Surgical cleaning tool, systems, and methods
A surgical tool, systems, and method for cleaning an anatomical space is provided. At least one brush is disposed on a shaft extending through a tube. The tube includes a corresponding brush slot for each brush. A motor is operable to rotate the shaft to cause the at least one brush to move from a closed position to a cleaning position. The at least one brush is positioned entirely inside of the tube when in the closed position and at least partially outside of the tube when in the cleaning position. A fluid source is operable to supply fluid to the at least one brush as the at least one brush passes through the brush slot.
1 . A surgical tool, comprising:
a tube with a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one brush slot positioned between the proximal end and the distal end and extending at least partially around a circumference of the tube;
at least one brush disposed on a shaft extending through the tube;
a motor operable to rotate the shaft about a shaft axis to cause the at least one brush to move between a closed position and a cleaning position, wherein the at least one brush is positioned entirely inside of the tube when in the closed position, and wherein the at least one brush extends radially outward from the tube through the at least one brush slot when in the cleaning position; and
a fluid source operable to supply fluid to the at least one brush as the at least one brush passes through the at least one brush slot,
wherein the at least one brush has a brush axis that passes through a center of the at least one brush, and wherein the brush axis is parallel to and offset from the shaft axis of the shaft.
2 . The surgical tool of claim 1 , wherein the fluid is supplied through a conduit of the shaft.
3 . The surgical tool of claim 1 , wherein the tube comprises a first conduit and a second conduit parallel to the first conduit, wherein the shaft extends through the first conduit, and wherein each of the brush axis and the shaft axis are parallel to and offset from an axis of the second conduit.
4 . The surgical tool of claim 1 , further comprising a suction conduit for evacuating the fluid.
5 . The surgical tool of claim 4 , further comprising at least one evacuation slot disposed distal to or proximal to the at least one brush slot, wherein the at least one evacuation slot is in fluid communication with the suction conduit.
6 . The surgical tool of claim 5 , wherein, as the at least one brush passes through the at least one brush slot when moving from the cleaning position to the closed position, the at least one evacuation slot evacuates the fluid from the at least one brush.
7 . The surgical tool of claim 1 , wherein the at least one brush comprises a plurality of steel bristles of varying lengths.
8 . The surgical tool of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of steel bristles forms a circle.
9 . The surgical tool of claim 1 , wherein the at least one brush comprises three brushes.
10 . The surgical tool of claim 9 , further comprising an elevation motor configured to translate the surgical tool during operation of the surgical tool.
11 . The surgical tool of claim 1 , wherein the at least one brush defines an essentially circular shape in the closed position and in the cleaning position.
12 . A system for cleaning an anatomical space, comprising:
a surgical tool comprising:
a tube with a proximal end, a distal end, and a plurality of brush slots each positioned between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein each slot of the plurality of brush slots extends at least partially around a circumference of the tube;
a plurality of brushes disposed on a shaft that extends through the tube, wherein each brush of the plurality of brushes corresponds to and aligns with a slot of the plurality of brush slots; and
a fluid source;
a processor; and
a memory storing instructions for execution by the processor that, when executed, cause the processor to:
rotate the shaft about a shaft axis to cause the plurality of brushes of the surgical tool to rotate between a cleaning position and a closed position, wherein each brush of the plurality of brushes extends radially outward from the tube through the corresponding brush slot to contact an anatomical element when in the cleaning position, wherein the plurality of brushes are aligned along a brush axis that passes through a center of each brush of the plurality of brushes, and wherein the brush axis is parallel to and offset from the shaft axis of the shaft;
cause the fluid source to supply a fluid to the plurality of brushes when moving from the cleaning position to the closed position; and
evacuate the fluid and loose anatomical elements from the plurality of brushes.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein each brush of the plurality of brushes comprises a plurality of steel bristles of varying lengths.
14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the instructions for execution by the processor, when executed, further cause the processor to cause a motor to translate the surgical tool during operation of the surgical tool.
15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein rotation of the shaft causes the brush axis to orbit around the shaft axis.
16 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of brushes comprises three brushes.
17 . A method for brushing an anatomical element, comprising:
causing a plurality of brushes of a surgical tool to alternately rotate between a cleaning position and a closed position, wherein the plurality of brushes is disposed on a shaft and is positioned entirely within a perimeter of a tube of the surgical tool when in the closed position, wherein the tube has a proximal end, a distal end, and a plurality of slots each positioned between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein each slot corresponds to and aligns with a brush of the plurality of brushes, wherein each brush of the plurality of brushes extends radially outward from the tube through the corresponding brush slot when in the cleaning position, wherein the shaft has a shaft axis and the plurality of brushes is aligned along a brush axis that passes through a center of each brush of the plurality of brushes, and wherein the brush axis is parallel to and offset from the shaft axis;
causing a fluid source of the surgical tool to supply a fluid to the plurality of brushes from the fluid source as the plurality of brushes rotates through the closed position; and
evacuating the fluid from the plurality of brushes through a suction conduit of the surgical tool, the suction conduit in fluid communication with an evacuation slot disposed distal to or proximal to the plurality of slots.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the shaft comprises a bore and at least one fluid aperture positioned proximal to or distal to the plurality of brushes, and wherein the fluid is supplied to the plurality of brushes through the bore and the at least one fluid aperture.
19 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
translating the surgical tool using a motor during operation of the surgical tool.
20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of brushes comprises a plurality of steel bristles of varying lengths.