Instrument guide

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9545261-B2
Application number	US-201213348877-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 12, 2012
Priority date	Jul 29, 2011
Publication date	Jan 17, 2017
Grant date	Jan 17, 2017

Abstract

A guide for a flexible member includes a stationary member, an articulating member, and an actuating member. The articulating member defines a first lumen. The stationary member, the articulating member, and the actuating member are coupled to one another by one or more arcuate grooves or flanges such that the articulating member pivots relative to the stationary member when the actuating member is moved relative to the stationary member. The stationary member and the actuating member form a second lumen arranged to accommodate the flexible member coextensively in the first lumen and the second lumen.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A guide comprising:
a handle that defines a first handle member and a second handle member, the second handle member configured to move with respect to the first handle member;
an elongate shaft that defines a proximal end and a distal end, the elongate shaft coupled to the handle on the proximal end of the elongate shaft, and the elongate shaft comprising:
a stationary member that defines a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the stationary member coupled to and stationary with respect to the first handle member;
a slot defined in the distal end of the stationary member, the slot defines a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall;
a first arcuate flange disposed on the first sidewall, wherein the first arcuate flange has a center point below the stationary member;
a first groove defined in the stationary member, the groove extends from the slot to the proximal end of the stationary member;
an actuating member that defines a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the actuating member coupled to and movable by the second handle member, and the actuating member abutting the stationary member;
a notch defined in the distal end of the actuating member, the notch defines a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall of the notch;
a second arcuate flange disposed on the first sidewall of the notch, wherein the second arcuate flange has a center point above the actuating member;
a second groove defined by the actuating member, the second groove extends from the notch to the proximal end of the actuating member;
an articulating member that defines a first lumen and two sides, the articulating member disposed within the slot of the stationary member and the notch of the actuating member;
a first arcuate groove defined in a side of the articulating member, the first arcuate groove disposed over the first arcuate flange of the stationary member;
a second arcuate groove defined in a side of the articulating member, the second arcuate grooves disposed over the second arcuate flange of the actuating member; and

wherein the stationary member, the articulating member, and the actuating member are coupled to one another such that the articulating member is configured to pivot relative to the stationary member when the actuating member is moved relative to the stationary member; and
wherein the first and second grooves form a second lumen arranged to accommodate a flexible member coextensively in the first lumen and the second lumen.

2. The guide of claim 1 wherein the stationary member, the articulating member, and the actuating member are coupled such that the first lumen and the second lumen are coaxially arranged when the actuating member is in a first position relative to the stationary member and are non-coaxially arranged when the actuating member is in a second position relative to the stationary member.

3. The guide of claim 1 wherein the handle comprises a pin coupling the first handle member and the second handle member such that the second handle member rotates relative to the first handle member.

4. The guide of claim 1 wherein the handle includes a ratchet mechanism configured to allow the second handle member to rotate in a first direction and configured to prevent the second handle member from rotating in a second direction, opposite the first direction.

5. The guide of claim 4 wherein rotation in a first direction moves the actuating member from a first position to a second position.

6. The guide of claim 4 wherein the ratchet mechanism includes one or more teeth on the first handle member and a finger on the second handle member, the finger configured to engage the teeth.

7. The guide of claim 6 wherein the finger is configured to move in a first direction to engage the teeth and to move in a second direction to disengage the teeth, the ratchet mechanism comprising a spring configured to apply a force to the finger in the first direction to engage with the teeth and allow the finger to be moved in the second direction to disengage the finger from the teeth.

8. A guide comprising:
a handle that defines a first handle member and a second handle member, the second handle member configured to move with respect to the first handle member;
an elongate shaft that defines a proximal end and a distal end, the elongate shaft coupled to the handle on the proximal end of the elongate shaft, and the elongate shaft comprising:
a stationary member that defines a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the stationary member coupled to and stationary with respect to the first handle member;
a slot defined in the distal end of the stationary member, the slot defines a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall;
a first arcuate flange and a second arcuate flange disposed on the first and second sidewalls, respectively, wherein each arcuate flange has a center point below the stationary member;
a first groove defined in the stationary member, the groove extends from the slot to the proximal end of the stationary member;
an actuating member that defines a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the actuating member coupled to and movable by the second handle member, and the actuating member abutting the stationary member;
a notch defined in the distal end of the actuating member, the notch defines a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall of the notch;
a third arcuate flange and a fourth arcuate flange disposed on the first and second sidewalls of the notch, respectively, wherein each of the third and fourth arcuate flange has a center point above the actuating member;
a second groove defined by the actuating member, the second groove extends from the notch to the proximal end of the actuating member;
an articulating member that defines a first lumen, a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the articulating member disposed within the slot of the stationary member and the notch of the actuating member;
a first arcuate groove and a second arcuate groove defined in the first and second sides of the articulating member, respectively, the first and second arcuate grooves disposed over the first and second arcuate flanges of the stationary member, respectively;
a third arcuate groove and a fourth arcuate groove defined in the first and second sides of the articulating member, respectively, the third and fourth arcuate grooves disposed over the third and fourth arcuate flanges of the actuating member, respectively; and

wherein the stationary member, the articulating member, and the actuating member are coupled to one another such that the articulating member is configured to pivot relative to the stationary member when the actuating member is moved relative to the stationary member; and
wherein the first and second grooves form a second lumen arranged to accommodate a flexible member coextensively in the first lumen and the second lumen.

9. An instrument guide comprising:
a handle that defines a first handle member and a second handle member, the second handle member configured to move with respect to the first handle member;
an elongate shaft that defines a proximal end and a distal end, the elongate shaft coupled to the handle on the proximal end of the elongate shaft, and the elongate shaft comprising:
a stationary member that defines a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the stationary member coupled to and stationary with respect to the first handle member;
a slot defined in the distal end of the stationary member, the slot defines a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall;
a first groove defined

Assignees

• Bourque Bernard Joseph
• Ferragamo Michael Charles
• Reynolds Steve Bernard
• Smith & Nephew Inc

Inventors

• Bourque Bernard Joseph
• Ferragamo Michael Charles
• Reynolds Steve Bernard

Classifications

• A61B17/3403

  Needle locating or guiding means · CPC title

• A61B17/1764

  for the knee · CPC title

• A61B2017/2927

  the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft · CPC title

• A61B17/1796 Primary

  for holes for sutures or flexible wires · CPC title

• A61B17/1697

  specially adapted for wire insertion · CPC title