Atraumatic Arthroscopic Instrument Sheath

Abstract

A removable, resilient atraumatic sheath for arthroscopic instruments. The sheath covers sharp edges on the arthroscopic instrument, particularly the distal tip of the rigid cannula, and thereby protects tissue and objects near a surgical site from accidental trauma. The sheath may be provided in the form of an inflow/outflow sheath that allows a surgeon to irrigate and drain a surgical field without the use of a separate irrigation instrument. The distal tip of the sheath may comprise a dissimilar material of a higher modulus of elasticity than the material comprising the remainder of the tube. The sheath is provided with a cylindrical grip on the proximal end to resiliently squeeze the proximal end of the arthroscopic instrument. A level is provided to move the grip radially outwardly to release the grip from the arthroscopic instrument.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A surgical device comprising:
 arthroscopic means for performing an arthroscopic surgical procedure, said arthroscopic means having an outer diameter and a proximal end;   a tubular means for removably enclosing the arthroscopic means, the tubular means having a proximal portion, a proximal end, an outer surface and an inner diameter sized and dimensioned to closely conform to the outer diameter of the arthroscopic means;   a means for gripping the tubular means disposed coaxially over the outer surface of the tubular means on the proximal portion of the tubular means, said means for gripping having a proximal portion that extends proximally beyond the proximal end of the tubular means;   wherein the proximal portion of the means for gripping frictionally engages the proximal end of the arthroscopic means; and   a first lever means operably attached to the means for gripping to move a first segment of the proximal portion of the means for gripping in a radially outwardly direction.