Atraumatic arthroscopic instrument sheath
A removable, resilient atraumatic sheath for arthroscopic instruments. The sheath covers sharp edges on the arthroscopic instrument, particularly the distal tip of the rigid cannula, and thereby protects tissue and objects near a surgical site from accidental trauma. The sheath may be provided in the form of an inflow/outflow sheath that allows a surgeon to irrigate and drain a surgical field without the use of a separate irrigation instrument. The distal tip of the sheath may comprise a dissimilar material of a higher modulus of elasticity than the material comprising the remainder of the tube. The sheath is provided with a cylindrical grip on the proximal end to resiliently squeeze the proximal end of the arthroscopic instrument. A level is provided to move the grip radially outwardly to release the grip from the arthroscopic instrument.
1. A surgical device comprising:
arthroscopic means for performing an arthroscopic surgical procedure, said arthroscopic means having an outer diameter and a proximal end;
a tubular means for removably enclosing the arthroscopic means, the tubular means having a proximal portion, a proximal end, an outer surface and an inner diameter sized and dimensioned to closely conform to the outer diameter of the arthroscopic means;
a means for gripping the tubular means disposed coaxially over the outer surface of the tubular means on the proximal portion of the tubular means, said means for gripping having a proximal portion that extends proximally beyond the proximal end of the tubular means;
wherein the proximal portion of the means for gripping frictionally engages the proximal end of the arthroscopic means; and
a first lever means operably attached to the means for gripping to move a first segment of the proximal portion of the means for gripping in a radially outwardly direction.
2. The device of claim 1 further comprising:
a second lever means operably attached to the means for gripping to move a second segment of the proximal portion of the means for gripping in a radially outwardly direction.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein:
the first lever means and the second lever means extend distally from the means for gripping;
the first lever means and the second lever means are characterized by a distal portion; and
the distal portions of the first lever means and second lever means comprise arcuate segments that extend radially outwardly from the tubular means.
4. The device of claim 3 further comprising:
a first fulcrum disposed on the distal portion of the first lever means and a second fulcrum disposed on the distal portion of the second lever means.
5. The device of claim 1 further comprising a first tab disposed on the tubular means, said tab adapted to prevent fluids disposed outside the tubular means from moving proximally of the tab.
6. The device of claim 5 further comprising a second tab disposed on the tubular means and distally of the first tab, said second tab adapted to prevent fluids disposed outside the tubular means from moving proximally of the second tab.
7. The device of claim 6 wherein the tubular means is further characterized by a distal portion and the tubular means further comprises:
a hole disposed in the distal portion of the tubular means, said hole communicating from the outer diameter of the tubular means to a lumen disposed within the tubular means, whereby fluids may be introduced into and suctioned from a surgical site through the hole.
8. The device of claim 1 wherein the tubular means is characterized by a distal tip and wherein:
the distal tip comprises a material having a hardness less than the hardness of the material of the tubular means; and
the distal tip has an inner diameter less than the inner diameter of the tubular means.
9. The device of claim 8 wherein the tubular means is further characterized by a distal portion and the tubular means further comprises a hole disposed in the distal portion of the tubular means, said hole communicating from the outer diameter of the tubular means to a lumen disposed within the tubular means, whereby fluids may be introduced into and suctioned from a surgical site through the hole.
10. The device of claim 1 wherein the tip is split in at least one location on the tip.
11. The device of claim 1 wherein the tubular means is further characterized by a distal portion and wherein the tubular means further comprises:
a hole disposed in the distal portion of the tubular means, said hole communicating from the outer diameter of the tubular means to a lumen disposed within the tubular means, whereby fluids may be introduced into and suctioned from a surgical site through the hole.
12. An arthroscopic device comprising:
a surgical means for performing an arthroscopic surgical procedure;
an atraumatic tubular means comprising a tube characterized by a proximal portion and a proximal end, said tubular means having an inner diameter sized and dimensioned to closely conform to an outer diameter of the arthroscopic instrument, wherein the atraumatic tubular means is adapted to be removably disposed over the arthroscopic instrument;
a cylindrical grip disposed on the proximal portion of the tubular means, said grip characterized by a proximal portion;
wherein the proximal portion of the grip extends proximally past the proximal end of the tubular means;
wherein the material of the proximal portion of the grip and the size and dimensions of the proximal portion of the grip are selected such that the proximal portion of the grip is biased to assume a shape having an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of the arthroscopic instrument, whereby the proximal portion of the grip may squeeze the arthroscopic instrument;
a first lever means for moving a first segment of the proximal portion of the grip in a radially outwardly direction, the first lever means operably attached to the grip;
a second lever means for moving a second segment of the proximal portion of the grip in a radially outwardly direction, the second lever means operably attached to the grip;
wherein the first lever means and the second lever means extend distally from the grip;
the first lever means and the second lever means are characterized by a distal portion;
and the distal portions of the first lever means and second lever means comprise arcuate segments that extend radially outwardly from the tubular means; and
further comprising a first fulcrum disposed on the distal portion of the first lever means and a second fulcrum disposed on the distal portion of the second lever means.
13. The device of claim 12 further comprising a first tab disposed on the tubular means, said tab adapted to prevent fluids disposed outside the tubular means from moving proximally of the tab.
14. The device of claim 13 further comprising a second tab disposed on the tubular means and distally of the first tab, said second tab adapted to prevent fluids disposed outside the tubular means from moving proximally of the second tab.
15. The device of claim 14 wherein the tubular means is further characterized by a distal portion and the tubular means further comprises:
a hole disposed in the distal portion of the tubular means, said hole communicating from the outer diameter of the tubular means to a lumen disposed within the tubular means, whereby fluids may be introduced into and suctioned from a surgical site through the hole.
16. The device of claim 12 wherein the tubular means is characterized by a distal tip and wherein:
the distal tip comprises a material having a hardness less than the hardness of the material of the tubular means; and
the distal tip has an inner diameter less than the inner diameter of the tubular means.
17. The device of claim 16 wherein the tubular means is further characterized by a distal portion and the tubular means further comprises:
a hole disposed in the distal portion of the tubular means, said hole communicating from the outer diameter of the tubular means to a lumen disposed within the tubular means, whereby fluids may be introduced into and suctioned from a surgical site through the hole.
18. The device of claim 12 wherein the tip is split in at least one location on the tip.
19. The device of claim 12 wherein the tubular means is further characterized by a distal portion and wherein the tubular means further comprises:
a hole disposed in the distal portion of the tubular means, said hole communicating from the outer diameter of the tubular means to a lumen disposed within the tubular means, whereby fluids may be introduced into and suctioned from a surgical site through the hole.