Surgical cutting device

Abstract

To provide a surgical cutting device for cutting and removing cartilage from a diseased area.SOLUTION: A surgical cutting device 10 includes an elongated shaft 12 having a proximal portion 18 and a distal portion 20 connected between a proximal end 14 and a distal end 16. A central longitudinal axis extends through the elongated shaft. The proximal portion has a first diameter and the distal portion has a second diameter. The first diameter is larger than the second diameter. The cutting device also includes a cutting tip at the distal end of the elongated shaft. The cutting tip extends along a second axis at an angle relative to the central longitudinal axis and includes a curved blade. The curved blade includes an inner wall extending to a base of the cutting tip.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 735,290, entitled "Chondratome," filed September 24, 2018.

[0002] FIELD OF THEINVENTION The present invention is directed generally to surgical cutting devices and, more specifically, to blades for cutting and removing cartilage from a diseased area. [Background technology]

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art A variety of conditions can adversely affect the human knee, including arthritis, ligament laxity, and local trauma. These conditions can be treated surgically by repairing parts of the knee cartilage, meniscus, or ligaments, or by replacing them with natural or artificial replacements. Such treatments often require correcting the alignment of the knee to relieve pressure from the damaged area of ​​the joint and balance the load on the joint. In some cases, correcting the alignment of the knee alone, without additional repair or replacement of damaged or diseased tissue, is sufficient to bring about remission and improve function. In young arthritic patients, correcting the alignment of the knee can often be the first surgical choice, leading to years of remission before resorting to a more aggressive total knee replacement. Typically, an injured or diseased knee causes a varus deformity in which the inside of the patient's knee joint is compressed, resulting in a bow-legged alignment of the lower leg.

[0004] A frequently used procedure to correct knee alignment is high tibial osteotomy. In this procedure, the knee alignment is altered by cutting the tibia on one side and then expanding or compressing the cut side to change the angle between the axes of the tibia and femur. For example, in a closed high tibial osteotomy, a wedge of bone is removed from the tibia, and then both sides of the cut are brought together to tilt the tibia toward the cut side. In an open high tibial osteotomy, a cut is made midway through the tibia, and the cut is opened to create a wedge-shaped gap, thereby tilting the tibia to face the side opposite the side where the cut was made. A fixation device, such as a bone plate or external fixator, is then applied to the tibia to maintain tibial alignment until the bone heals. Typically, for a high tibial osteotomy, bone is taken from the patient's pelvis and applied to the gap on the tibia to aid in bone healing. A high tibial osteotomy can be performed on the medial side of a patient's knee to treat a varus deformity.

[0005] Another procedure used to correct knee alignment is a distal femoral osteotomy, for example an open lateral distal femoral osteotomy in which a cut is made midway down the femur from the outside and the cut is opened to create a wedge-shaped gap, thereby tilting the femur to face away from the outside.

[0006] It is often necessary to use a powered tissue cutting tool to perform a surgical procedure. Such tools typically include a handpiece that cyclically moves a tissue cutting device, such as a blade or burr, in some oscillatory or reciprocating fashion. Handpieces typically include a pneumatic or electric drive motor having an output shaft to which the cutting device is attached, the shaft being axially aligned with a drive shaft of the handpiece. As used herein, the term "drive shaft" refers to the axis of the motor output shaft through which power is delivered from the motor. Handpieces may be of the "pencil" type, where the body is elongated and the drive shaft is aligned with the axis of the body, or of the "pencil" type, where the drive shaft is aligned in a selected direction relative to the grip. The handpiece may be a pistol grip type handpiece that rotates the cutting device in a direction parallel to the axis of the drive shaft. The drive motor of the handpiece generates a drive force that moves the output shaft and cutting device back and forth either longitudinally, i.e., in a straight line along the drive shaft (such as a saber saw), or in an arc in a plane perpendicular to the drive shaft. Handpieces utilizing the former type of motion are commonly referred to as reciprocating saws, while handpieces utilizing the latter type of motion are commonly referred to as oscillating saws. In some cases, an oscillating saw may transmit an oscillatory drive motion such that it is periodic in a plane parallel to the axis of the elongated body of the handpiece. A sagittal saw is a type of oscillating saw in which the periodic reciprocating motion is in a plane aligned with the drive shaft.

