting opening of said outer tubular member has a width dimension along the length of said tubular member; and said cutting head portion has a length dimension along a length of said cutting member that is at least equal to said width dimension of said cutting opening.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
The surgical cutting instrument according to claim 13, wherein: said cutting member is tubular; said body portion and said cutting head portion are integral; and said hinge portion includes a diametrical slot defined in said tubular cutting head portion, said hinge segment defining an arc segment from a tubular form.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The surgical cutting instrument according to claim 19, wherein said diametrical slot extends through about 90% (ninety percent) of the diameter of said tubular cutting member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The surgical cutting instrument according to claim 13, wherein said body portion is tubular and defines an aspiration channel therethrough.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
43 words
The surgical cutting instrument according to claim 13, wherein said cutting opening has a transverse dimension along the circumference of said outer tubular member sized to permit said cutting head portion pivoting about said hinge portion at least partially into said cutting opening.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
118 words
A surgical cutting instrument for use in cutting tissue, comprising: an outer tubular member defining a central bore therethrough and a cutting opening at one end thereof in communication with said central bore, said cutting opening having a first cutting edge; and a cutting member slidably disposed for reciprocation within said central bore and including; a cutting head portion having a second cutting edge configured to cooperate with said first cutting edge to excise tissue therebetween; and means connected to said cutting head portion for pivoting said cutting head portion within said central bore as said cutting head portion contacts tissue extending through said cutting opening when said second cutting edge is advanced toward said first cutting edge.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
118 words
A surgical cutting instrument for use in cutting tissue, comprising: an outer tubular member defining a central bore therethrough and a cutting opening at one end thereof in communication with said central bore, said cutting opening having a first cutting edge; and a cutting member slidably disposed for reciprocation within said central bore and including; a cutting head portion having a second cutting edge configured to cooperate with said first cutting edge to excise tissue therebetween; and means connected to said cutting head portion for pivoting said cutting head portion within said central bore as said cutting head portion contacts tissue extending through said cutting opening when said second cutting edge is advanced toward said first cutting edge.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
172 words
A cutting element for use in a surgical cutting instrument having an outer tubular member defining a central bore and a cutting opening in communication with the central bore, said cutting element comprising: a cutting member slidably disposable within the central bore of the outer tubular member, said cutting member including; a cutting head portion defining an end opening and a cutting edge at said end opening; a body portion having a length from a proximal end adjacent said cutting head portion to an opposite distal end, said body portion defining a passageway along said length, said passageway sized to receive tissue excised by said cutting element, said distal end engageable to a drive source to reciprocate said tubular member within the outer tubular member; and a hinge portion connecting said cutting head portion to said body portion to permit pivoting of said cutting head portion relative to said body portion when said cutting head portion contacts tissue extending through the cutting opening as said cutting member is advanced toward the tissue.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
172 words
A cutting element for use in a surgical cutting instrument having an outer tubular member defining a central bore and a cutting opening in communication with the central bore, said cutting element comprising: a cutting member slidably disposable within the central bore of the outer tubular member, said cutting member including; a cutting head portion defining an end opening and a cutting edge at said end opening; a body portion having a length from a proximal end adjacent said cutting head portion to an opposite distal end, said body portion defining a passageway along said length, said passageway sized to receive tissue excised by said cutting element, said distal end engageable to a drive source to reciprocate said tubular member within the outer tubular member; and a hinge portion connecting said cutting head portion to said body portion to permit pivoting of said cutting head portion relative to said body portion when said cutting head portion contacts tissue extending through the cutting opening as said cutting member is advanced toward the tissue.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cutting element according to claim 24, wherein said hinge portion defines an arc segment from a tubular form.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The cutting element according to claim 25, wherein said arc segment subtends an angle of between about 70 degrees and about 80 degrees (70-80°).
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cutting element according to claim 25, wherein said arc segment has a length dimension about one-fourth (1/4) the diameter of said tubular cutting head portion.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
56 words
The cutting element according to claim 24, in which the cutting opening of the outer tubular member has a width dimension along the length of said tubular member, wherein: said cutting head portion has a length dimension along the length of said body that is at least equal to the width dimension of the cutting opening.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cutting element according to claim 24, wherein said hinge portion includes a diametrical slot extending through about 90% (ninety percent) of the diameter of said tubular member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5782849A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-12-06 | 2003-06-07 | 2003-12-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-06 | 2007-06-07 | 2007-12-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-06 | 2011-06-07 | 2011-12-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |