Instruments, devices, and related methods for soft tissue dissection
Inventors
Pell, Charles A. • Crenshaw, Hugh C.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10383651-B2
Publication Date
2019-08-20
Expiration Date
Abstract
A differential dissecting instrument for differentially dissecting complex tissue comprising is disclosed. The differential dissecting instrument comprises a rotary drive train having a central, longitudinal axis, a distal end, and a proximal end. The differential dissecting instrument also comprises at least one differential dissecting bluntwheel, wherein the at least one differential dissecting bluntwheel is rotatably associated with the distal end of the rotary drive train, has at least one axis of rotation substantially transverse to the central, longitudinal axis of the rotary drive train, and is rotated by the rotary drive train. The bluntwheel may comprise projections that are configured to differentially dissect a complex tissue when the differential dissecting instrument is in operation.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a differential dissecting instrument for differentially dissecting complex tissue. The instrument includes a rotary drive train having a central, longitudinal axis, a distal end, and a proximal end, and a differential dissecting bluntwheel rotatably associated with the distal end and rotated by the rotary drive train.
The differential dissecting bluntwheel carries tissue-engaging projections configured to differentially dissect complex tissues. The bluntwheel rotation axis is substantially coaxial to the central longitudinal axis, and multiple arrangements are described to produce differential dissection through counter-moving projection sets.
Additional described embodiments include flexible elastic bluntwheel or bluntcone configurations that are folded into a taco shape or twin projection rows by shrouds, while maintaining differential motion of opposed projection edges during rotation. Other embodiments include twin bent bluntwheels with nonparallel axes driven by crown and pinion gears to produce opposite-direction passing projection sets, with a shroud and/or protective housing used to protect and support stable deformation and expose the projection edges at the distal tissue interface.
Claims Coverage
The document includes one independent claim directed to a powered differential dissecting instrument with a rotary drive train and at least one differential dissecting bluntwheel. Dependent claims refine the bluntwheel structure, the bluntwheel material modulus, and the relative rotation-axis geometry for two bluntwheel configurations or flexibility/material characterizations.
Rotary drive train with coaxial distal bluntwheel
A rotary drive train having a central, longitudinal axis, a distal end, and a proximal end, and at least one differential dissecting bluntwheel rotatably associated with the distal end and rotated by the rotary drive train, where the bluntwheel has an axis of rotation substantially coaxial to the central, longitudinal axis.
Blunt tissue-engaging projections on a bluntwheel
The differential dissecting bluntwheel is a wheel or disk having blunt, tissue-engaging projections along or at its edge or margin for differentially dissecting complex tissue.
High-modulus bluntwheel material
The differential dissecting bluntwheel has a modulus greater than 10^9 Pascals.
Low-modulus bluntwheel material
The modulus of the at least one differential dissecting bluntwheel is less than 10^6 Pascals.
Concentric-axis two-bluntwheel configuration
Two differential dissecting bluntwheels whose axes of rotation are concentric.
Flexible low-modulus bluntwheel
At least one differential dissecting bluntwheel is made from a substantially flexible, low-modulus material.
Overall claim coverage is centered on a rotary drive train with a coaxially rotated differential dissecting bluntwheel for differentially dissecting complex tissue, with dependent claims further defining bluntwheel projection structure, two-bluntwheel axis geometry, and explicit modulus-based material characterizations including high-modulus and low-modulus embodiments.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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