[0007] In all cases, a number of conventional tissue cutting blades or burrs, or other devices (all collectively referred to herein as "blades") are adapted to be secured to the handpiece via a collet mechanism that is utilized to selectively attach and detach the desired blade. Depending on the shape of the blade, a variety of different cuts can be made with a single saw. For oscillating saws, the blade is often in the form of a flat elongated body with a cutting edge (e.g., teeth, sharpeners, etc.) on one end and a hub on the other end that is shaped and adapted to fit into a particular collet. Such flat blades are used to make cuts in a plane perpendicular to the drive shaft. Oscillating saws can also be used to perform cuts in a plane parallel to the handpiece axis by attaching a transverse hub to the flat blade. Crescent-shaped blades, which have a curved body instead of a flat body, can be used for curved cuts. The body of a crescent blade has teeth (or another cutting edge) at its distal end that follow the shape of an arcuate body, so that as the blade oscillates about the axis, the teeth follow an arcuate pattern with a center of curvature on the axis. Some flat blades have cutting edges at an angle to the blade body, allowing them to cut in an inclined plane. An inclined blade may have an axially elongated body either on or off the blade axis. That is, the proximal end of the blade body may have a sideways hub or simply be mounted in line with the drive shaft. The resulting cut is in an arc and faces away from the axis.

[0008] Any of the blades described above may be used to make cuts into the bone. However, in most surgical procedures involving the knee (or foot, ankle, hand and / or wrist), damaged or diseased cartilage may also need to be removed from the surgical site for proper repair of the particular surgical site.

[0009] Thus, a need exists for tools specialized for cutting and removing diseased cartilage.

[0010] Description of Related Art Section Disclaimer: To the extent that specific patents / publications / products are discussed in this Description of Related Art section or elsewhere in this disclosure, such discussion should not be taken as an admission that the discussed patents / publications / products are prior art for purposes of patent law. For example, some or all of the discussed patents / publications / products may not be sufficiently early, may not reflect subject matter developed early enough, and / or may not be sufficiently authoritative to amount to prior art for purposes of patent law. To the extent that specific patents / publications / products are discussed above in this Description of Related Art section and / or throughout the application, the descriptions / disclosures thereof are incorporated herein by reference in their respective entireties. Summary of the Invention

[0011] Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a surgical cutting device for cutting and removing cartilage from a diseased area. In particular, embodiments of the present invention are used to cut and scrape diseased or damaged cartilage (e.g., extremity procedures (foot and ankle / hand and wrist)). According to one aspect: The surgical cutting device includes an elongate shaft having a proximal portion and a distal narrowed portion connected between the proximal and distal ends. A central longitudinal axis extends through the elongate shaft. The proximal portion has a first diameter and the distal narrowed portion has a second diameter. The first diameter is greater than the second diameter. The cutting device also includes a cutting tip at a distal end of the elongate shaft. The cutting tip extends at an angle to the central longitudinal axis and includes a curved blade.

[0012] According to another aspect, a surgical cutting device includes an elongate shaft having a proximal portion and a distal narrowed portion connected between the proximal and distal ends. A central longitudinal first axis extends through the elongate shaft. The surgical cutting device also includes a cutting tip at a distal end of the elongate shaft. The cutting tip extends along a second axis at an angle to the central longitudinal first axis. The cutting tip includes a curved blade that opens proximally.

[0013] According to yet another aspect, a surgical cutting device includes an elongate shaft having a proximal portion and a distal narrowed portion connected between the proximal and distal ends. A central longitudinal first axis extends through the elongate shaft. The surgical cutting device also includes a cutting tip at a distal end of the elongate shaft. The cutting tip extends along a second axis at an angle to the central longitudinal first axis. The cutting tip includes a curved blade that opens proximally. The surgical cutting device also includes a handle attached to the proximal end of the elongate shaft.

[0014] These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] One or more aspects of the present invention are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed as examples at the end of this specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic side perspective view of a cutting device, according to one embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a close-up, side perspective schematic view of a distal end of a cutting device, according to one embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a cutting device according to an alternative embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a close-up, top perspective schematic view of a distal end of a cutting device according to an alternative embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Aspects of the present invention and its specific features, advantages, and details are described more fully below with reference to non-limiting examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Descriptions of well-known structures are omitted so as not to unnecessarily obscure the details of the invention. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific non-limiting examples, while illustrating aspects of the present invention, are given by way of illustration only and not by way of limitation. Various substitutions, modifications, additions, and / or arrangements within the spirit and / or scope of the underlying inventive concept will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

