Arthroscopic surgical device

Abstract

An arthroscopic bone channel forming and suturing system useful following formation of a first and a second generally straight channel in a bone, the second channel not intersecting the first channel, the system including a curved bone puncture needle configured to be insertable into the first channel, a curved needle driving assembly configured to manipulate the curved needle to form a curved junction between the first channel and the second channel, a suture snare wire assembly configured to insert a suture snare wire to a suture snare wire pick-up location via the second channel in the bone and a coordinated multi-function driving assembly operative to operate the curved needle driving assembly and the suture snare wire assembly in coordinated operation to cause the suture snare wire to be pulled from the suture pick up location and through the first channel via the junction.

1 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A curved shaft assembly for an arthroscopic surgical device, said curved shaft assembly comprising:
 a pair of curved shaft assembly outer elements;   a pair of curved shaft assembly inner elements; and   a curved shaft assembly location ring which engages corresponding ends of said pair of curved shaft assembly inner elements and is retained at a fixed axial location within said arthroscopic surgical device.   
     
     
         38 . A curved shaft assembly according to  claim 37  and wherein engagement between said curved shaft assembly location ring and said pair of curved shaft assembly inner elements provides axial adjustability of the position of said curved shaft assembly relative to said arthroscopic surgical device. 
     
     
         39 . A curved shaft assembly according to  claim 37  and wherein said curved shaft assembly outer elements are formed of metal and wherein said curved shaft assembly inner elements are formed of plastic. 
     
     
         40 . A curved shaft assembly according to  claim 39  and wherein each of said pair of curved shaft assembly inner elements includes:
 an elongate main portion, an inner surface of said elongate main portion being formed with:
 a first semicylindrical surface, said first semicylindrical surface of said pair of curved shaft assembly inner elements together defining a first bore for receiving a work channel assembly of said arthroscopic surgical device; and 
 a second semicylindrical surface, said second semicylindrical surface of said pair of curved shaft assembly inner elements together defining a second bore for receiving a push rod of said arthroscopic surgical device, said second semicylindrical surface having an elongate recess for accommodating a pair of pusher strips; and 
 
 a hook portion forwardly of said elongate main portion, said hook portion including an inner surface defining bearing surfaces for slidable engagement of a bone puncture needle of said arthroscopic surgical device. 
 
     
     
         41 . A curved shaft assembly according to  claim 40  and wherein said pair of curved shaft assembly inner elements also includes an end portion rearwardly of said elongate main portion, said end portion having a threaded semicylindrical outer surface for threaded engagement with said curved shaft assembly location ring. 
     
     
         42 . A curved shaft assembly according to  claim 40  and also comprising said pair of pusher strips. 
     
     
         43 . A curved shaft assembly according to  claim 42  and wherein each of said pair of pusher strips is formed with:
 a push rod engagement aperture for engagement with said push rod; and 
 a bone puncture needle engagement aperture for engagement with said bone puncture needle. 
 
     
     
         44 . A curved shaft assembly according to  claim 37  and wherein each of said pair of curved shaft assembly inner elements includes:
 an elongate main portion, an inner surface of said elongate main portion being formed with:
 a first semicylindrical surface, said first semicylindrical surface of said pair of curved shaft assembly inner elements together defining a first bore for receiving a work channel assembly of said arthroscopic surgical device; and 
 a second semicylindrical surface, said second semicylindrical surface of said pair of curved shaft assembly inner elements together defining a second bore for receiving a push rod of said arthroscopic surgical device, said second semicylindrical surface having an elongate recess for accommodating a pair of pusher strips; and 
 
 a hook portion forwardly of said elongate main portion, said hook portion including an inner surface defining bearing surfaces for slidable engagement of a bone puncture needle of said arthroscopic surgical device. 
 
     
     
         45 . A curved shaft assembly according to  claim 44  and wherein said pair of curved shaft assembly inner elements also includes an end portion rearwardly of said elongate main portion, said end portion having a threaded semicylindrical outer surface for threaded engagement with said curved shaft assembly location ring. 
     
     
         46 . A curved shaft assembly according to  claim 44  and also comprising said pair of pusher strips. 
     
     
         47 . A curved shaft assembly according to  claim 46  and wherein each of said pair of pusher strips is formed with:
 a push rod engagement aperture for engagement with said push rod; and 
 a bone puncture needle engagement aperture for engagement with said bone puncture needle. 
 
     
     
         48 . A method of manufacturing a curved shaft assembly for an arthroscopic device, the method comprising:
 providing a pair of curved shaft assembly outer elements;   providing a pair of curved shaft assembly inner elements;   disposing said pair of curved shaft assembly inner elements interiorly of said pair of curved shaft assembly outer elements;   aligning said pair of curved shaft assembly outer elements and said pair of curved shaft assembly inner elements; and   welding said pair of curved shaft assembly outer elements.   
     
     
         49 . A method according to  claim 48  and wherein said providing a pair of curved shaft assembly inner elements comprises forming each of said pair of curved shaft assembly inner elements, each of said pair of curved shaft assembly inner elements including:
 an elongate main portion; 
 a hook portion forwardly of said elongate main portion; and 
 an end portion rearwardly of said elongate main portion. 
 
     
     
         50 . A method according to  claim 49  and also comprising forming on an inner surface of said elongate main portion:
 a first semicylindrical surface, said first semicylindrical surface of said pair of curved shaft assembly inner elements together defining a first bore; and
 a second semicylindrical surface, said second semicylindrical surface of said pair of curved shaft assembly inner elements together defining a second bore, said second semicylindrical surface having an elongate recess. 
 
 
     
     
         51 . A method according to  claim 50  and wherein said end portion comprises a threaded outer surface. 
     
     
         52 . A method according to  claim 49  and wherein said end portion comprises a threaded outer surface.