Navigated malleable surgical instrument

US9226800B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Medtronic Xomed, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Bruce M. Burg · Louisville, US
• Ross Smetzer · Valley Springs, US
• Andrew Bzostek · Erie, US
• Steven L. Hartmann · Superior, US
• Brad Jacobsen · Erie, US
• Matthew J. Nadeau · Lafayette, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 29, 2011
• Grant date: Jan 5, 2016
• Expiry date: Mar 7, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61M2205/3576
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A surgical instrument can include a body, a tracking device, and a handle. The body can include proximal and distal ends, and a flow passage extending therebetween. The body can be formed from a malleable material such that it can be bent between the proximal and distal ends from a first configuration to a second bent configuration and maintain the bent configuration. The tracking device can be positioned adjacent the distal end for tracking a distal tip of the instrument. The handle can be coupled to the proximal end of the body and can include an internal flow passage in fluid communication with the body flow passage. The tracking device can include a pair of lead wires wound around the body to the handle, where the wound wires can conform to the bent configuration of the body such that they do not strain or break during bending of the body.