[0018] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like parts throughout, FIG. 1 shows a side perspective schematic view of a cutting device 10, according to one embodiment. The cutting device 10 includes an elongate shaft 12 extending along a central longitudinal y-y axis between a proximal end 14 and a distal end 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the elongate shaft 12 is cylindrical, however, any other suitable shape may be used. The elongate shaft 12 may have a uniform diameter or a variable diameter. In the illustrated embodiment, the elongate shaft 12 has a first diameter and a second diameter that is different from the first diameter.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1 , the elongate shaft 12 has a proximal portion 18 and a distal portion 20 (which may, but need not, be distally tapered). The proximal portion 18 has a first diameter and the distal narrowed portion 20 has a second diameter. In the illustrated embodiment, the second diameter of the distal narrowed portion 20 is smaller than the first diameter of the proximal portion 18. In one embodiment, the distal narrowed portion 20 may be distally tapered and the second diameter is any diameter along the distal narrowed portion 20. The narrowed portion 20 allows the cutting device 10 to access and cut in smaller surgical areas, such as those in the hand and wrist.

[0020] Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown an enlarged, side perspective schematic view of the distal end 16 of the cutting device 10, according to one embodiment. The narrowed portion 20 of the elongate shaft 12 extends to the distal end 16. The distal end 16 includes a cutting tip 22, as shown in Figure 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the cutting tip 22 extends along an x-x axis. Generally, the cutting tip 22 extends at an angle relative to a central longitudinal y-y axis (which passes through the elongate shaft 12). In Figure 2, the cutting tip 22 extends at an angle greater than 90 degrees relative to the central longitudinal y-y axis.

[0021] 2, the cutting tip 22 includes a curved blade 24. In the illustrated embodiment, the curved blade 24 has a semicircular cross-section such that the curved blade 24 is crescent-shaped and opens proximally. The curved blade 24 includes an inner wall 26 that extends to a flat semicircular base 28. Further, the base 28 of the curved blade 24 extends to and abuts a flat portion 30 of the cutting tip 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the flat portion 30 is D-shaped and extends proximally.

[0022] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the base 28 and flat portion 30 of the curved blade 24 are connected at a flange 32 or edge. The base 28 extends at an angle relative to the flat portion 30. In one embodiment, the flat portion 30 extends along both a plane and an axis substantially parallel to the central longitudinal y-y axis (z-z axis), while the base 28 extends along a plane and an axis transverse to both the central longitudinal y-y axis and the x-x axis. In one embodiment, the base 28 extends substantially perpendicular to the x-x axis. The angular configuration and curvature of the cutting tip 22 are optimized for use in hand and wrist procedures.

[0023] 3, a side schematic view of a cutting device 10 is shown according to an alternative embodiment. In the illustrated embodiment, the proximal end 14 of the cutting device 10 includes a handle 34. According to one embodiment, there is no motor or automatic actuation for the described device 10, which includes a curved blade or cutting tip on a shaft that would be pressed into the handle 34 so that the surgeon can cut and peel and scrape the cartilage. Thus, the cutting device 10 can be directly manipulated by a user via the handle 34 (or otherwise at the proximal end 14f of the device 10).

[0024] Similar to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the embodiment of the cutting device 10 of Figure 3 includes an elongate shaft 12 extending along a central longitudinal y-y axis between a proximal end 14 and a distal end 16. The elongate shaft 12 may be cylindrical and have a uniform or variable diameter, as described above. Also similar to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the elongate shaft 12 of the cutting device 10 of Figure 3 includes a proximal portion 18 and a distal narrowed portion 20. As shown, the distal narrowed portion 20 is distally tapered. The distal narrowed portion 20 allows the cutting device 10 to access and cut in smaller surgical areas, such as those at the foot and ankle.

[0025] The distal end 16 of the cutting device 10 includes a cutting tip 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the cutting tip 22 extends along an x-x axis. Generally, the cutting tip 22 extends at an angle relative to a central longitudinal y-y axis (which passes through the elongate shaft 12). In FIG. 3, the cutting tip 22 extends at an angle of greater than 90 degrees relative to the central longitudinal y-y axis. The cutting tip 22 is configured and optimized for use in foot and ankle procedures. For example, the cutting tip 22 is longer than the cutting tip 22 in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2. Thus, the cutting tip 22 of the cutting device 10 of Figures 3 and 4 differs from that shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0026] Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown an enlarged, side perspective schematic view of the distal end 16 of the cutting device 10 according to an alternative embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the cutting tip 22 includes a curved blade 24 that opens proximally. In the illustrated embodiment, the curved blade 24 has a semicircular cross section such that the curved blade 24 is crescent shaped. The curved blade 24 includes an inner wall 26 that extends to a base 28. The base 28 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3-4 is inclined and extends toward the central longitudinal y-y axis (and the elongated shaft 12). Additionally, the inclined base 28 of the curved blade 24 extends to and abuts a flat portion 30 of the cutting tip 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the flat portion 30 is circular or semicircular and extends proximally.

