Curette equipped with posture confirmation device

Abstract

Provided is a curette having the function of making it possible to easily confirm the orientation of an affected site surface in a body cavity. This curette comprises: a shaft part 2 that extends in a linear rod shape; and a head part 3 that is provided at the tip end of the shaft part 2. The shaft part 2 is provided with a posture recognition part 5 that, if the head part 3 is at a surface, can recognize the vertical direction n1 of said surface and, if the head part 3 is not at a surface, can recognize the direction in which the tip of the head part is pointing.

Description

Curette with posture confirmation device

[0001] The present invention relates to a curette.

[0002] For example, in arthroscopic surgery, surgical instruments inserted into a body cavity are operated while checking the endoscopic image on a monitor screen. This requires skilled techniques because the orientation of the affected area on the endoscopic image displayed on the monitor differs from the actual orientation of the affected area.

[0003] Conventionally, there have been known instruments that assist in the alignment of artificial devices to be inserted into intervertebral spaces to assist in orthopedic surgery, and devices that use laser beams to evaluate the mechanical axes of joints in the limbs (see Patent Documents 1 and 2 listed below, etc.).

[0004] Special table 2006-517460 publication Special table 2010-540126 publication

[0005] In arthroscopic surgery, treatments such as trimming and smoothing of cartilage defects are performed, and it is known that surgical instruments such as curettes are used in these treatments. Furthermore, in recent years, treatments have also been performed in which a liquid therapeutic material is embedded in the affected surface of a cartilage defect treated with a curette to repair the cartilage defect.

[0006] In this treatment, the affected area needs to be kept horizontal to prevent leakage of the liquid treatment material from the affected area. However, in arthroscopic surgery, the orientation of the affected area on the endoscopic image displayed on the monitor does not necessarily match the actual orientation of the affected area, making it difficult to confirm the orientation of the affected area. Therefore, in treatment in which the above-mentioned liquid treatment material is embedded in the affected area, it is difficult to keep the affected area horizontal.

[0007] Furthermore, the technologies described in the above patent documents, etc., are cumbersome to handle due to their complex configurations and large device sizes, and do not take into consideration the need to confirm the orientation of the affected area during arthroscopic surgery.

[0008] In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a curette having a function that allows the orientation of the affected area within a body cavity to be easily confirmed.

[0009] In order to achieve this object, the first invention is a curette comprising a shaft portion extending in the shape of a straight rod and a head portion provided at the tip of the shaft portion, characterized in that the shaft portion is provided with a posture recognition unit that can recognize the perpendicular direction of the surface if the head portion has a surface, or the direction in which the tip of the head portion is pointing if the head portion does not have a surface.

[0010] The curette of the present invention can easily recognize the vertical direction of the approximate plane of the affected area based on the state of the orientation recognition unit when it is applied while observing with an endoscope or the like so that the vertical direction of the surface of the head, if the head has a surface, or the direction of the tip of the head, if the head does not have a surface, is perpendicular to the approximate plane of the affected area. This makes it possible to immediately recognize the orientation of the affected area after using the curette to perform treatment such as trimming or smoothing of a cartilage defect on the affected area, and to quickly adjust the patient's body posture, for example, so that the orientation of the affected area is horizontal.

[0011] The shape of the head portion provided at the tip of the curette of the present invention may or may not have a surface.

[0012] In this specification, a "curette having a surface on the head portion" refers to a curette having a flat or approximately flat surface on the head portion, which, when in use, functions by moving the flat or approximately flat surface parallel to the approximately flat surface of the affected area.

[0013] In this specification, a "curette without a surface on the head portion" refers to a curette that has the shape of a rod or needle extending toward the tip, and when in use, the direction in which the tip points relative to the approximate plane of the affected area is adjusted to perform its function.

[0014] The second invention is characterized in that, in the first invention, the shaft portion is provided with a grip portion at the rear end of the shaft portion that is formed with a larger diameter than the shaft portion, and the posture recognition portion is formed at the rear end of the grip portion and is configured with an inclined surface that allows visual recognition of the vertical direction of the surface if the head portion has a surface, or the direction pointed by the tip of the head portion if the head portion does not have a surface.

