US5601583A — Surgical instrument

Claim 1

Independent Claim 81 words

A surgical instrument comprising: a base; a support member extending distally from said base and carrying at a distal region a window defining an opening; a surgical tool at least partially disposed at said distal region of said support member and movable to cut tissue extending through said opening; and a shield rotatably mounted at said distal region of said support member so that said shield can be rotated with respect to said window to at least partially cover said opening.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 81 words

A surgical instrument comprising: a base; a support member extending distally from said base and carrying at a distal region a window defining an opening; a surgical tool at least partially disposed at said distal region of said support member and movable to cut tissue extending through said opening; and a shield rotatably mounted at said distal region of said support member so that said shield can be rotated with respect to said window to at least partially cover said opening.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 23 words

The instrument of claim 1 further comprising a second window defining a second opening carried at said distal region of said support member.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 21 words

The instrument of claim 2 wherein said shield is rotatable to selectively cover one of said opening and said second opening.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 45 words

The instrument of claim 1 further comprising an actuating member extending distally from said base for transmitting a rotational force applied at a proximal end of said actuating member to rotate said shield with respect to said window to at least partially cover said opening.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 12 words

The instrument of claim 4 wherein said actuating member comprises a tube.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 17 words

The instrument of claim 1 wherein said support member is axially slidable with respect to said base.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 12 words

The instrument of claim 1 wherein said support member comprises a tube.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 22 words

The instrument of claim 1 wherein said window is defined in an assembly attached to a distal end of said support member.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 38 words

The instrument of claim 1 further comprising a drive member extending distally from said base for transmitting a force applied at a proximal end of said drive member to move at least a portion of said surgical tool.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 22 words

The instrument of claim 9 wherein said surgical tool comprises a cutting implement attached to a distal end of said drive member.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 30 words

The instrument of claim 10 wherein edges of said cutting implement move toward and closely past edges of said window in response to said force transmitted by said drive member.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 26 words

The instrument of claim 11 wherein said cutting implement rotates with respect to said window in response to a rotational force transmitted by said drive member.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 45 words

The instrument of claim 12 wherein said drive member is hollow and is adapted to receive suction at its proximal end and to transport body material cut by said cutting implement away from a surgical site while the instrument remains in situ for further cutting.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 12 words

The instrument of claim 9 wherein said drive member comprises a tube.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 14 words

The instrument of claim 1 further comprising a bend region in said support member.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 49 words

The instrument of claim 15 further comprising an actuating member extending distally from said base for transmitting a force applied at a proximal end of said actuating member through said bend region to rotate said shield, wherein said actuating member is relatively flexible at least in said bend region.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 43 words

The instrument of claim 16 wherein said actuating member is a tube disposed outside said support member, and wherein said tube is relieved with a series of axially spaced slots in the area of said bend region to render said tube relatively flexible.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 18 words

The instrument of claim 15 wherein said support member is relatively deformable at least in said bend region.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 22 words

The instrument of claim 18 further comprising a rigid sheath disposed coaxially with and axially slidable with respect to said support member.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 120 words

A surgical instrument comprising: a base; a support member extending distally from said base and carrying at a distal region a window defining an opening; a surgical tool at least partially disposed at said distal region of said support member and movable to cut tissue extending through said opening; a shield mounted at said distal region of said support member; and an actuating member extending distally from said base for transmitting a force applied at a proximal end of said actuating member to move said shield with respect to said window to at least partially cover said opening, said proximal end of said actuating member being rigidly secured to a knob rotatably mounted to a stationary portion of said base.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 120 words

A surgical instrument comprising: a base; a support member extending distally from said base and carrying at a distal region a window defining an opening; a surgical tool at least partially disposed at said distal region of said support member and movable to cut tissue extending through said opening; a shield mounted at said distal region of said support member; and an actuating member extending distally from said base for transmitting a force applied at a proximal end of said actuating member to move said shield with respect to said window to at least partially cover said opening, said proximal end of said actuating member being rigidly secured to a knob rotatably mounted to a stationary portion of said base.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 51 words

The instrument of claim 7 wherein said knob is mounted to said stationary portion so that said knob can be selectively rotated to a plurality of discrete positions with respect to said stationary portion, thereby to allow said shield to be selectively positioned to a corresponding plurality of discrere rotational orientations.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 83 words

