Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A surgical instrument for cutting and removing medium to hard body tissue such as cartilage and bone from a joint region or similarly restricted interior space within a body, said instrument comprising: a) cutting means having a first end and a second end, said cutting means provided with a cutter comprising a rasping pad proximate to the first end of said cutting means and with an axial conduit terminating in at least one opening on or proximate to the rasping pad; b) drive means connected to the second end of said cutting means, said drive means operative to move the rasping pad in a linearly reciprocating motion to cut away pieces of tissue; and c) vacuum means operative to produce a suction force at the at least one opening of the axial conduit of said cutting means for removing pieces of tissue that have been cut away by rasping pad.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A surgical instrument for cutting and removing medium to hard body tissue such as cartilage and bone from a joint region or similarly restricted interior space within a body, said instrument comprising: a) cutting means having a first end and a second end, said cutting means provided with a cutter comprising a rasping pad proximate to the first end of said cutting means and with an axial conduit terminating in at least one opening on or proximate to the rasping pad; b) drive means connected to the second end of said cutting means, said drive means operative to move the rasping pad in a linearly reciprocating motion to cut away pieces of tissue; and c) vacuum means operative to produce a suction force at the at least one opening of the axial conduit of said cutting means for removing pieces of tissue that have been cut away by rasping pad.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said cutter is further provided with a terminally positioned blade forward of the rasping pad at the first end of the cutting means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
200 words
A surgical instrument for cutting and removing medium to hard body tissue such as cartilage and bone from a joint region or similarly restricted interior space within a body, said instrument comprising: a) carrier means sized for insertion into the joint or similarly restricted interior space within a body, said carrier means having a first end and a second end and provided lengthwise with a channel and with a terminal aperture at the first end; b) cutting means axially disposed within said carrier means, said cutting means having a first end and a second end, and provided with a cutter comprising a rasping pad proximate to the first end of said cutting means and with an axial conduit terminating in at least one opening on or proximate to the rasping pad; c) drive means connected to the second end of said cutting means, said drive means operative to move the rasping pad in a linearly reciprocating motion to cut away pieces of tissue; and d) vacuum means operative to produce a suction force at the at least one opening of the axial conduit of said cutting means for removing pieces of tissue that have been cut away by rasping pad.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
200 words
A surgical instrument for cutting and removing medium to hard body tissue such as cartilage and bone from a joint region or similarly restricted interior space within a body, said instrument comprising: a) carrier means sized for insertion into the joint or similarly restricted interior space within a body, said carrier means having a first end and a second end and provided lengthwise with a channel and with a terminal aperture at the first end; b) cutting means axially disposed within said carrier means, said cutting means having a first end and a second end, and provided with a cutter comprising a rasping pad proximate to the first end of said cutting means and with an axial conduit terminating in at least one opening on or proximate to the rasping pad; c) drive means connected to the second end of said cutting means, said drive means operative to move the rasping pad in a linearly reciprocating motion to cut away pieces of tissue; and d) vacuum means operative to produce a suction force at the at least one opening of the axial conduit of said cutting means for removing pieces of tissue that have been cut away by rasping pad.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The surgical instrument of claim 3 wherein said cutter is further provided with a terminally positioned blade forward of the rasping pad at the first end of the cutting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
172 words
A surgical instrument for cutting and removing medium to hard body tissue such as cartilage and bone from a joint region or similarly restricted interior space within a body, said instrument comprising: a) cutting means having a first end and a second end, said cutting means provided with a cutter comprising a rasping pad proximate to the first end of said cutting means and with an axial conduit terminating in at least one opening on or proximate to the rasping pad; b) drive means connected to the second end of said cutting means, said drive means operative to move the rasping pad in a linearly reciprocating motion to cut away pieces of tissue; c) freezing means for delivering a liquefied inert gas to tissue at the operation site for hardening the tissue prior to cutting; and d) vacuum means operative to produce a suction force at the at least one opening of the axial conduit of said cutting means for removing pieces of tissue that have been cut away by rasping pad.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
172 words
A surgical instrument for cutting and removing medium to hard body tissue such as cartilage and bone from a joint region or similarly restricted interior space within a body, said instrument comprising: a) cutting means having a first end and a second end, said cutting means provided with a cutter comprising a rasping pad proximate to the first end of said cutting means and with an axial conduit terminating in at least one opening on or proximate to the rasping pad; b) drive means connected to the second end of said cutting means, said drive means operative to move the rasping pad in a linearly reciprocating motion to cut away pieces of tissue; c) freezing means for delivering a liquefied inert gas to tissue at the operation site for hardening the tissue prior to cutting; and d) vacuum means operative to produce a suction force at the at least one opening of the axial conduit of said cutting means for removing pieces of tissue that have been cut away by rasping pad.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The surgical instrument of claim 5 wherein said cutter is further provided with a terminally positioned blade forward of the rasping pad at the first end of the cutting means.