[0015] According to the second invention, when performing a treatment in which the head portion is moved parallel or perpendicular to the approximate plane of the affected area, the orientation of the affected area can be easily recognized by simply placing the head portion on the affected area and visually checking the inclined surface of the orientation recognition portion, using the orientation recognition portion provided on the grip portion. Moreover, since the orientation recognition portion is obtained by forming an inclined surface on the grip portion, a low-cost, lightweight curette can be provided without increasing the number of parts.

[0016] The third invention is characterized in that, in the first invention, the posture recognition unit is composed of a pin-shaped pointer portion that intersects the axis of the shaft portion and extends to one side of the shaft portion, and the pointer portion is on the same side of the shaft portion as the head portion, and extends in a direction perpendicular to the surface if the head portion has a surface, or in the direction pointed by the tip of the head portion if the head portion does not have a surface.

[0017] According to the third invention, when performing a treatment in which the head portion is moved parallel or perpendicular to the approximate plane of the affected area, the orientation of the affected area surface can be easily recognized by simply placing the head portion against the affected area surface and visually checking the pin-shaped pointer portion of the orientation recognition portion, using the orientation recognition portion provided in the shaft portion.

[0018] The fourth invention is characterized in that, in the third invention, the head portion is swingably mounted on the shaft portion so as to be able to change the perpendicular direction of the surface of the head portion or the direction in which the tip of the head portion points, and the pointer portion is swingably mounted on the shaft portion and connected to a link mechanism that is linked to the swing of the head portion.

[0019] According to the fourth invention, the vertical direction of the surface of the head unit or the direction pointed by the tip of the head unit can be set to the desired direction so that the head unit can be moved parallel to or perpendicular to the approximate plane of the affected area, and moreover, the direction of the affected area surface where the head unit is in contact can be recognized simply by visually checking the pointer of the posture recognition unit which is linked to the movement of the head unit.

[0020] The fifth invention is characterized in that, in the fourth invention, the link mechanism is provided with a fixing mechanism that releasably fixes the perpendicular direction of the surface of the head portion or the direction in which the tip of the head portion points in a desired direction.

[0021] According to the fifth invention, the head unit can be fixed at a desired position within the swing range, which not only improves usability but also improves the accuracy when visually checking the pointer unit of the orientation recognition unit.

[0022] In any of the first to fifth inventions, when the head portion has a surface, preferred embodiments include a form in which it is formed in a ring shape, a spoon shape, or a chisel shape, and when the head portion does not have a surface, preferred embodiments include a form in which it is formed in a needle shape.

[0023] 3A ; FIG. 3B is an explanatory perspective view showing a curette of a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3C is an explanatory perspective view showing a curette of a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3D is an explanatory side view showing a curette of a third embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3E is an explanatory side view of the curette of the third embodiment, in which the angle of the head portion relative to the shaft portion is different from that in FIG. 3A ; FIG. 3F is an explanatory plan view of the curette of the third embodiment; FIG. 3G is an explanatory view showing an example of a fixing mechanism; FIG. 3H is an explanatory side view of the curette of a fourth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3H is an enlarged plan view of the head portion constituting the curette of the fourth embodiment, as seen from the line of sight of arrow D; and FIG. 3I is an explanatory view showing the curette of the fourth embodiment in use.

[0024] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The curette described in this embodiment is used in arthroscopic surgery to perform procedures such as trimming and smoothing of cartilage defects.

[0025] [First Embodiment] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 1, a curette 1 of the first embodiment includes a shaft portion 2, a head portion 3, and a grip portion 4. The grip portion 4 is provided with a posture recognition unit 5, which is the gist of the present invention.

[0026] The shaft portion 2 is formed in the shape of a straight rod, and is made of a material that does not bend or bends very little.

[0027] The head portion 3 is formed in a ring shape and is provided at the tip of the shaft portion 2. The head portion 3 is provided at an angle θ in one direction relative to the shaft portion 2. This makes it easy to apply the head portion 3 to the affected area and perform treatments such as trimming and smoothing of the cartilage defect.

[0028] The angle θ of the head part 3 is set to a value suitable for performing the treatment by placing the plane of the ring of the head part 3 on the approximate plane of the affected area and moving it parallel to it. For example, multiple curettes with different angles θ of the head part 3 are prepared depending on the condition and position of the affected area, and one of the curettes is selectively used during the treatment.

[0029] The grip portion 4 is provided at the rear end of the shaft portion 2 and is formed with a larger diameter than the shaft portion 2 so as to be easy to operate.

