Patent US5755731A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5755731A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Curved surgical instrument with segmented inner member
Assignee: Smith and Nephew Inc
•
Filing: 1995-12-19
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Granted: 1998-05-26
•
Expires: 2015-12-19
Abstract
Abstract A surgical instrument includes an inner member having a plurality of interengaging segments that are disposed within a bend region of an elongated outer member. The interengaging segments transmit force applied to a proximal region of the inner member through the bend region to cause a cutting implement at a distal region of the inner member to move and cut tissue admitted through an opening at the distal end of the outer member.
Inventors
- 👤 Alexander Grinberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 23:36
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/320016; A61B17/32002; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00292; A61B2017/003; A61B2017/00305; A61B2017/00314; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B2017/2901; A61B2017/2905; A61B2017/320032
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A surgical instrument comprising an elongated outer member having an opening in a distal region thereof for admitting tissue, said outer member including a bend region that angularly offsets said distal region from a proximal region. of said outer member, an inner member, disposed within said outer member, having a cutting implement disposed in a distal region thereof, said inner member including a plurality of discrete, interengaging segments of limited length disposed within said bend region, at least one of said segments being configured to interengage a more proximal one and a more distal one of said segments to transmit force applied to a proximal region of said inner member through said bend region to said cutting implement to cause said cutting implement to move and cut tissue admitted through said opening, and a flexible sheath that surrounds said plurality of interengaging segments.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
A surgical instrument comprising an elongated outer member having an opening in a distal region thereof for admitting tissue, said outer member including a bend region that angularly offsets said distal region from a proximal region. of said outer member, an inner member, disposed within said outer member, having a cutting implement disposed in a distal region thereof, said inner member including a plurality of discrete, interengaging segments of limited length disposed within said bend region, at least one of said segments being configured to interengage a more proximal one and a more distal one of said segments to transmit force applied to a proximal region of said inner member through said bend region to said cutting implement to cause said cutting implement to move and cut tissue admitted through said opening, and a flexible sheath that surrounds said plurality of interengaging segments.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein each segment has a length that is sufficiently small to enable said segment to freely move within said bend region.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein each one of said interengaging segments includes at least one axially extending tab configured to be received by a portion of an adjacent one of said interengaging segments.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein each one of said interengaging segments includes at least one slot configured to receive a portion of an adjacent one of said interengaging segments.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
181 words
A surgical instrument comprising an elongated outer member having an opening in a distal region thereof for admitting tissue, said outer member including a bend region that angularly offsets said distal region from a proximal region of said outer member , an inner member, disposed within said outer member, having a cutting implement disposed in a distal region thereof, said inner member including a plurality of interengaging segments of limited length disposed within said bend region to transmit force applied to a proximal region of said inner member through said bend region to said cutting implement to cause said cutting implement to move and cut tissue admitted through said opening, each one of said interengaging segments including at least one tab that extends axially from an end of said one segment, and at least one slot disposed on an opposite end of said one segment, said at least one tab of one of said segments being received by said at least one slot of an adjacent one of said segments, and a flexible sheath that surrounds said plurality of interengaging segments.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
181 words
A surgical instrument comprising an elongated outer member having an opening in a distal region thereof for admitting tissue, said outer member including a bend region that angularly offsets said distal region from a proximal region of said outer member , an inner member, disposed within said outer member, having a cutting implement disposed in a distal region thereof, said inner member including a plurality of interengaging segments of limited length disposed within said bend region to transmit force applied to a proximal region of said inner member through said bend region to said cutting implement to cause said cutting implement to move and cut tissue admitted through said opening, each one of said interengaging segments including at least one tab that extends axially from an end of said one segment, and at least one slot disposed on an opposite end of said one segment, said at least one tab of one of said segments being received by said at least one slot of an adjacent one of said segments, and a flexible sheath that surrounds said plurality of interengaging segments.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
213 words
A surgical instrument comprising an elongated outer member having an opening in a distal region thereof for admitting tissue, said outer member including a bend region that angularly offsets said distal region from a proximal region of said outer member, an inner member, disposed within said outer member, having a cutting implement disposed in a distal region thereof, said inner member including a plurality of interengaging segments of limited length disposed within said bend region to transmit force applied to a proximal region of said inner member through said bend region to said cutting implement to cause said cutting implement to move and cut tissue admitted through said opening, each one of said interengaging segments including at least one tab that extends axially from an end of said one segment, and at least one slot disposed in an opposite end of said one segment, said at least one tab of said one segment and said at least one slot of said one segment being offset by 90° from each other about a longitudinal axis of said segment, said at least one tab of one of said segments being received by said at least one slot of an adjacent one of said segments, and a flexible sheath that surrounds said plurality of interengaging segments.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
213 words
A surgical instrument comprising an elongated outer member having an opening in a distal region thereof for admitting tissue, said outer member including a bend region that angularly offsets said distal region from a proximal region of said outer member, an inner member, disposed within said outer member, having a cutting implement disposed in a distal region thereof, said inner member including a plurality of interengaging segments of limited length disposed within said bend region to transmit force applied to a proximal region of said inner member through said bend region to said cutting implement to cause said cutting implement to move and cut tissue admitted through said opening, each one of said interengaging segments including at least one tab that extends axially from an end of said one segment, and at least one slot disposed in an opposite end of said one segment, said at least one tab of said one segment and said at least one slot of said one segment being offset by 90° from each other about a longitudinal axis of said segment, said at least one tab of one of said segments being received by said at least one slot of an adjacent one of said segments, and a flexible sheath that surrounds said plurality of interengaging segments.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
