Patent Abstract:
A debrider apparatus is disclosed. The debrider includes a first tubular member that is adapted to connect to a first potential of an electrosurgical generator. A second tubular member is at least partially disposed within the first tubular member and is adapted to connect to a second potential of the electrosurgical generator. At least one tubular member is selectively movable relative to the other. A first set of teeth is disposed around at least a portion of a distal periphery of the first tubular member. A second set of teeth is disposed around at least a portion of a distal periphery of the second tubular member. At least one switch is operably coupled to at least one of the tubular members and activates movement of one tubular member and supplies respective electrical potentials to the tubular members.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/635,754 filed on Dec. 7, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,682,360,, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1,. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to the field of tissue debriders. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a tissue debrider that shears and cauterizes tissue and a method of using the same. 
     2,. Description of Related Art 
     Debriders are generally used by physicians to cut tissue at a tissue treatment site, e.g., during sinus or arthritis surgery. Generally, these surgical instruments utilize a cutting tube mounted within an outer cutting housing. The cutting tube is hollow and may be connected to a source of suction. The cutting tubes either rotate or reciprocate within the outer tube housing to cut tissue that is located between the two tubes. The suction source is used to remove debris, e.g., the sheared tissue, from the tissue treatment site, 
     After such a surgical treatment is utilized, bleeding may occur from the surgical site and it is often desirable to cauterize or coagulate tissue that has been cut. Debriders that are used in the prior art do not have the capability to coagulate or cauterize tissue. Accordingly, a separate coagulation or cautery tool is subsequently used to coagulate the tissue. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure combines the benefits of a conventional debrider and an electrosurgical instrument, such as a coagulator. As such, the apparatus and method of the present disclosure include using a single instrument, i.e., a debrider apparatus, to both shear and cauterize/coagulate tissue. 
     The present disclosure relates to a debrider apparatus. The debrider apparatus includes a first tubular member, a second tubular member, a first set of teeth, a second set of teeth and at least one switch. The first tubular member includes a distal portion and is adapted to connect to a first potential of an electrosurgical generator (e.g., an active electrode). The second tubular member includes a distal portion, is at least partially disposed within the first tubular member and is adapted to be connected to a second potential of the electrosurgical generator (e.g., a return electrode). At least one of the first and the second tubular member is selectively movable (e.g., rotationally or reciprocably) relative to the other. The first set of teeth is disposed around at least a portion of a periphery of the first tubular member and is adjacent its distal portion. The second set of teeth is disposed around at least a portion of a periphery of the second tubular member and is adjacent its distal portion. The at least one switch is operably coupled to at least one of the first and second tubular members and both activates movement of one of the tubular members relative to the other tubular member and supplies respective electrical potential to the first and second tubular members. 
     In a disclosed embodiment, the debrider apparatus includes two switches. One of the two switches is configured to activate movement of the tubular members relative to one another and the other switch is configured to supply respective electrical potentials to the first and second tubular members. 
     In a disclosed embodiment, about 25% to about 75% of the periphery of the first tubular member includes teeth and the remaining portion defines a non-cutting zone. In another embodiment, a distal surface of the first and second tubular members is beveled at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis defined by the first tubular member. 
     An embodiment of the present disclosure also includes at least one lumen defined within at least one of the tubular members. The lumen is configured to remove material from a tissue treatment site. In a disclosed embodiment, the lumen is configured to supply a solution to the tissue treatment site. 
     The present disclosure also relates to a method of using a single instrument to shear and cauterize tissue. This method includes providing a debrider apparatus, such as a debrider apparatus described above, placing the debrider apparatus adjacent a tissue treatment area, and activating the at least one switch to both rotate one of the first and second tubular members relative to one another and to simultaneously provide electrical energy to the first and second tubular members. 
     The present disclosure also relates to a system for shearing and electrosurgically treating tissue. The system includes a debrider apparatus, such as a debrider apparatus described above, and an electrosurgical generator that supplies the first tubular member with a first electrical potential and supplies the second tubular member with a second electrical potential. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various embodiments of the presently disclosed surgical instrument are disclosed herein with reference to the drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a debrider apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the debrider apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a distal portion of a debrider apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the debrider apparatus of  FIG. 3 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a distal portion of the debrider apparatus of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the presently disclosed debrider apparatus are described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views. As is common in the art, the term “proximal” refers to that part or component closer to the user or operator, e.g., surgeon or physician, while the term “distal” refers to that part or component farther away from the user. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a debrider apparatus  100  of the present disclosure is illustrated. Debrider apparatus  100  of this embodiment includes a body portion  110 , a first tubular member  120 , and a second tubular member  130 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 2-5 , second tubular member  130  is at least partially disposed within first tubular member  120 . Additionally, second tubular member  130  may be moved (e.g., rotated in the direction of arrow C or arrow D or reciprocated back and forth in the direction of double-head arrow E-F, see  FIG. 2 ) with respect to first tubular member  120 . 
     First tubular member  120  defines a first axis A-A extending therethrough and includes a first set of teeth  140  disposed at least partially around a distal portion thereof. Second tubular member  130  includes a second set of teeth  150  disposed at least partially around a distal portion thereof. Upon movement of second tubular member  130 , tissue from a tissue treatment area is sheared. Specifically, in one embodiment, tissue on the tissue treatment area that is located between first set of teeth  140  and second set of teeth  150  is sheared from rotational movement of second set of teeth  150 . 
