Nasal suction instrument with interchangeable tip insert

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023081002-A1
Application number	US-202217881751-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 5, 2022
Priority date	Dec 11, 2018
Publication date	Mar 16, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A suction instrument includes a proximal end, a distal end configured to be positioned within or adjacent to an anatomical passageway of a patient, and a suction lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends. The suction lumen is configured to provide suction at the distal end. A navigation sensor is disposed along a portion of the suction lumen and is operable to generate an electrical signal corresponding to a location of the portion within the patient. A coupling feature is disposed at the proximal end and is configured to releasably couple the proximal end with a body.

First claim

1 .- 20 . (canceled)

21 . A method comprising:
(a) releasably coupling a proximal end of a cannula assembly to a handle assembly to thereby form a surgical instrument; (b) positioning a distal end of a cannula assembly within or adjacent to an anatomical passageway of a patient; (c) generating electrical signals via a navigation sensor, the navigation sensor being disposed along a portion of the cannula assembly, the electrical signals indicating a position of the navigation sensor in three-dimensional space; and (d) providing suction to the distal end of the cannula assembly through a suction lumen of the cannula assembly, the suction lumen being in fluid communication with the distal end of the cannula assembly, the handle assembly providing suction to the suction lumen.

22 . The method of claim 21 , the handle assembly having a distal end defining an attachment port, the cannula assembly including a cannula tube with a proximal end, the act of releasably coupling the proximal end of the cannula assembly to the handle assembly comprising inserting the proximal end of the cannula tube into the attachment port.

23 . The method of claim 21 , the navigation sensor being disposed at the distal end of the cannula assembly, the electrical signals indicating a position of the distal end of the cannula assembly in three-dimensional space.

24 . The method of claim 21 , the navigation sensor comprising an electromagnetic sensor, the method further comprising generating an electromagnetic field, the electrical signals being generated in response to the presence of the navigation sensor within the electromagnetic field.

25 . The method of claim 24 , the electromagnetic sensor comprising an electrically conductive coil, the electrically conductive coil generating the electrical signals.

26 . The method of claim 21 , the cannula assembly further comprising a first electrical connector disposed at the proximal end of the cannula assembly, the handle assembly including a second electrical connector, the act of the act of releasably coupling the proximal end of the cannula assembly to the handle assembly including coupling the first electrical connector with the second electrical connector.

27 . The method of claim 21 , the surgical instrument comprising an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), the method further comprising one or both of:
(a) storing data in the EEPROM; or (b) reading data from the EEPROM.

28 . The method of claim 21 , the proximal end of the cannula assembly including a connector block, the act of releasably coupling the proximal end of the cannula assembly to the handle assembly comprising coupling the connector block with a distal portion of the handle assembly.

29 . The method of claim 28 , the connector block including a projection, the distal portion of the handle assembly comprising a recess, the act of releasably coupling the proximal end of the cannula assembly to the handle assembly comprising inserting the projection into the recess.

30 . The method of claim 28 , the connector block further including a first set of electrical coupling features, the distal portion of the handle assembly comprising a second set of electrical coupling features, the act of releasably coupling the proximal end of the cannula assembly to the handle assembly further comprising engaging the first set of electrical coupling features with the second set of electrical coupling features.

31 . The method of claim 30 , the first set of electrical coupling features comprising a set of pins, the second set of electrical coupling features comprising a set of sockets, the act of engaging the first set of electrical coupling features with the second set of electrical coupling features comprising inserting the set of pins into the set of sockets.

32 . The method of claim 21 , the cannula assembly including a cannula tube with a proximal end, the proximal end of the cannula tube including a first set of electrical coupling features, the distal portion of the handle assembly comprising a second set of electrical coupling features, the act of releasably coupling the proximal end of the cannula assembly to the handle assembly further comprising engaging the first set of electrical coupling features with the second set of electrical coupling features

33 . The method of claim 31 , the handle assembly including a vent opening, the act of providing suction to the distal end of the cannula assembly comprising covering the vent opening.

34 . The method of claim 33 , further comprising uncovering the vent opening to relieve suction to the distal end of the cannula assembly.

35 . The method of claim 34 , the cannula assembly further including an EEPROM, the act of releasably coupling the proximal end of a cannula assembly to the handle assembly comprising establishing an electrical connection between the cannula assembly and the handle assembly, the method further comprising:
(a) communicating data from the EEPROM to the handle assembly via the electrical connection; and (b) communicating the electrical signals from the navigation sensor to the handle assembly via the electrical connection.

36 . An instrument comprising a first body, the first body comprising:
(a) a proximal end configured to couple with a suction source; (b) a distal end, the distal end including:
(i) a first coupling feature configured to releasably couple with a second coupling feature of an attachable member having a suction lumen, and
(ii) a first electrical connector, the first electrical connector being configured to releasably couple with a second electrical connector of the attachable member to receive an electrical signal that corresponds to a location of the attachable member within a three-dimensional space, the first coupling feature being further configured to promote alignment of the first electrical connector with the second electrical connector during attachment of the attachable member to the body; and
(c) a passageway extending through the body, the passageway comprising:
(i) a proximal end configured to fluidly couple with the suction source, and
(ii) a distal end configured to fluidly couple with the suction lumen of the attachable member, the passageway being configured to communicate suction from the suction source to the suction lumen.

37 . The surgical instrument of claim 36 , further comprising the attachable member, the attachable member comprising a cannula defining the suction lumen.

38 . The surgical instrument of claim 37 , further comprising one or both of the following:
(a) a first electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) housed within the attachable member, the first EEPROM being operable to store data relating to the suction lumen; or (b) a second EEPROM housed within the body, the second EEPROM being operable to store data relating to the body.

39 . A method of using a surgical instrument, the method comprising:
(a) releasably coupling a coupling feature disposed at a proximal end of a cannula assembly to a handle assembly to thereby form the surgical instrument; (b) generating electrical signals via a navigation sensor, the navigation sensor being disposed along a portion of the cannula assembly, the electrical signals indicating a position of the navigation sensor in three-dimensional space, the handle assembly and receiving the electrical signals; (c) communicating the electrical signals to a processor to thereby indicate the position of the navigation sensor to an

Assignees

• Acclarent Inc

Inventors

• Ebrahimi Babak
• Shameli Ehsan

Classifications

• A61B2034/2072

  Reference field transducer attached to an instrument or patient · CPC title

• A61B2034/2051

  Electromagnetic tracking systems · CPC title

• A61B17/24 Primary

  for use in the oral cavity, larynx, bronchial passages or nose (for medical inspection of cavities or tubes in the body A61B1/00); Tongue scrapers · CPC title

• A61B90/98

  using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders · CPC title

• A61B2017/246

  for cleaning of the nose · CPC title