198 words
A surgical instrument comprising an elongated outer member having an opening in a distal region thereof for admitting tissue, said outer member including a bend region that angularly offsets said distal region from a proximal region of said outer member, an inner member, disposed within said outer member, having a cutting implement disposed in a distal region thereof, said inner member including a plurality of interengaging segments of limited length disposed within said bend region to transmit force applied to a proximal region of said inner member through said bend region to said cutting implement to cause said cutting implement to move and cut tissue admitted through said opening, each one of said interengaging segments including at least one tab that extends axially from an end of said one segment, and at least one slot disposed in an opposite end of said one segment, said at least one tab having a length that exceeds a depth of said at least one slot, said at least one tab of one of said segments being received by said at least one slot of an adjacent one of said segments, and a flexible sheath that surrounds said plurality of interengaging segments.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
198 words
A surgical instrument comprising an elongated outer member having an opening in a distal region thereof for admitting tissue, said outer member including a bend region that angularly offsets said distal region from a proximal region of said outer member, an inner member, disposed within said outer member, having a cutting implement disposed in a distal region thereof, said inner member including a plurality of interengaging segments of limited length disposed within said bend region to transmit force applied to a proximal region of said inner member through said bend region to said cutting implement to cause said cutting implement to move and cut tissue admitted through said opening, each one of said interengaging segments including at least one tab that extends axially from an end of said one segment, and at least one slot disposed in an opposite end of said one segment, said at least one tab having a length that exceeds a depth of said at least one slot, said at least one tab of one of said segments being received by said at least one slot of an adjacent one of said segments, and a flexible sheath that surrounds said plurality of interengaging segments.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The surgical instrument of claim 5 wherein said at least one tab has a width less than a width of said at least one slot.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The surgical instrument of claim 5 wherein said at least one tab has a rounded end surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The surgical instrument of claim 5 wherein said at least one tab and said at least one slot include rounded corners.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said inner member includes a rigid portion extending from a proximal region of the instrument to said bend region, said rigid portion configured to engage one of said interengaging segments.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said cutting implement is configured to engage one of said interengaging segments.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
138 words
A surgical instrument comprising an elongated outer member having an opening in a distal region thereof for admitting tissue, said outer member including a bend region that angularly offsets said distal region from a proximal region of said outer member, an inner member, disposed within said outer member, having a cutting implement disposed in a distal region thereof, said inner member including a plurality of interengaging segments of limited length disposed within said bend region to transmit force applied to a proximal region of said inner member through said bend region to said cutting implement to cause said cutting implement to move and cut tissue admitted through said opening, and a flexible sheath that surrounds said plurality of interengaging segments and portions of said inner member and said cutting implement disposed adjacent to said plurality of interengaging segments.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
138 words
A surgical instrument comprising an elongated outer member having an opening in a distal region thereof for admitting tissue, said outer member including a bend region that angularly offsets said distal region from a proximal region of said outer member, an inner member, disposed within said outer member, having a cutting implement disposed in a distal region thereof, said inner member including a plurality of interengaging segments of limited length disposed within said bend region to transmit force applied to a proximal region of said inner member through said bend region to said cutting implement to cause said cutting implement to move and cut tissue admitted through said opening, and a flexible sheath that surrounds said plurality of interengaging segments and portions of said inner member and said cutting implement disposed adjacent to said plurality of interengaging segments.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The surgical instrument of claim 13 wherein said inner member and said plurality of interengaging segments are hollow to define a suction passage for transporting tissue cut by said cutting implement, said sheath sealing said suction passage.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
122 words
A surgical instrument comprising an elongated outer member having an opening in a distal region thereof for admitting tissue, said outer member including a bend region that angularly offsets said distal region from a proximal region of said outer member, an inner member, disposed within said outer member, having a cutting implement disposed in a distal region thereof, said inner member including at least three discrete, interengaging segments of limited length disposed within said bend region to transmit force applied to a proximal region of said inner member through said bend region to said cutting implement to cause said cutting implement to move and cut tissue admitted through said opening, and a flexible sheath that surrounds said at least three interengaging segments.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
122 words
A surgical instrument comprising an elongated outer member having an opening in a distal region thereof for admitting tissue, said outer member including a bend region that angularly offsets said distal region from a proximal region of said outer member, an inner member, disposed within said outer member, having a cutting implement disposed in a distal region thereof, said inner member including at least three discrete, interengaging segments of limited length disposed within said bend region to transmit force applied to a proximal region of said inner member through said bend region to said cutting implement to cause said cutting implement to move and cut tissue admitted through said opening, and a flexible sheath that surrounds said at least three interengaging segments.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-05-25 | 2001-11-24 | 2002-05-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-05-25 | 2005-11-24 | 2006-05-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-05-25 | 2009-11-24 | 2010-05-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |