Vibrating surgical instruments for blunt dissection

Abstract

A dissector including a body, a first arm, a second arm, and a string. The first arm extending from the body towards a distal end thereof and the second arm extending from the body towards a distal end thereof. One end of the string is coupled to the first arm adjacent the distal end thereof and the other end of the string is coupled to the second arm adjacent the distal end thereof. The first and second arms have an expanded configuration such that the string is taut and have a collapsed configuration such that the string is slack. The string is configured to dissect tissue when the first and second arms are in the expanded configuration. The string may oscillate to dissect tissue. The distal ends of the first and second arms may atraumatically dissect tissue.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A dissector comprising:
 a tubular body;   a first arm coupled to a second arm, each arm including a proximal portion and a distal portion;   a first end of a string attached to the distal portion of the first arm and a second end of the string attached to the distal portion of the second arm; and   a vibration mechanism disposed on a surface of the tubular body, the vibration mechanism configured to oscillate the string.   
     
     
         3 . The dissector of  claim 2 , wherein the proximal portion of the first arm is pivotally coupled to the proximal portion of the second arm with a pivot pin. 
     
     
         4 . The dissector of  claim 3 , wherein the tubular body includes a slot oriented along a longitudinal axis of the tubular body, the pivot pin translatable in the slot. 
     
     
         5 . The dissector of  claim 4 , further including a retractable member coupled to the pivot pin for translating the pivot pin along a length of the slot. 
     
     
         6 . The dissector of  claim 2 , wherein the string is taut when the first and second arms are in an expanded configuration and the string is slack when the first and second arms are in a collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The dissector of  claim 6 , wherein the string is configured to dissect tissue when the first and second arms are in the expanded configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The dissector of  claim 5 , wherein movement of the retractable member relative to the tubular body pivots the first and second arms thereby transitioning the first and second arms between the collapsed configuration and the expanded configuration. 
     
     
         9 . A dissector comprising:
 a tubular body including a lumen;   a first arm having a distal portion;   a second arm having a distal portion, the second arm pivotally coupled to the first arm, the first and second arms transitionable between an expanded configuration with the distal portions of the first and second arms defining a maximum distance therebetween and a collapsed configuration with the distal portions of the first and second arms disposed in the tubular body;   a retractable member operably coupled to the first and second arms, the retractable member disposed in the lumen and movable relative to the tubular body to transition the first and second between the expanded and collapsed configurations;   a string extending between the distal portions of the first and second arms, the string configured to oscillate in response to actuation of a vibration mechanism.   
     
     
         10 . The dissector of  claim 9 , wherein the string is taut when the first and second arms are in the expanded state, the string configured to dissect tissue. 
     
     
         11 . The dissector of  claim 9 , further including a pivot pin for pivotally coupling proximal portions of the first and second arms. 
     
     
         12 . The dissector of  claim 11 , wherein proximal movement of the retractable member relative to the tubular body transitions the first and second arms towards the collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The dissector of  claim 9 , further including a vibration mechanism operatively coupled to the tubular body. 
     
     
         14 . The dissector of  claim 13 , wherein the vibration mechanism is configured to oscillate the string in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the tubular body. 
     
     
         15 . The dissector of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second arms are biased towards the expanded configuration. 
     
     
         16 . A dissector comprising:
 a tubular body having a lumen and defining a longitudinal axis;   a first arm having proximal and distal portions;   a second arm having proximal and distal portions, the proximal portions of the first and second arms coupled together with a pivot pin;   a string attached to the distal portions of the first and second arms, the string configured to oscillate in response to actuation of a vibration mechanism;   a retractable member movable along the longitudinal axis of the tubular body between retracted and extended positions, the distal portions of the first and second arms disposed within the lumen with the retractable member in the retracted position and defining a maximum distance therebetween with the retractable member in the extended position; and   a spring operably coupled to the pivot pin, the spring biasing the retractable member towards the extended position.   
     
     
         17 . The dissector of  claim 16 , wherein the vibration mechanism oscillates the string to dissect tissue. 
     
     
         18 . The dissector of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second arms have a transport configuration in which the distal portions of the first and second arms are disposed within the lumen of the tubular body. 
     
     
         19 . The dissector of  claim 16 , wherein the tubular body includes a slot extending along the longitudinal axis of the tubular body, the slot slidably receiving the pivot pin. 
     
     
         20 . The dissector of  claim 19 , wherein the pivot pin is adjacent a distal portion of the slot when the retractable member is in the extended position and adjacent a proximal portion of the slot when the retractable member is in the retracted position. 
     
     
         21 . The dissector of  claim 16 , wherein one of the distal portions of the first and second arms is configured to atraumatically dissect tissue.