Forceps for performing endoscopic or arthroscopic surgery

Abstract

Forceps for performing endoscopic or arthroscopic surgery include a body assembly, a tube assembly, and a pair of handles that pivot with respect to the body. The tube assembly is removably attached to the body assembly. The tube assembly includes a hollow tube and a tip assembly. The tip assembly includes an electrode or a blade for performing the surgery. The tip assembly and the blade are connected to the body and the handles by a cable. As the handles pivot, the cable slides within the tube to move the blade. When a different tube assembly (i.e., a bipolar or a monopolar electrode) or another style of tip assembly are desired, the installed one is removed and replaced by a new tube assembly or tip assembly as desired.

1 . A body assembly ( 42 ) for retaining an adapter ( 58 ) of a tube assembly ( 46 ), said body assembly ( 42 ) comprising;
 a housing ( 134 ) having an axial bore ( 140 ),   said housing ( 134 ) including a top surface ( 96 ) with said top surface ( 96 ) defining a transverse bore ( 148 ) extending along an axis (BB) and opening to said axial bore ( 140 ),   said housing ( 134 ) defining a lateral bore ( 160 ) extending along a locking axis (AA) with said lateral bore ( 160 ) intersecting said transverse bore ( 148 ),   a lock ( 150 ) disposed in said transverse bore ( 148 ) and including a locking contact ( 156 ), and a locking pin ( 154 ) spaced axially from said locking contact ( 156 ),   a plunger ( 166 ) including a plunger shaft ( 168 ) with said plunger shaft ( 168 ) disposed in said lateral bore ( 160 ) and intersecting said transverse bore ( 148 ), and   said plunger shaft ( 168 ) including a plunger contact ( 174 ) slidably interfacing with said locking contact ( 156 ) of said lock ( 150 ) for imparting a force on said locking contact ( 156 ) as said plunger ( 166 ) is moved along said locking axis (AA) to move said locking pin ( 154 ) along said plunger axis (BB) and into said axial bore ( 140 ) to engage the adapter ( 58 ) and retain the tube assembly ( 46 ) to said body assembly ( 42 ).   
     
     
         2 . A body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said plunger contact ( 174 ) further comprises as a plunger ramp ( 174 ) sloping relative to said plunger axis (BB) with said locking contact ( 156 ) slidably interfacing with said plunger ramp ( 174 ) to move said locking pin ( 154 ) along said plunger axis (BB) as said locking contact ( 156 ) slides along said plunger ramp ( 174 ). 
     
     
         3 . A body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said locking contact ( 156 ) is further defined as a locking ramp ( 156 ) sloping relative to said plunger axis (BB) in opposition to said plunger ramp ( 174 ) with said plunger ramp ( 174 ) and said locking ramp ( 156 ) slidably interfacing. 
     
     
         4 . A body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said locking ramp ( 156 ) slopes at a first angle relative to said plunger axis (BB) and said plunger ramp ( 174 ) slopes at a second angle relative to said plunger axis (BB). 
     
     
         5 . A body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said first angle and said second angle are equal and said locking ramp ( 156 ) includes a locking ramp ( 156 ) surface and said plunger ramp ( 174 ) includes a plunger ramp ( 174 ) surface with said surfaces in sliding contact. 
     
     
         6 . A body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said plunger shaft ( 168 ) defines a slot ( 177 ) with said locking pin ( 154 ) of said lock ( 150 ) extending through said slot ( 177 ). 
     
     
         7 . A body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said lock ( 150 ) further includes a base ( 152 ) with said base ( 152 ) movably extending through said slot ( 177 ) and said locking pin ( 154 ) and said locking contact ( 156 ) positioned on opposite sides of said plunger shaft ( 168 ). 
     
     
         8 . A body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said plunger contact ( 174 ) is further defined as a plunger ramp ( 174 ) sloping relative to said plunger axis (BB) with said locking contact ( 156 ) slidably interfacing with said plunger ramp ( 174 ) to move said locking pin ( 154 ) along said plunger axis (BB) as said locking contact ( 156 ) slides along said plunger ramp ( 174 ). 
     
     
         9 . A body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 8  wherein said plunger ramp ( 174 ) is further defined as being formed in said plunger shaft ( 168 ) to define a V-shaped notch. 
     