     In addition to having the ability to shear tissue, debrider apparatus  100  of the present disclosure also cauterizes or coagulates tissue. Specifically, first tubular member  120  is charged with a first electrical potential, e.g., a positive charge or active electrode and second tubular member  130  is charged with a second electrical potential, e.g., a negative charge or return electrode. The first electrical potential is different from the second electrical potential, thus creating a potential difference therebetween. Thus, tissue on the tissue treatment area that is located between first set of teeth  140  and second set of teeth  150  is cauterized or coagulated during activation due to the potential difference between first tubular member  120  and second tubular member  130 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , debrider apparatus  100  includes a power supply  160  (e.g., an electrosurgical generator), a hand switch  170  and a foot switch  180 . While illustrated with each of these features, it is envisioned and within the scope of the present disclosure that debrider apparatus  100  may not include one or more of these features or may include additional features. Power supply  160  is configured to provide power to debrider apparatus  100 . More specifically, power supply  160  may enable inner tubular member  130  to move (e.g., rotate or reciprocate), via a suitable motor (not explicitly shown in this embodiment), for example. Additionally, power supply  160  may be in the form of a battery that is contained at least partially within body portion  110  of debrider apparatus  100 . 
     Hand switch  170  and/or foot switch  180  enables a user to control the speed (e.g., speed of rotation or reciprocation) of second tubular member  130  and the amount of electrical potential of first tubular member  120  and second tubular member  130 , in a disclosed embodiment. For example, depressing hand switch  170  may control the movement of second tubular member  130  and depressing foot switch  180  may control the power supplied to the first tubular member  120  and the second tubular member  130 . It is also envisioned that hand switch  170  or foot switch  180  may operate to control both the speed and the power. Additionally, it is envisioned that at least one more switch (not explicitly shown in the illustrated embodiment) is provided to control irrigation and/or removal of material through at least one lumen, as discussed below. It is also envisioned that a single switch (e.g., hand switch  170  or foot switch  180 ) is able to control more than one of these functions. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2-5 , an insulation layer  190  is disposed between first tubular member  120  and second tubular member  130 . Insulation layer  190 , such as an insulative sheath, coating, or bearing, allows for differences in electrical potential between first tubular member  120  and second tubular member  130  to exist while preventing a “short” therebetween. Insulation layer  190  may be made from any suitable insulative material, such as synthetic resinous fluorine-containing polymers sold under the trademark TEFLON®, for example. 
     With continued referenced to  FIGS. 2-5 , a lumen  200  is defined within second tubular member  130  and extends the length thereof. In the illustrated embodiments, lumen  200  is disposed through the center of second tubular member  130  and may be configured to extend from a part of body portion  110  to a distal portion of first tubular member  120  or second tubular member  130 . In use, lumen  200  may be used for suction and/or irrigation. Specifically, when used for suction, lumen  200  may remove debris (e.g., sheared tissue) from the operating field or tissue treatment area. In this embodiment, suction through lumen  200  may be activated as movement of second tubular member  130  begins and/or as power is being supplied to debrider apparatus  100 . When used for irrigation, lumen  200  may provide the operating field or tissue treatment area with an amount of cleaning or sanitizing solution, such as saline. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , secondary lumens  202 ,  204  are illustrated between first tubular member  120  and second tubular member  130  (shown within insulation layer  190 ). Here, lumen  200  may be used for suction and secondary lumens  202 ,  204  may be used for irrigation, or vice versa. It is envisioned that at least one secondary lumen  202 ,  204  extends to a portion of debrider apparatus  100  that is located proximally of first set of teeth  140 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , first tubular member  120  of debrider apparatus  100  is illustrated having a non-cutting zone  210 . Non-cutting zone  210  is a portion of the distal periphery of first tubular member  120  that contains no teeth from first set of teeth  140 . That is, first set of teeth  140  do not extend around the entire periphery of a distal portion of first tubular member  120 . Non-cutting zone  210  may incorporate a reasonable percentage of the periphery of first tubular member  120 , such as between about 25% to about 75%. In use, the tissue located between non-cutting zone  210  and second set of teeth  150  is not sheared. This allows a user (e.g., surgeon or physician) to selectively shear only part of the tissue located adjacent first tubular member  120 , thus potentially enabling the user to only shear tissue that is in a more concentrated field of view. 
     The embodiment of debrider apparatus  100  illustrated in  FIG. 5  shows first tubular member  120  and second tubular member  130  having angled distal surfaces  230 ,  232 , respectively. Distal surfaces  230 ,  232  are defined by a second axis B-B that intersects first axis A-A at an acute angle α in this embodiment. Thus, distal surfaces  230 ,  232  are beveled at an angle relative to longitudinal axis A-A. Here, angle α may be in the range from about 10° to about 80°. Angled distal surfaces  230 ,  232  may enable the user to see a tip  234  of debrider instrument  100  more clearly, and thus enable the user to cut tissue more selectively. Additionally, angled distal surfaces  230 ,  232  of this embodiment may be used in conjunction with non-cutting zone  210  of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     The present disclosure also relates to a method of shearing and coagulating/cauterizing tissue using a single instrument, e.g., debrider apparatus  100 . In use, debrider apparatus  100  is provided and placed adjacent a tissue treatment area. Second tubular member  130  is moved (e.g., rotated or reciprocated) with respect to first tubular member  120 , thus allowing debrider apparatus  100  to shear tissue disposed between first set of teeth  140  and second set of teeth  150 . An electrical potential is supplied to at least one of first tubular member  120  and second tubular member  130 , creating a potential difference therebetween. This bipolar quality enables debrider apparatus  100  to coagulate/cauterize tissue disposed adjacent the tissue treatment area. 
     It will be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiments disclosed herein. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of various embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0