US6080175A — Surgical cutting instrument and method of use

Claim 1

Independent Claim 132 words

A surgical cutting instrument comprising: an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end adapted for percutaneous insertion into a body cavity within a patient, and an axial lumen therebetween; a stabilizing element associated with said distal end of said shaft; and a cutting element disposed within said lumen of said shaft near said distal end; wherein said cutting element and said shaft are relatively moveable between a first position and a second cutting position, said cutting element being adapted to cut a body structure within the body cavity when said cutting element and said shaft are in said second cutting position; and wherein said stabilizing element, upon actuation, is adapted to grasp an outer surface of the body structure and hold it in a stable position adjacent said distal end.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 132 words

A surgical cutting instrument comprising: an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end adapted for percutaneous insertion into a body cavity within a patient, and an axial lumen therebetween; a stabilizing element associated with said distal end of said shaft; and a cutting element disposed within said lumen of said shaft near said distal end; wherein said cutting element and said shaft are relatively moveable between a first position and a second cutting position, said cutting element being adapted to cut a body structure within the body cavity when said cutting element and said shaft are in said second cutting position; and wherein said stabilizing element, upon actuation, is adapted to grasp an outer surface of the body structure and hold it in a stable position adjacent said distal end.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 26 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 1, wherein said instrument is adapted to cut the body structure without removing a substantial portion of the body structure.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 21 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 1, wherein said distal end has an outside diameter of less than about 5 mm.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 23 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 1, wherein said cutting element comprises at least one blade which has a substantially straight cutting edge.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 30 words

The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein said cutting edge is displaced at an angle of between about 15 to 30 degrees relative to a vertical axis through the blade.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 17 words

The surgical instrument of claim 5, further comprising an electrode substantially colinearly coupled to said cutting edge.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 20 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 1, wherein said cutting element is movably disposed within said lumen of said shaft.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 33 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 7, wherein said cutting element comprises at least one blade fixed to a distal end of an actuator push rod located within said lumen of said shaft.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 51 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 8, further comprising an actuator button coupled to said actuator push rod at a proximal end of said rod which is operable to move said rod with respect to said shaft to position said cutting element between said first position and said second cutting position.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 16 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 9, further comprising a biasing element engaging said actuator button.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 14 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 10, wherein said biasing element comprises a spring.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 26 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 1, wherein said cutting element comprises at least one blade which is operably coupled to a source of ultrasonic energy.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 38 words

The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said stabilizing element comprises a vacuum line fluidly coupled to said lumen of said shaft and adapted to connect to a vacuum to effect a suction force at said distal end.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 22 words

The surgical instrument of claim 13, further comprising a control mechanism positionable to block flow between said vacuum source and said lumen.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 14 words

The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein said control mechanism comprises a slide valve.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 14 words

The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein said control mechanism comprises an on/off button.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 32 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 1, wherein said body structure is selected from the group consisting of a heart, a coronary artery, a coronary vein, an aorta, and a peripheral vessel.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 34 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 17, wherein said peripheral vessel is selected from the group consisting of a saphenous vein, a radial artery, a brachial artery, a gastroepiploic artery, and a subclavian artery.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 15 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 1, wherein the body cavity comprises a thoracic cavity.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 21 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 1, further comprising at least one electrode disposed near said distal end of said shaft.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 29 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 20, further comprising a connector associated with said proximal end of said shaft for electrically coupling said electrode to an electrosurgical power supply.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 33 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 1, wherein said stabilizing element comprises a gripper assembly associated with said distal end of said shaft and configured to grip a portion of the body structure.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 32 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 1, further comprising a handle connected to said proximal end of said shaft and adapted to be held by at least one hand of a user.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 43 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 1, further comprising an irrigation port fluidly coupled to said lumen near said proximal end of said shaft, said irrigation port being connectable to a source of irrigation fluid for clearing debris away from the body structure.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 19 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 1, wherein said shaft is movably disposed with respect to said cutting element.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 27 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 25, further comprising a handle disposed at said proximal end of said shaft, said shaft being slidably mounted to said handle.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 19 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 26, further comprising an anchor fixedly connecting said cutting element to said handle.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 18 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 27, wherein said anchor comprises a rod coaxially disposed within said shaft.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 31 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 25, further comprising a handle disposed at said proximal end of said shaft, said proximal end of said shaft being slidably mounted within said handle.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 19 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 29, further comprising an anchor fixedly connecting said cutting element to said handle.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 18 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 30, wherein said anchor comprises a rod coaxially disposed within said shaft.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 16 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 25, further comprising an actuator member mounted to said shaft.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 20 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 32, wherein said actuator member is mounted near said proximal end of said shaft.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 16 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 32, further comprising a biasing element engaging said actuator member.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 32 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 34, wherein said biasing element comprises a spring interposed between said actuator member and said handle, wherein said spring biases said shaft to said first position.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 16 words