     
         10 . A body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said plunger ramp ( 174 ) is further defined as a pair of plunger ramps ( 174 ) formed in said plunger shaft ( 168 ) on opposing sides of said slot ( 177 ) in parallel. 
     
     
         11 . A body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said locking contact ( 156 ) is further defined as a pair of locking contacts ( 156 ) for slidably interfacing with said corresponding plunger ramp ( 174 ). 
     
     
         12 . A body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said locking contacts ( 156 ) are further defined as a pair of locking ramps ( 156 ) sloping in parallel relative to said plunger axis (BB) and in opposition to said plunger ramps ( 174 ). 
     
     
         13 . A body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said transverse bore ( 148 ) and said lateral bore ( 160 ) are generally perpendicular. 
     
     
         14 . A body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said transverse bore ( 148 ) and said axial bore ( 140 ) are generally perpendicular. 
     
     
         15 . A body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said plunger ( 166 ) further includes a head ( 170 ) extending from said plunger shaft ( 168 ) for pushing said head ( 170 ) to move said plunger ( 166 ) along said locking axis (AA). 
     
     
         16 . A body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 1  further including a spring cap ( 162 ) attached to said top surface ( 96 ) of said body covering said transverse bore ( 148 ) to retain said lock ( 150 ) within said transverse bore ( 148 ). 
     
     
         17 . A body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 16  further including a spring disposed between said spring cap ( 162 ) and said lock ( 150 ) with said spring imparting a force on said lock ( 150 ) along said plunger axis (BB) to bias said locking pin ( 154 ) into said axial bore ( 140 ) and provide resistance to said plunger ( 166 ) when moving said plunger ( 166 ) along said locking axis (AA). 
     
     
         18 . A body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 17  wherein said lock ( 150 ) defines a spring pocket ( 159 ) opposite said locking pin ( 154 ) with a portion of said spring seated in said spring pocket ( 159 ) for nesting said spring within said lock. 
     
     
         19 . A body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 17  wherein said spring cap ( 162 ) defines an orifice ( 199 ) with a portion of said spring seated in said orifice ( 199 ) for nesting said spring within said spring cap ( 162 ). 
     
     
         20 . A body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 16  wherein said spring cap ( 162 ) further includes an electrode ( 249 ) for connection to an external power supply with said electrode ( 249 ) contacting said lock ( 150 ) to transmit current through said locking pin ( 154 ) and into the tube assembly ( 46 ). 
     
     
         21 . A body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 20  further including a second electrode ( 249 ) for transmitting bipolar current through said locking pin ( 154 ) and into the tube assembly ( 46 ). 
     
     
         22 . A body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said plunger ( 166 ) further includes an end ( 172 ) with a screw cap ( 179 ) disposed on said end ( 172 ) for retaining said plunger ( 166 ) within said lateral bore ( 160 ). 
     
     
         23 . A body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 1  further including a cap ( 173 ) extending from said body and covering said lateral bore ( 160 ) for grasping said body assembly ( 42 ) and moving said plunger ( 166 ) along said locking with one hand. 
     
     
         24 . A body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said body is formed from insulating material to isolate said body from an electrical current. 
     
     
         25 . A body assembly ( 42 ) for retaining a cable ( 70 ) of a tube assembly ( 46 ), said body assembly ( 42 ) comprising;
 a housing ( 134 ) defining a bore ( 142 ) extending along a tube axis (DD),   a grabbing assembly ( 175 ) disposed in said bore ( 142 ) for sliding in said bore ( 142 ) along said tube axis (DD),   said grabbing assembly ( 175 ) including a plurality of fingers ( 184 ) with said fingers ( 184 ) movable between a closed position when said fingers ( 184 ) are disposed in said bore ( 142 ) and an open position when said fingers ( 184 ) are outside of said bore ( 142 ) for grasping and releasing a retainer end ( 251 ) of a tube assembly ( 46 ) in response to sliding said grabbing assembly ( 175 ) and said fingers ( 184 ) along said tube axis (DD).   
     
     
         26 . A body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 25  wherein said bore is further defined as an axial bore ( 140 ) and a collet chamber ( 142 ) extending along said tube axis (DD) with said axial bore ( 140 ) having a larger diameter than said collet chamber ( 142 ) for closing said fingers ( 184 ) to grasp the retainer end ( 251 ) of the tube assembly ( 46 ) when said fingers ( 184 ) are disposed in said collet chamber ( 142 ) and opening said fingers ( 184 ) to release the retainer end ( 251 ) when said fingers ( 184 ) are disposed in said axial bore ( 140 ). 
     