[0030] The posture recognition unit 5 is configured by an inclined surface 6 formed at the rear end of the grip unit 4. The inclined surface 6 is formed so that when the plane to which the ring of the head unit 3 belongs is placed against plane A, it forms an imaginary plane B parallel to plane A. In the drawing, the vertical direction n1 of plane A and the vertical direction n2 of imaginary plane B are parallel.

[0031] As a result, with the curette 1 of the first embodiment, the vertical direction of the affected surface, i.e., the orientation of the affected surface, can be easily recognized simply by placing the head portion 3 against the affected surface and visually checking the inclined surface 6.

[0032] Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 2, a curette 7 of the second embodiment includes a shaft portion 8, a head portion 9, and a grip portion 10. The shaft portion 8 is provided with a posture recognition unit 11, which is the gist of the present invention.

[0033] The shaft portion 8 is formed in the shape of a straight rod, and is made of a material that does not bend or bends very little.

[0034] The head portion 9 is formed in a ring shape and is provided at the tip of the shaft portion 8. The head portion 9 is provided at an angle θ in one direction relative to the shaft portion 8. This makes it easier to apply the head portion 9 to the affected area and perform treatments such as trimming and smoothing of the cartilage defect.

[0035] In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the angle θ of the head portion 9 is set to a value suitable for performing the treatment by placing the plane of the ring of the head portion 9 on the approximate plane of the affected area and moving it in parallel. For example, multiple curettes with different angles θ of the head portion 9 are prepared and selectively used depending on the condition and position of the affected area.

[0036] The grip portion 10 is provided at the rear end of the shaft portion 8 and is formed with a larger diameter than the shaft portion 8 so as to be easy to operate.

[0037] The attitude recognition unit 11 in the second embodiment is configured by a pin-shaped pointer 12 provided on the shaft portion 8. The pointer 12 intersects with the shaft portion 8 and extends to one side of the shaft portion 8. The side of the shaft portion 8 on which the pointer 12 is provided coincides with the side on which the head portion 9 protrudes relative to the shaft portion 8.

[0038] The pointer portion 12 is installed on the shaft portion 8 so that the vertical direction VB of the imaginary plane B is parallel to the vertical direction VA of the surface (plane A) on which the plane to which the ring of the head portion 9 belongs is placed.

[0039] As a result, according to the curette 7 of the second embodiment, the orientation of the affected surface can be easily recognized simply by placing the head portion 9 on the affected surface and visually checking the pointer portion 12 .

[0040] [Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 5. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, a curette 13 of the third embodiment includes a shaft portion 14, a head portion 15, and a grip portion 16, and further includes a posture recognition portion 17 and a link mechanism 18, which are the gist of the present invention, on the shaft portion 14.

[0041] The head portion 15 is swingably connected to the tip of the shaft portion 14 via a first swing shaft 19. This allows the angle θ of the head portion 15 relative to the shaft portion 14 to be changed.

[0042] The grip portion 16 is provided at the rear end of the shaft portion 14 and is formed with a larger diameter than the shaft portion 14 so as to be easy to operate.

[0043] The attitude recognition unit 17 in the third embodiment is configured by a pin-shaped pointer unit 20 , and the pointer unit 20 is supported by a support member 21 that constitutes the link mechanism 18 .

[0044] The link mechanism 18 includes a support member 21 and a link member 22 extending parallel to the shaft portion 14. The support member 21 is provided to be able to swing freely via a second swing shaft 23 in a position near the grip portion 16 of the shaft portion 14, and the pointer portion 20 is provided with its base end fixed to the support member 21. The link member 22 has a tip connected to the head portion 15 via a rotatable first connecting shaft 24 and a rear end connected to the support member 21 via a second connecting shaft 25.

[0045] By providing the link mechanism 18 having the above-described configuration, when the head portion 15 swings, the support member 21 swings in conjunction with the head portion 15 via the link member 22 .

[0046] 3A and 3B, the pointer 20 supported by the support member 21 is arranged so as to be parallel to the vertical direction VA of the plane (plane A) on which the flat surface of the head 15 is placed. In other words, when the flat surface of the head 15 is placed on plane A (shown as a horizontal line in FIG. 3), the imaginary extension line VB of the pointer 20 is parallel to the vertical direction VA of plane A. As a result, the vertical direction of the plane of the head 15 is reflected in the direction of the pointer 20.

