Patent ID: 12232761

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

As shown inFIGS.1-5, a handheld rotary medical device10with a shaver12configured to remove cartilage is disclosed. The handheld rotary medical device10may include an inner drive shaft14, an elongated, tubular, outer housing16encapsulating the inner drive shaft14such that the inner drive shaft14is positioned within the outer housing16and a shaver12at a distal end20of the inner drive shaft14. The shaver12may include a plurality of teeth22extending radially outward from an outer surface24of the inner drive shaft14. The medical device10may include slots26or grooves28in the outer housing16useful for cleaning the tissue from the teeth22of the shaver12.

In at least one embodiment, the handheld rotary medical device10may include an inner drive shaft14and an elongated, tubular, outer housing16encapsulating the inner drive shaft14such that the inner drive shaft14is positioned within the outer housing16. The inner drive shaft may be formed from any configuration capable of transferring rotary motion from a drive motor to the shaver12. In at least one embodiment, the inner drive shaft14may be a cylindrical shaft. The inner drive shaft14may be a solid shaft or a tubular, hollow shaft. The outer housing16may be a hollow member with chamber36sized and configured to contain the inner drive shaft14. The outer housing16may be a hollow tube or have another appropriate configuration. The inner drive shaft14and outer housing16may be formed from any appropriate material, such as, but not limited to, metal, such as stainless steel, titanium and other metals, plastics and other materials. The handheld rotary medical device10may or may not be disposable.

The device10may include a shaver12at a distal end20of the inner drive shaft14. The shaver12may include a plurality of teeth22extending radially outward from an outer surface24of the inner drive shaft14. The plurality of teeth22may be aligned into circumferential rows30. In at least one embodiment, teeth22within a row30may be offset circumferentially relative to teeth22in an adjacent circumferential row30. In at least one embodiment, as shown inFIGS.2,4and5, the outer housing16may include an opening34aligned with the shaver12at the distal end20of the inner drive shaft14.

As shown inFIGS.4and5, the handheld rotary medical device10may include circumferential slots26formed in a sidewall38forming the outer housing16at the opening34aligned with the shaver12at the distal end20of the inner drive shaft14, wherein the slots26may extend in a circumferential direction from a longitudinally extending edge40forming an edge40of the opening34in the outer housing16. The slot26may be aligned with a portion of a first row of teeth22and a portion of a second row44of teeth22. In embodiments with a plurality of teeth22, the plurality of slots26are aligned with a portion of a row30of teeth22and a portion of an adjacent row of teeth22. All of the plurality of slots26may be aligned with a portion of a row of teeth22and a portion of an adjacent row of teeth22. The outer housing16may include a distal opening46at a distal end21of the outer housing16. The distal opening46may be in communication with the opening34in the outer housing16that is aligned with the shaver12. In at least one embodiment, at least one circumferential row30may include a plurality of radially extending teeth22. In another embodiment, the device10may be configured such that each circumferential row30includes a plurality of radially extending teeth22. As shown inFIGS.2and3, the device10may include one or more teeth having a generally rectangular leading face48facing a direction of rotation50of the inner drive shaft14.

In another embodiment, as shown inFIGS.4and5, the device10may be configured with another configuration of teeth22. In particular, the device10may include one or more teeth wherein each circumferential row30of teeth22are offset circumferentially in a same circumferential direction. In at least one embodiment, each circumferential row30of teeth22may be formed from at least a plurality of teeth22. Each circumferential row30of teeth22may be formed from at least a three teeth22. The teeth22may be equally spaced circumferentially or may be positioned at different distances from each other. As shown inFIGS.2and3, one or more teeth22may have a generally triangular cross-section tapering into an outer surface24of the inner drive shaft14moving in a circumferential direction opposite to a direction of rotation of the inner drive shaft14. One or more teeth22may be elongated such that a longitudinal length of the tooth22in a circumferential direction is greater than a width of the tooth22at the outer surface24of the inner drive shaft14in a linear direction aligned with a longitudinal axis52of the inner drive shaft12. A leading face48of the tooth22is generally triangular with sloped sides54extending from the outer surface24of the inner drive shaft14to a point that forms a ridge56extending circumferentially and radially inward into the outer surface24of the inner drive shaft14.

The device shown inFIGS.4and5, may include circumferential grooves28formed in an inner surface58of the outer housing16. The circumferential grooves28may extend circumferentially from a first edge60of the opening34in the outer housing16to a second edge62of the outer housing16. The circumferential grooves28may be aligned with the circumferential rows30of teeth22. One or more of the circumferential grooves28may be formed from V shaped grooves28. The V shaped grooves28may be formed with two sides64converging into contact together in the outer housing16.

During use the shaver12may be used to efficiently and effectively remove joint cartilage such as, but not limited to, during joint fusion. The shaver12may be used for arthroscopic, MIS, and open joint preparation. The shaver12may be used by a surgeon or other user to remove articular cartilage in preparation for fusion procedures. The shaver12may rotate in a single direction or may oscillate about a longitudinal axis52of the inner drive shaft14. The shaver12catches, cuts and minces the cartilage into small pieces capable of being easily removed.

The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of the disclosed devices.