The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising an electrode operatively coupled to said cutting element.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 35 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 32, further comprising a lever mounted to said handle and movable to engage said actuator member to move said shaft between said first position and said second cutting position.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 131 words

A surgical cutting instrument adapted for percutaneous insertion into a body cavity within a patient comprising: an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and an axial lumen therebetween; means for grasping an outer surface of a body structure within said body cavity to hold the body structure adjacent to or near the distal end of the shaft; a cutting element disposed within said lumen of said shaft near a distal; and an actuator member disposed near the proximal end of the shaft which is operable to position the cutting element in contact with the body structure for cutting the body structure without substantially removing any portion of the body structure when said grasping means holds the body structure adjacent to or near said distal end of said shaft.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 131 words

A surgical cutting instrument adapted for percutaneous insertion into a body cavity within a patient comprising: an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and an axial lumen therebetween; means for grasping an outer surface of a body structure within said body cavity to hold the body structure adjacent to or near the distal end of the shaft; a cutting element disposed within said lumen of said shaft near a distal; and an actuator member disposed near the proximal end of the shaft which is operable to position the cutting element in contact with the body structure for cutting the body structure without substantially removing any portion of the body structure when said grasping means holds the body structure adjacent to or near said distal end of said shaft.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 50 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 38 wherein said shaft is moveable between a first position and a second position and is adapted to substantially cover the cutting element when in said first position and to expose at least a portion of the cutting element when in said second position.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 40 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 39, wherein said actuator member includes an actuator body fixed to said shaft near said proximal end of said shaft and operable to move said shaft between said first position and said second position.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 24 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 40 further including a spring coupled to said actuator body for biasing said shaft into said first position.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 53 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 38 wherein said cutting element is moveable between a first position and a second position, said shaft substantially covering said cutting element in said first position, and at least a portion of said cutting element extending from said distal end of said shaft in said second position.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 58 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 38, wherein said retaining means comprises a vacuum source fluidly coupled to said lumen of said shaft and operable to produce a suction force at the distal end of the shaft which is sufficient to retain the distal end of the shaft adjacent to or near the surface of the body structure.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 43 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 38, wherein said retaining means includes a gripper assembly at said distal end of said shaft which is configured to grip a portion of the body structure to retain the body structure adjacent to said distal end.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 24 words

The surgical cutting instrument of claim 38, further comprising an irrigation port fluidly coupled to said lumen near said proximal end of said shaft.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 119 words

A surgical cutting instrument comprising: a shaft having a proximal end, an open distal end, and an axial lumen therebetween; an inlet opening, fluidly coupled to said lumen at said proximal end of said shaft, connectable to a vacuum source for creating a suction force sufficient to retain said distal end of said shaft adjacent a surface of a body structure within the body cavity; and a cutting element disposed within said lumen near said distal end; wherein said shaft is movable between a first position, in which said shaft substantially covers said cutting element, and a second position, in which at least a portion of said cutting element is exposed beyond said open distal end of said shaft.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 119 words

A surgical cutting instrument comprising: a shaft having a proximal end, an open distal end, and an axial lumen therebetween; an inlet opening, fluidly coupled to said lumen at said proximal end of said shaft, connectable to a vacuum source for creating a suction force sufficient to retain said distal end of said shaft adjacent a surface of a body structure within the body cavity; and a cutting element disposed within said lumen near said distal end; wherein said shaft is movable between a first position, in which said shaft substantially covers said cutting element, and a second position, in which at least a portion of said cutting element is exposed beyond said open distal end of said shaft.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 120 words

A surgical cutting instrument comprising: a shaft configured for percutaneous insertion into a body cavity of a patient having a proximal end and a distal end; a cutting element disposed near the distal end of the shaft; a grasping mechanism coupled to the shaft which is configured to grasp an outer surface of a body structure within the body cavity to hold the body structure to or near the distal end of the shaft; and actuating means disposed near the proximal end of the shaft for positioning the cutting element in contact with the body structure within the body cavity for cutting the body structure when the shaft is held adjacent to or near the distal end of said shaft.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 120 words

A surgical cutting instrument comprising: a shaft configured for percutaneous insertion into a body cavity of a patient having a proximal end and a distal end; a cutting element disposed near the distal end of the shaft; a grasping mechanism coupled to the shaft which is configured to grasp an outer surface of a body structure within the body cavity to hold the body structure to or near the distal end of the shaft; and actuating means disposed near the proximal end of the shaft for positioning the cutting element in contact with the body structure within the body cavity for cutting the body structure when the shaft is held adjacent to or near the distal end of said shaft.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-06-27	2003-12-27	2004-06-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-06-27	2007-12-27	2008-06-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-06-27	2011-12-27	2012-06-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Surgical cutting instrument and method of use

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