     
         27 . A body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 25  wherein said fingers ( 184 ) are further defined as flexibly extending from said grabbing assembly ( 175 ). 
     
     
         28 . A body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 25  wherein said grabbing assembly ( 175 ) includes a stem ( 178 ) adapted to extend from said fingers ( 184 ) with said stem ( 178 ) slidably disposed in said collet chamber ( 142 ) and extending from a rear ( 210 ) of said body for grasping said stem ( 178 ) to slide said grabbing assembly ( 175 ) along said tube axis (DD). 
     
     
         29 . a body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 28  further including a handle ( 48 ) pivotally connected to said body and a link ( 196 ) pivotally connected to each of said handle ( 48 ) and said stem ( 178 ) of said grabbing assembly ( 175 ) for moving said grabbing assembly ( 175 ) along said tube axis (DD) in response to pivoting said handle ( 48 ) with respect to said body. 
     
     
         30 . A body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 29  wherein said handle ( 48 ) is further defined as an upper handle ( 48 ) and a lower handle ( 50 ) with said stem ( 178 ) disposed therebetween and said link ( 196 ) is further defined as a top link ( 196 ) and a bottom link ( 198 ) with said top link ( 196 ) pivotally connecting said top handle and said stem ( 178 ) and said bottom link ( 198 ) pivotally connecting said bottom handle and said stem ( 178 ) for moving said grabbing assembly ( 175 ) along said tube axis (DD) in response to opening and closing said handles. 
     
     
         31 . A body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 30  wherein closing said handles pulls said fingers ( 184 ) into said collet chamber ( 142 ) to close said fingers ( 184 ) for grasping the retainer end ( 251 ) of the tube assembly ( 46 ). 
     
     
         32 . A body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 31  further including a resistance spring ( 195 ) disposed in said collet chamber ( 142 ) between said fingers ( 184 ) and said rear ( 210 ) of said body for imparting resistance when closing said handles and causing said handles to open in response to releasing said handles. 
     
     
         33 . A body assembly ( 42 ) as set forth in  claim 25  wherein said body further includes an arm portion ( 136 ) extending from said body with said axial bore ( 140 ) disposed in said body and said collet chamber ( 142 ) disposed in said arm portion ( 136 ). 
     
     
         34 . A tip assembly for attachment to a body assembly ( 42 ), said assembly comprising;
 a shaft ( 108 ) defining a cable opening ( 120 ) with said cable opening ( 120 ) extending along a tube axis (DD),   said shaft ( 108 ) defining a tip chamber ( 122 ) extending through said shaft ( 108 ) and intersecting said cable opening ( 120 ) with said shaft ( 108 ) including a hip ( 130 ),   a blade ( 90 ) pivotally attached to said shaft ( 108 ) for performing a cutting operation,   a cable ( 70 ) slidably disposed along said tube axis (DD) and extending into said cable opening ( 120 ) of said shaft ( 108 ) for sliding said cable ( 70 ) along said tube axis (DD) in said shaft ( 108 ),   a cable end ( 74 ) extending from said cable ( 70 ) with said cable end ( 74 ) pivotally attached to said blade ( 90 ) for opening said blade ( 90 ) relative to said shaft ( 108 ) when said cable ( 70 ) is slid toward said blade ( 90 ) and closing said blade ( 90 ) relative to said shaft ( 108 ) when said cable ( 70 ) is slid away from said blade ( 90 ),   a shoulder ( 80 ) protruding from said cable end ( 74 ) for limiting travel of said cable ( 70 ) as said cable ( 70 ) is moved along said tube axis (DD),   said cable end ( 74 ) including a front sloping edge ( 78 ) and a top edge ( 79 ) sloping relative to said front sloping edge ( 78 ),   said blade ( 90 ) including a first blade stop ( 107 ) and a second blade stop ( 107 ) sloped relative to said first blade stop ( 107 ) with said first blade stop ( 107 ) disposed against said front sloping edge ( 78 ) when said cable ( 70 ) is slid away from said blade ( 90 ) and said second blade stop ( 107 ) disposed against said top edge ( 79 ) when said cable ( 70 ) is slid toward said blade ( 90 ) to limit rotational travel of said blade ( 90 ) relative to said shaft ( 108 ).