Patent ID: 9113954
Filing Date: 2015-08-25
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of mapping a tissue feature of a tissue site of a patient with a surgical instrument wherein the tissue site is a meniscus, the tissue feature having a position, the surgical instrument including a tube and a ruler reciprocable with respect to the tube between a retracted position and an extended position, the ruler including a distal end and distance indicia, the method comprising: moving a portion of the tube to the tissue site with at least part of the ruler retracted; piercing the tissue site with a portion of the ruler at a selected fixation point to temporarily anchor the distal end of the ruler to the tissue at the fixation point; with the distal end of the ruler anchored to the tissue at the fixation point, moving the tube with respect to the ruler so that the ruler is in the extended position; determining a distance based on a position of the tissue feature with respect to the fixation point; and moving the tube with respect to the ruler so that the ruler is in the retracted position and removing the tube and ruler from the tissue site.