ARTHROSCOPIC ACCESS TO THE INTERIOR OF A HIP JOINT
A method for arthroscopically accessing a region of a joint, wherein the joint has a capsule disposed intermediate at least one layer of outer tissue and the joint, the method comprising: arthroscopically positioning visualization apparatus adjacent to an exterior surface of the capsule; and while visualizing the exterior surface of the capsule, arthroscopically forming an opening through the capsule.
1 . A method for arthroscopically accessing a region of a joint, wherein the joint has a capsule disposed intermediate at least one layer of outer tissue and the joint, the method comprising:
arthroscopically positioning visualization apparatus adjacent to an exterior surface of the capsule; and
while visualizing the exterior surface of the capsule, arthroscopically forming an opening through the capsule.
2 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the visualization apparatus is arthroscopically positioned adjacent to an exterior surface of the capsule by advancing the visualization apparatus through a first access cannula which extends through the at least one layer of outer tissue.
3 . A method according to claim 2 wherein the opening through the capsule is formed using a cutting tool, and further wherein the cutting tool is advanced to the capsule through a second access cannula extending through the at least one layer of outer tissue.
4 . A method according to claim 2 wherein the first access cannula is advanced through the at least one layer of outer tissue by advancing the first access cannula along a guidewire which extends through the at least one layer of outer tissue.
5 . A method according to claim 4 wherein the guidewire is advanced through the at least one layer of outer tissue by passing a needle through the at least one layer of outer tissue, advancing the guidewire through the needle, and then removing the needle.
6 . A method according to claim 3 wherein the second access cannula is advanced through the at least one layer of outer tissue by advancing the second access cannula along a guidewire which extends through the at least one layer of outer tissue.
7 . A method according to claim 6 wherein the guidewire is advanced through the at least one layer of outer tissue by passing a needle through the at least one layer of outer tissue, advancing the guidewire through the needle, and then removing the needle.
8 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the location of the opening through the capsule is determined by visualizing at least one anatomical landmark with the visualization apparatus.
9 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the location of the opening through the capsule is adjacent to the interior of the joint.
10 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the location of the opening through the capsule is adjacent to an exterior surface of a constituent bone of the joint.
11 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the visualization apparatus comprises an arthroscope.
14 . A method according to claim 3 wherein the cutting tool comprises an arthroscopic scalpel.
15 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the joint comprises the hip joint.
16 . A method according to claim 1 comprising the additional step of forming a second opening through the capsule.
17 . A method according to claim 16 wherein the second opening is formed through the capsule while the location of the second opening is visualized using the visualization apparatus.
18 . A method according the claim 17 wherein the visualization apparatus is aligned with the first opening while the second opening is being formed through the capsule.
19 . A method according to claim 18 wherein the visualization apparatus is arranged to visualize the exterior surface of the capsule while the second opening is being formed through the capsule.
20 . A method according to claim 18 wherein the visualization apparatus is arranged to visualize an interior surface of the capsule while the second opening is being formed through the capsule.
21 . A method according to claim 2 comprising the further step of advancing the first access cannula through the opening.
22 . A method according to claim 21 wherein the first access cannula comprises a telescoping access cannula.
23 . A method according to claim 1 comprising the further step of advancing a balloon through the opening.
24 . A method according to claim 1 wherein a balloon is inflated adjacent to the exterior surface of the capsule before forming the opening.