Cartilage trimmers and associated methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10485574-B2
Application number	US-201815899523-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 20, 2018
Priority date	Feb 8, 2016
Publication date	Nov 26, 2019
Grant date	Nov 26, 2019

Abstract

A cartilage trimmer according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, inter alia, a guide pin connected to a cutter with a blade projecting from only one side of the guide pin.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A cartilage trimmer, comprising:
a guide pin; and
a cutter including a blade moveable between a retracted position within the guide pin and a deployed position projecting from the guide pin, wherein the blade has a cutting surface only on a proximal edge of the blade,
wherein the cutter further comprises a) a rod moveable within the guide pin, and b) the blade at a distal end of the rod,
wherein the guide pin includes an internal passageway and an opening adjacent a distal end thereof, the blade projecting through the opening when in the deployed position,
wherein the blade is moveable between a folded position substantially parallel to the rod and a cutting position substantially normal to the rod,
wherein the rod includes a hinge distal of the blade when the blade is in the folded position; and
wherein the hinge biases the blade to the cutting position.

2. The cartilage trimmer as recited in claim 1 , wherein the opening is at a distal end of the guide pin.

3. A method of using a cartilage trimmer, comprising:
moving a cutter distally within an internal passageway of a guide pin, wherein the cutter comprises a rod and a blade connected to a distal end of the rod, wherein the blade has a cutting surface only on a proximal edge of the blade, wherein during the moving step the blade is in a folded position and is substantially parallel to the rod, and wherein during the moving step a hinge of the rod is distal of the blade; and
deploying the blade from the folded position to a cutting position by passing the blade through an opening adjacent a distal end of the guide pin and under a bias of the hinge.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 , further comprising:
resecting cartilage with the blade.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 , wherein the cartilage is articular cartilage.

6. The method as recited in claim 4 , further comprising:
adjusting an angle of the blade relative to the guide pin while resecting cartilage.

Assignees

• Arthrex Inc

Inventors

• Stoll Marc
• Benedict Robert

Classifications

• A61B17/1617 Primary

  with mobile or detachable parts · CPC title

• A61B2017/32113

  with extendable or retractable guard or blade · CPC title

• A61B17/1675

  for the knee · CPC title

• A61B2017/00473

  Distal part, e.g. tip or head (A61B2017/00464 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B17/3213 Primary

  with detachable blades · CPC title