Apparatus and method for cleaning a surgically prepared bone surface

Abstract

An apparatus suitable for cleaning a surgically prepared working surface comprises a body portion adapted to supply pressurized fluid (preferably carbon dioxide gas) to the surgically prepared working surface and aspirate surface debris dislodged from the surgically prepared working surface. The apparatus further comprises a head portion adapted to constrain the supplied pressurized fluid to flow substantially along the surgically prepared working surface to dislodge debris there from when the head portion is in contact with the surgically prepared working surface. The dislodged surface debris are aspirated by the body portion.

1 . An apparatus suitable for cleaning a surgically prepared working surface, said apparatus comprising: 
 means for supplying pressurized fluid to the surgically prepared working surface;    at least one surface debris aspirator operatively coupled to said pressurized fluid supply means; and    means for confining the supplied pressurized fluid to flow substantially along the surgically prepared working surface, said confined fluid flow forcibly cleaning the surgically prepared working surface.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the supplied pressurized fluid is carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) gas, said CO 2  gas being suitable for use on the surgically prepared working surface.  
   
   
       3 . A method for cleaning a surgically prepared working surface, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) supplying pressurized fluid to the surgically prepared working surface;    (b) providing at least one surface debris aspirator;    (c) confining the supplied pressurized fluid to flow substantially along the surgically prepared working surface; and    (d) using said confined fluid flow to forcibly clean the surgically prepared working surface.    
   
   
       4 . An apparatus suitable for cleaning a surgically prepared working surface, said apparatus comprising: 
 means for supplying pressurized fluid to the surgically prepared working surface;    at least one surface debris aspirator operatively coupled to said pressurized fluid supply means; and    means for confining the supplied pressurized fluid to flow substantially tangentially relative to the surgically prepared working surface, said confined tangential fluid flow forcibly cleaning the surgically prepared working surface.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the supplied pressurized fluid is carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) gas, said CO 2  gas being suitable for use on the surgically prepared working surface.  
   
   
       6 . A method for cleaning a surgically prepared working surface, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) supplying pressurized fluid to the surgically prepared working surface;    (b) providing at least one surface debris aspirator;    (c) confining the supplied pressurized fluid to flow substantially tangentially relative to the surgically prepared working surface; and    (d) using said confined tangential fluid flow to forcibly clean the surgically prepared working surface.    
   
   
       7 . An apparatus suitable for cleaning a surgically prepared working surface, said apparatus comprising: 
 a body portion adapted to supply pressurized fluid to the surgically prepared working surface and aspirate surface debris dislodged from the surgically prepared working surface; and    a head portion adapted to confine the supplied pressurized fluid to flow substantially along the surgically prepared working surface to dislodge debris there from when said head portion is in contact with the surgically prepared working surface, said dislodged surface debris being aspirated by said body portion.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the supplied pressurized fluid is carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) gas, said CO 2  gas being suitable for use on the surgically prepared working surface.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the supplied pressurized CO 2  gas flows at a rate suitable for cleaning the surgically prepared working surface from debris.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said head portion is adapted to confine the supplied pressurized fluid to flow substantially tangentially relative to the surgically prepared working surface to dislodge debris there from when said head portion is in contact with the surgically prepared working surface, said dislodged surface debris being aspirated by said body portion.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the supplied pressurized fluid is carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) gas, said CO 2  gas being suitable for use on the surgically prepared working surface.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the supplied pressurized CO 2  gas flows at a rate suitable for cleaning the surgically prepared working surface from debris.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said body portion includes at least one pressurized fluid channel operatively coupled to at least one fluid jet outlet.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said body portion further includes at least one surface debris aspirator disposed in operational proximity to said at least one fluid jet outlet.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said head portion includes a rim configured to substantially follow the contours of the surgically prepared working surface and at least one partition between said at least one surface debris aspirator and said at least one fluid jet outlet.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one partition is sufficiently recessed from said rim to define a constricted flow channel that constrains the supplied jet fluid to flow substantially along the surgically prepared working surface when said rim is in contact with the surgically prepared working surface, said constrained fluid flow sweeping debris from the surgically prepared working surface via said at least one surface debris aspirator.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said body portion includes at least one pressurized fluid channel operatively coupled to at least one fluid jet outlet.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said body portion further includes at least one surface debris aspirator disposed in operational proximity to said at least one fluid jet outlet.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said head portion includes a rim configured to substantially follow the surgically prepared working surface and at least one partition between said at least one surface debris aspirator and said at least one fluid jet outlet.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said at least one partition is sufficiently recessed from said rim to constrain the supplied jet fluid to flow substantially tangentially relative to the surgically prepared working surface when said rim is in contact with the surgically prepared working surface, said constrained tangential fluid flow sweeping debris from the surgically prepared working surface via said at least one surface debris aspirator.  
   
   
       21 . An apparatus for cleaning a surgically prepared bone surface, comprising: 
 a pressurized fluid supply channel;    an aspiration channel;    a cleaning head, including at least one chamber, in communication with said aspiration channel and said fluid supply channel;    said chamber having an orifice, the boundary of said orifice defining a boundary surface capable of close engagement with the prepared bone surface to substantially close said chamber;    said chamber arranged to create an internal pressure gradient between said pressurized fluid supply channel and said aspiration channel, and having a path for fluid flow from said fluid supply channel to said aspiration channel;    wherein said fluid flow path for fluid flow includes at least one region in which flow is constrained to flow along said boundary surface.    
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said fluid flow path comprises at least one slot, whereby said fluid flow is channeled into a sheet of flow.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said slot is defined between said boundary surface and a partition which incompletely divides said chamber.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein said orifice is bounded by a rim.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein said boundary surface is a substantially plane surface.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein said boundary surface is a substantially contoured surface.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said pressurized fluid supply channel is adapted to supply pressurized carbon dioxide gas.  
   
   
       28 . An apparatus for cleaning a surgically prepared bone surface, comprising: 
 a body portion adapted to supply fluid to the surgically prepared working surface and to aspirate surface debris dislodged from the surgically prepared working surface, said body portion having a length dimension in a lengthwise direction;    a head portion having an orifice, adapted to engage the surgically prepared bone surface; said orifice directed sidewards in relation to said lengthwise direction of said body portion.    
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said head portion has a thickness dimension which does not exceed the clearance between a surgically prepared tibia and a surgically prepared femur in a human knee which has been prepared to receive a prosthetic joint replacement.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said thickness dimension is 10 millimeters or less. The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein said thickness dimension is 8 millimeters or less. The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said orifice is adapted to engage with a substantially planar bone surface.  
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of claim  32 , wherein said orifice is surrounded by a rim defining a plane.