Patent · US Expired

Miniature surgical instrument

US5344428A · kind A · utility

160Cited by
2References
1Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 28, 1993
Grant dateSep 6, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 28, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2050/007
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A miniature surgical instrument (10) comprises a handle (12), shaft assembly (26) with an actuating linkage (L1, L2) movable freely therein and a distal working tip (30) with a shaft rotation sub-assembly (22, 24, 34) including multiple spring-stop pairs (40, 38) arranged in an annulus (44) around the shaft to receive cleansing water via an injection port (52) and/or through the handle and to pass it to the interior of the shaft via a port (12C) or past a seal (56) for flow of water in the shaft around the linkage and exiting in the tip vicinity to clear away surgical debris, the arranging allowing independent operation of the linkage, a lock (14) for the linkage and the tip rotation means. The arrangement prevents or minimizes debris accumulation in the first instance through its avoidance of a pressure differential from an insufflated body cavity to ambient air via the instrument.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.