System and method for harvesting a tendon

Inventors: Rick Fu (Randolph, MA); Christopher David MacCready (Medfield, MA); Geoffrey Ian Karasic (Raynham, MA); Carrie Deborah Burgess (Jamaica Plain, MA); Belin Mirabile (Brookline, MA); Bernard Kilroy (Norwell, MA); Francheska Torres (Charlton, MA); Gregory Gorham (Billerica, MA); Miles Malone (Alameda, CA)

Assignees: Smith & Nephew, Inc.; Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics AG; Smith & Nephew Asia Pacific Pte. Limited

A61B17/3205

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12685555
App. No.: 18/719,085
Granted: Jul 21, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A system for harvesting a tendon graft is disclosed, the system including a retractor, a guide and at least one harvesting tool. The retractor holds open an anatomic space in a patient above the tendon. The guide assembles with the retractor to orient a guide shaft along the retractor and thereby the anatomic space. A first harvesting tool and the guide include a plurality of surfaces that cooperate with each other to transect the tendon and form at least one side of the tendon graft, the plurality of surfaces cooperating to limit a trajectory and a depth of cut into the tendon and also limiting both ends of the translational extent of the harvesting tool along the tendon. A second harvesting tool may extend along the anatomic space formed by the retractor and form both a posterior cut along the tendon and transect a tendon graft end.

Claims (38)

1 . A surgical device for harvesting a tendon graft strip from a native tendon comprising:

a handle;

a shaft extending from the handle, the shaft having a central longitudinal axis; and

a housing extending from the shaft;

a blade operatively coupled to the shaft, the blade defining a thin planar element and including:

an aperture extending though through a thickness of the blade, the aperture configured to receive the tendon graft strip therethrough, a boundary of the aperture including a cutting edge-surface, the aperture symmetrical about the central longitudinal axis; and

a leading cutting edge-surface extending along a distal-most end of the blade, distally spaced from the aperture, the leading cutting edge-surface of the blade configured to form a posterior side of the tendon graft strip as the surgical device is advanced along the tendon graft strip;

wherein the blade is configured to axially slide relative to the housing between an open configuration and a transected configuration and wherein the leading cutting edge-surface of the blade is configured to form the posterior side of the tendon graft strip while the blade is in the open configuration, the leading cutting edge surface having a sharper cutting edge surface along a central portion of the leading cutting edge surface coincident with the central longitudinal axis and reduced sharpness extending laterally from the central portion.

2 . The surgical device of claim 1 wherein in the open configuration, the blade is distally disposed relative to when in the transected configuration.

3 . The surgical device of claim 1 wherein a distal edge of the housing defines a cutting-edge surface.

4 . The surgical device of claim 1 wherein a distal edge of the housing defines a cutting-edge surface and wherein in the open configuration, the aperture is spaced distally from the housing cutting-edge surface, to shield the housing cutting-edge surface from the tendon graft strip.

5 . The surgical device of claim 4 wherein when the blade is moved to the transected configuration, the housing cutting-edge surface becomes exposed to the tendon graft strip disposed within the aperture.

6 . The surgical device of claim 4 wherein when the blade is moved to the transected configuration the aperture cutting-edge portion is configured to cooperate with the housing cutting-edge surface to transect the tendon graft strip.

7 . The surgical device of claim 1 wherein axially sliding to the transected configuration includes axially retracting the blade towards the handle.

8 . The surgical device of claim 1 wherein the blade leading cutting edge-surface defines the distal-most edge of the surgical device when the blade is in the open configuration.

9 . The surgical device of claim 1 wherein the blade leading cutting edge-surface extends along a single plane that intersects a shaft longitudinal axis.

10 . The surgical device of claim 9 wherein the leading cutting edge-surface is a convex curved edge surface that extends along the single plane.

11 . A surgical device for harvesting a tendon graft strip from a native tendon comprising:

a handle;

a shaft extending from the handle; and

a housing extending from the shaft, a distal edge of the housing having a cutting-edge surface;

a blade operatively coupled to the shaft, the blade defining a thin planar element and including;

an aperture extending through the blade, the aperture having an opening configured to receive the tendon graft strip therethrough, the aperture defining a boundary that has a cutting edge-surface; and

a leading cutting edge-surface at a distal-most end of the blade, distally spaced from the aperture, the leading cutting edge-surface of the blade configured to form a posterior side of the tendon graft strip as the surgical device is advanced along the tendon graft strip, the leading cutting edge surface having a sharper cutting edge surface along a central portion of the leading cutting edge surface coincident with a central longitudinal axis of the shaft and reduced sharpness extending laterally from the central portion.

12 . The surgical device of claim 11 wherein the blade is configured to axially slide relative to the housing between an open configuration and a transected configuration.

13 . The surgical device of claim 12 wherein the blade is configured to form a posterior side of the tendon graft when the blade is in the open configuration.

14 . The surgical device of claim 12 wherein in the open configuration, the aperture is spaced distally of the housing cutting-edge surface, to shield the housing cutting-edge surface from the tendon graft strip.

15 . The surgical device of claim 12 wherein when the blade is moved to the transected configuration, the housing cutting-edge surface becomes exposed to the tendon strip that is disposed within the aperture.

16 . The surgical device of claim 12 wherein when the blade is moved to the transected configuration, the housing cutting-edge surface is configured to cooperate with the aperture cutting-edge surface to transect the tendon graft strip.

17 . The surgical device of claim 11 wherein the leading cutting edge-surface is a convex curved edge surface that extends along a single plane, the convex curved edge surface having an apex coincident with the central longitudinal axis.

18 . A surgical device for harvesting a tendon graft strip from a native tendon comprising:

a handle;

a shaft extending from the handle; and

a housing extending from the shaft, a distal edge of the housing having a cutting-edge surface;

a blade operatively coupled to the shaft, the blade defining a thin planar element and including;

an aperture extending through the blade, the aperture having an opening configured to receive the tendon graft strip therethrough, the aperture defining a 360-degree bounded hole, wherein at least an edge segment of the bounded hole defines a cutting edge-surface; and

wherein the blade is configured to axially retract relative to the housing from an open configuration and a transected configuration, and wherein retracting the blade is configured to expose the housing cutting-edge surface to the tendon strip and transect the tendon graft strip.