Surgical Blade with Viewing Aperture
A surgical device configured for arthroscopic surgeries which require an imaging component communicating an image to a display to guide the user. The device provides a surgical blade having a viewing aperture formed therein. The aperture provides a line of sight view of the area opposite the side on which the imaging component is positioned. The blade may be combined with a guide to both protect from accidental cutting during maneuvering of the device within tissues of a patient and to provide mating cutting surfaces to that of the blade.
1 . A surgical blade for cutting tissue, comprising:
a blade having a handle end and a distal edge;
said blade having opposing side edges communicating between said handle end and said distal edge;
an aperture formed in said blade between said opposing side edges, said handle end and said distal end; and
said aperture defining a line of sight for an imaging device adapted for use herewith and situated on a first side of said blade, said line of site extending from said imaging device, through said aperture, to an area adjacent a second side of said blade, opposite said first side.
2 . The surgical blade of claim 1 , additionally comprising:
a guide, said guide having a channel therein extending between a proximal end and a distal end of said guide;
a first side edge of said opposing side edges of said blade configured as a cutting edge for said blade;
said first side edge positionable within said channel to a protected positioning, with said channel surrounding said cutting edge, during an insertion of said blade into the body of a patient to an as-used position therein; and
said first side edge maneuverable to cut tissue in an area between said first side and said channel by a translation or rocking of said of said blade while in said as-used position.
3 . The surgical blade of claim 1 , additionally comprising:
a guide, said guide having a channel therein extending between a proximal end of said guide and a distal end of said guide;
a first side edge of said opposing side edges configured for positioning within said channel in a protective engagement, during an insertion of said blade into the body of a patient to an as-used position therein;
said distal edge configured as a cutting edge of said blade;
said distal edge maneuverable for cutting tissue while in said as-used position, by a translation of said first side edge within said channel in a direction toward or away from said distal end of said guide.
4 . The surgical blade of claim 3 , additionally comprising:
a vertical member extending from a distal end of said guide member;
a second channel formed therein configured to surround said distal edge with said first side edge in said protected positioning; and
said distal edge maneuverable for cutting said tissue while in said as-used position, by a translation of said first side edge within said channel, toward said vertical member with said tissue positioned between said distal edge and said vertical member.
5 . The surgical blade of claim 4 , additionally comprising:
said channel formed in said guide following a curved path between said proximal end of said guide and said distal end of said guide; and
said blade formed of flexible material whereby said blade follows said curved path during translation of said first side edge of said opposing side edges within said channel.
6 . The surgical blade of claim 1 , additionally comprising:
a transparent material positioned within said aperture.
7 . The surgical blade of claim 2 , additionally comprising:
a transparent material positioned within said aperture.
8 . The surgical blade of claim 3 , additionally comprising:
a transparent material positioned within said aperture.
9 . The surgical blade of claim 4 , additionally comprising:
a transparent material positioned within said aperture.
10 . The surgical blade of claim 2 , additionally comprising:
a first stop component positioned on said blade;
a second stop component positioned on said guide; and
contact between said first stop component and said second stop component preventing further translation of said blade toward said distal end of said guide.
11 . The surgical blade of claim 3 , additionally comprising:
a first stop component positioned on said blade;
a second stop component positioned on said guide; and
contact between said first stop component and said second stop component preventing further translation of said blade toward said distal end of said guide.
12 . The surgical blade of claim 4 , additionally comprising:
a first stop component positioned on said blade;
a second stop component positioned on said guide; and
contact between said first stop component and said second stop component preventing further translation of said blade toward said distal end of said guide.
13 . The surgical blade of claim 5 , additionally comprising:
a first stop component positioned on said blade;
a second stop component positioned on said guide; and
contact between said first stop component and said second stop component preventing further translation of said blade toward said distal end of said guide.
14 . The surgical blade of claim 7 , additionally comprising:
a first stop component positioned on said blade;
a second stop component positioned on said guide; and
contact between said first stop component and said second stop component preventing further translation of said blade toward said distal end of said guide.
15 . The surgical blade of claim 8 , additionally comprising:
a first stop component positioned on said blade;
a second stop component positioned on said guide; and
contact between said first stop component and said second stop component preventing further translation of said blade toward said distal end of said guide.
16 . The surgical blade of claim 9 , additionally comprising:
a first stop component positioned on said blade;
a second stop component positioned on said guide; and
contact between said first stop component and said second stop component preventing further translation of said blade toward said distal end of said guide.