[0047] Therefore, in the curette 13 of the third embodiment, the angle θ of the head portion 15 relative to the shaft portion 14 can be set to any desired angle, eliminating the need to prepare multiple head portions with different angles for surgery. Moreover, since the direction of the pointer portion 20 corresponds to the perpendicular direction of the plane of the head portion 15, the perpendicular direction of the plane of the head portion 15 can be accurately recognized by looking at the pointer portion 20, regardless of the angle θ of the head portion 15 relative to the shaft portion 14.

[0048] 5 can be provided as a fixing mechanism for fixing the angle θ of the head portion 15 relative to the shaft portion 14 at a desired angle so as to prevent the head portion 15 from swinging unintentionally. By providing the ratchet mechanism 26, the head portion 15 can be easily fixed and released.

[0049] The ratchet mechanism 26 is composed of a locking member 27 provided on the shaft portion 14 and locking teeth 28 provided on the support member 21. The locking member 27 has a resilient main body 29 made of a spring material or the like, one end of which is fixed to the shaft portion 14, and a claw portion 30 protruding from the other end of the main body 29. The locking teeth 28 are provided on the opposite side of the second connecting shaft 25 across the second swing shaft 23 of the support member 21, and the claw portion 30 of the locking member 27 resiliently locks.

[0050] This prevents inadvertent swinging of the head portion 15 while the claw portions 30 and the locking teeth 28 are locked, allowing for reliable treatment such as trimming and smoothing of the cartilage defect. When the support member 21 or the head portion 15 is swung against the locking force (pressure force) between the claw portions 30 and the locking teeth 28 due to the biasing force of the main body 29 of the locking member 27, the claw portions 30 are disengaged from the locking teeth 28, and the angle θ of the head portion 15 relative to the shaft portion 14 can be set to the desired angle.

[0051] 6A, 6B, and 7, a curette 30 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is described. As shown in Fig. 6A, a curette 30 according to the fourth embodiment includes a shaft 31 extending a predetermined length, a head 33 provided at a distal end 31a of the shaft 31 in the extending direction, and a grip 35 provided at a proximal end of the shaft 31 in the extending direction. A posture recognition unit 37, which is the gist of the present invention, is provided on the outer periphery of the distal end 35a of the grip 35.

[0052] The head portion 33 is generally cylindrical and has a predetermined axial length. A surface 40 is provided on the outer peripheral edge of the head portion 33 at the tip end in the axial direction, and a surface 41 is also provided on the outer peripheral edge of the head portion 33 at the base end in the axial direction, with the surfaces 40, 41 being parallel to each other. The surface 40 on the tip end side of the head portion 33 constitutes the "surface" in the present invention.

[0053] 6B , an inner blade 42 capable of trimming a cartilage defect, for example, is provided on the radially inner side of the head portion 33. The inner blade 42 may be provided on both axial ends of the head portion 33, i.e., on surfaces 40 and 41, or on one end, i.e., on surface 40 or surface 41; however, in the present invention, it is preferable that the inner blade 42 be provided only on surface 40.

[0054] The cylindrical head portion 33 is bent at a predetermined angle relative to the tip end 31 a of the shaft portion 31. That is, the head portion 33 is bent relative to the tip end 31 a of the shaft portion 31 so that the inclination angle of the axis C2 of the head portion 33 relative to the axis C1 of the shaft portion 31 is θ1.

[0055] The direction perpendicular to the plane A to which the surface 40 of the head portion 33 belongs is the same as the direction along the axis C2 of the head portion 33. In other words, the head portion 33 has a cylindrical shape that extends in the direction perpendicular to the plane A to which the surface 40 belongs.

[0056] The posture recognition unit 37 has a bent protrusion shape and is made up of a base 38 that is disposed orthogonal to the axis C1 of the shaft 31 and is connected to the tip 35a of the grip 35, and a bent portion 39 that is bent at a predetermined angle relative to the base 38 and extends a predetermined length. The bent portion 39 of the posture recognition unit 37 is bent so that its axis C3 forms an inclination angle θ2 with respect to the axis C1 of the shaft 31.

[0057] The inclination angle θ2 of the bent portion 39 of the attitude recognition unit 37 relative to the axis C1 of the shaft portion 31 is the same as the inclination angle θ1 of the head portion 33 relative to the axis C1 of the shaft portion 31.

