Articulating needle

Abstract

An arthroscopic needle having partial cuts or serrations along one side of a circular, hollow needle shaft allows the needle to bend, or articulate, by drawing a pull strip bar, defined by a thin strip along the interior side closet to the serrations in the hollow shaft, for compressing along the cuts to draw uncut segments into closer arrangement for curving the needle in the direction of the compressed side. The selectively articulating, or "bendable" needle that curves in response to a rotating knob provides for insertion of surgical attachment anchors in difficult-to-reach areas of meniscal tissue. The disclosed articulating needle has the ability to bend and access more anterior and posterior zones of meniscal repairs than conventional rigid needle approaches.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] The subject application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 62 / 111,798, filed February 4, 2015, entitled "ARTICULATING NEEDLE," the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Background technique [0003] Arthroscopic knee procedures are often used to repair a tear or damage to the meniscus in humans using a suture attachment to the meniscus tissue. Insertion of surgical instruments can be difficult due to the complex nature of the knee joint, and the various locations on the curved meniscal tissue that may require access. Meniscal tissue is more solid than epidermal (skin) tissue and requires significant force to pierce the meniscal tissue, often used to insert suture anchors or "T" pieces because when the suture extends from the middle of the rigid cross-member The "T" shape appears when the "T" shape is aptly named. The surgeon must often navigate around anatomical ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Insertion of surgical instruments can be difficult due to the complex nature of the kne

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