A surgical instrument comprising: a base; a support member extending distally from said base and carrying at a distal region a first window and a second window defining respective first and second openings; a surgical tool at least partially disposed at said distal region of said support member and movable to cut tissue extending through said openings; and a shield mounted at said distal region of said support member and movable with respect to said windows to selectively cover one of said openings.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 83 words

A surgical instrument comprising: a base; a support member extending distally from said base and carrying at a distal region a first window and a second window defining respective first and second openings; a surgical tool at least partially disposed at said distal region of said support member and movable to cut tissue extending through said openings; and a shield mounted at said distal region of said support member and movable with respect to said windows to selectively cover one of said openings.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 19 words

The instrument of claim 22 wherein said shield is movable to at least partially cover one of said openings.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 19 words

The instrument of claim 22 wherein said first window is configured for more aggressive cutting than said second window.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 125 words

A surgical instrument comprising: a base; a first tube extending distally from said base and carrying at a distal region a first window and a second window defining respective first and second openings; a second tube disposed coaxially within said first tube and rotatably mounted with respect to said base, said second tube carrying a surgical tool in said distal region to cut tissue extending through said openings when said second tube is rotated with respect to said first tube; and a third tube disposed coaxially outside said first tube and rotatably coupled to said base, said third tube carrying a shield in said distal region to selectively cover one of said openings when said third tube is rotated with respect to said first tube.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 125 words

A surgical instrument comprising: a base; a first tube extending distally from said base and carrying at a distal region a first window and a second window defining respective first and second openings; a second tube disposed coaxially within said first tube and rotatably mounted with respect to said base, said second tube carrying a surgical tool in said distal region to cut tissue extending through said openings when said second tube is rotated with respect to said first tube; and a third tube disposed coaxially outside said first tube and rotatably coupled to said base, said third tube carrying a shield in said distal region to selectively cover one of said openings when said third tube is rotated with respect to said first tube.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 126 words

A method of surgery for a joint space comprising: providing a surgical instrument comprising: a base; a support member extending distally from said base and carrying at a distal region a window defining an opening; a surgical tool at least partially disposed at said distal region of said support member and movable to cut tissue extending through said opening; and a shield rotatably mounted at said distal region of said support member; introducing said surgical instrument into said joint and applying a force at a proximal end of said surgical device to operate said surgical tool to cut tissue of the joint exposed to said surgical tool through said opening; and rotating said shield with respect to said window to at least partially cover said opening.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 126 words

A method of surgery for a joint space comprising: providing a surgical instrument comprising: a base; a support member extending distally from said base and carrying at a distal region a window defining an opening; a surgical tool at least partially disposed at said distal region of said support member and movable to cut tissue extending through said opening; and a shield rotatably mounted at said distal region of said support member; introducing said surgical instrument into said joint and applying a force at a proximal end of said surgical device to operate said surgical tool to cut tissue of the joint exposed to said surgical tool through said opening; and rotating said shield with respect to said window to at least partially cover said opening.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of rotating said shield with respect to said window to completely cover said opening.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method of claim 26 further comprising providing said surgical instrument with a second window defining a second opening carried at said distal region of said support member, and rotating said shield to selectively cover one of said opening and said second opening.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 109 words

A surgical instrument comprising: a base; a support member extending distally from said base and carrying at a distal region a window defining a side-facing opening; a surgical tool at least partially disposed at said distal region of said support member and movable with respect to an edge of said side-facing opening to cut tissue extending through said opening; a shield mounted at a distal end of said support member; and an actuating member extending distally from said base for transmitting a force applied at a proximal end of said actuating member to move said shield with respect to said window to at least partially cover said side-facing opening.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 109 words

A surgical instrument comprising: a base; a support member extending distally from said base and carrying at a distal region a window defining a side-facing opening; a surgical tool at least partially disposed at said distal region of said support member and movable with respect to an edge of said side-facing opening to cut tissue extending through said opening; a shield mounted at a distal end of said support member; and an actuating member extending distally from said base for transmitting a force applied at a proximal end of said actuating member to move said shield with respect to said window to at least partially cover said side-facing opening.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 43 words

The instrument of claim 29 further comprising a second window defining a second opening carried at said distal region of said support member, wherein said shield is movable by said actuating member to selectively cover one of said opening and said second opening.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-02-11	2000-08-12	2001-02-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-02-11	2004-08-12	2005-02-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-02-11	2008-08-12	2009-02-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Surgical instrument

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