[0058] The extending direction (direction along the axis C3) of the bent portion 39 of the posture recognition unit 37 is perpendicular to the plane A to which the surface 40 of the head unit 33 belongs, that is, the same as the direction along the axis C2 of the head unit 33. As a result, by visually checking the extending direction of the bent portion 39 of the posture recognition unit 37, the perpendicular direction of the surface 40 of the head unit 33, and therefore the axial direction of the cylindrical head unit 33, can be recognized.

[0059] As described above, the vertical direction of the surface 40 of the head unit 33 and the extending direction of the bending portion 39 of the posture recognition unit 37 are the same, so as shown in Figure 7, the orientation of the affected surface can be easily recognized by simply pressing the cylindrical surface 40 of the head unit 33 against the surface of the affected area, such as a cartilage defect, and visually checking the bending portion 39 of the posture recognition unit 37.

[0060] The inclination angle θ1 of the head portion 33 is set to a value suitable for performing the treatment by placing the surface 40 of the head portion 33 on a substantially flat surface of the affected area and moving it in parallel. For example, multiple curettes with different angles θ1 of the head portion 33 can be prepared and selectively used depending on the condition and position of the affected area.

[0061] Furthermore, the surface 40 provided on the head portion 33 is located at a position that protrudes from the distal end 31 a of the shaft portion 31 toward the axial distal end of the head portion 33. Therefore, according to the head portion 33 of the fourth embodiment, the surface 40 can be used to efficiently perform treatments such as trimming and smoothing of the cartilage defect on the affected surface.

[0062] In the above-described embodiments, the head portion is formed in a ring shape, but the shape of the head portion is not limited thereto. Another aspect of the present invention is, for example, a surgical instrument having a head portion of various shapes at the tip, such as a spoon shape or a needle shape, although not shown. That is, the configuration of the present invention can be applied to a surgical instrument whose tip is inserted into an affected area and therefore cannot be seen during use. Such a surgical instrument may have a head portion with or without a surface at the tip, and examples of such a surgical instrument include a curette, a microfracture pick, endoscopic forceps, a surgical hook, a cannula, and the like. By providing these surgical instruments with an orientation recognition unit, the orientation of the affected area can be recognized.

[0063] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 7, 13, 30...Culette 2, 8, 14, 31...Shaft portion 3, 9, 15, 33...Head portion 4, 10, 16, 35...Grip portion 5, 11, 17, 37...Attitude recognition portion 6...Inclined surface 12, 20...Indicator portion 18...Link mechanism 26...Ratchet mechanism (fixing mechanism) 40, 41...Surface

Claims

1. A curette comprising a shaft portion extending in a straight rod shape and a head portion provided at the tip of the shaft portion, wherein the shaft portion is provided with a posture recognition unit that can recognize the perpendicular direction of the face of the head portion when the head portion has a face, and can recognize the direction in which the tip of the head portion is pointing when the head portion does not have a face.

2. A curette as described in claim 1, wherein the shaft portion is provided with a grip portion formed at the rear end of the shaft portion with a larger diameter than the shaft portion, and the posture recognition portion is formed at the rear end of the grip portion and is configured with an inclined surface that allows visual recognition of the vertical direction of the head portion's surface when the head portion has a surface, or the direction in which the tip of the head portion is pointing when the head portion does not have a surface.

3. In the curette described in claim 1, the posture recognition unit is constituted by a pin-shaped pointer portion extending to one side of the shaft portion, intersecting the axis of the shaft portion, and the pointer portion is on the same side of the shaft portion as the head portion, and extends in a direction perpendicular to the surface if the head portion has a surface, or in the direction indicated by the tip of the head portion if the head portion does not have a surface.

4. A curette as described in claim 3, characterized in that the head portion is swingably mounted on the shaft portion so as to be able to change the perpendicular direction of the surface of the head portion or the direction in which the tip of the head portion points, and the pointer portion is swingably mounted on the shaft portion and connected to a link mechanism which operates in conjunction with the swing of the head portion.

5. A curette as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the link mechanism is provided with a fixing mechanism for releasably fixing the perpendicular direction of the surface of the head portion or the direction in which the tip of the head portion points in a desired direction.

6. A curette according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that when the head portion has a surface, it is preferably formed in a ring shape, spoon shape or chisel shape.

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