[0027] In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 4, the base 28 of the curved blade 24 is angled or extends into a flat portion 30 of the curved blade 24. The base 28 also extends at least partially around the flat portion 30, as shown in Figure 4. The flat portion 30 extends along a plane substantially parallel to the central longitudinal y-y axis and the z-z axis, as shown in Figure 3. The angular configuration and curvature of the cutting tip 22 are optimized for use in foot and ankle procedures.

[0028] All definitions defined and used herein should be understood to control for any dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and / or ordinary meaning of the defined terms.

[0029] While various embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those skilled in the art will readily envision various other means and / or structures for performing the functions and / or obtaining the results and / or one or more advantages described herein, and each such variation and / or modification is deemed to be within the scope of the embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are exemplary, and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and / or configurations will depend on the particular application or applications for which the teachings are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain, using no more than routine experimentation, numerous equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein. Thus, the foregoing embodiments are presented merely as illustrative, and it will be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents, the embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and / or method described herein. Furthermore, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and / or methods is within the scope of the present disclosure, unless such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and / or methods are mutually inconsistent.

[0030] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms "comprise" (and any form of comprise, such as "comprises" and "comprising"), "have" (and any form of have, such as "has" and "having"), "include" (and any form of include, such as "includes" and "including"), "includes ... It will be further understood that "contain" (as well as any form of "lude") and "contain" (as well as any form of contain, such as "contains" and "containing") are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a method or device may "comprises," "has," "includes," or "contains" one or more steps or elements. Similarly, a method step, or device element that "comprises," "has," "includes," or "contains" one or more features possesses those one or more features, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more features. Furthermore, a device or structure that is configured in a particular way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways not listed.

[0031] The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or steps plus functional elements in the following claims are intended to include any structures, materials, or acts for performing a function, if any, in combination with elements of other claims specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiments have been chosen and described to best explain the principles and practical application of one or more aspects of the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to understand one or more aspects of the invention in various embodiments with various modifications suitable for the particular use contemplated.

Claims

1. 1. A surgical cutting device comprising: an elongate shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion connected between the proximal and distal ends; a central longitudinal axis extending through said elongate shaft; the proximal portion having a first diameter and the distal portion having a second diameter, the first diameter being greater than the second diameter; a cutting tip at the distal end of the elongate shaft, the cutting tip extending at an angle relative to the central longitudinal axis; A surgical cutting device comprising a cutting tip comprising a curved blade.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the distal constriction portion is tapered and reduces in diameter distally.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the curved blade has a crescent-shaped cross section.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the cutting tip extends at an angle relative to the central longitudinal axis that is greater than 90 degrees.

5. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a flat portion on the cutting tip, the flat portion connected to and extending proximally from the curved blade.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the flat portion extends along a plane substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis.

7. 1. A surgical cutting device comprising: an elongate shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion connected between the proximal and distal ends; a first central longitudinal axis extending through said elongate shaft; a cutting tip at the distal end of the elongate shaft, the cutting tip extending along a second axis that is at an angle to the central longitudinal first axis; A surgical cutting device, wherein the cutting tip includes a proximally opening curved blade.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the curved blade includes an inner wall that extends to a base of the cutting tip.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the base is semicircular.

10. The device of claim 8 , wherein the base extends along a plane substantially perpendicular to the second axis.

11. The device of claim 8 further comprising a flat portion connected to the base of the cutting tip by a flange.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the flat portion is D-shaped.

13. The device of claim 11 , wherein the flat portion extends proximally along a third axis substantially parallel to the central longitudinal first axis.

14. 1. A surgical cutting device comprising: an elongate shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion connected between the proximal and distal ends; a first central longitudinal axis extending through said elongate shaft; a cutting tip at the distal end of the elongate shaft extending along a second axis that is at an angle to the central longitudinal first axis; a cutting tip including a proximally opening curved blade; and The surgical cutting apparatus further includes a handle attached to the proximal end of the elongate shaft.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the curved blade includes an inner wall that extends to a base of the cutting tip.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the base is angled toward the elongate shaft.

17. The device of claim 14 , wherein the base extends toward and at least partially around a flat portion of the cutting tip.

18. 18. The device of claim 17, wherein the flat portion is circular or semicircular.

19. The device of claim 17 , wherein the flat portion extends proximally along a third axis substantially parallel to the central longitudinal first axis.

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