Surgical instrument, system, and method for frontal sinus irrigation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9827367-B2
Application number	US-11180408-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 29, 2008
Priority date	Apr 29, 2008
Publication date	Nov 28, 2017
Grant date	Nov 28, 2017

Abstract

A surgical instrument for irrigating a frontal sinus target site of a patient including a handle, an introducer, an irrigation channel, a nozzle, and an actuator assembly. The introducer extends from the handle and defines a proximal segment and a distal segment. At least a portion of the proximal segment is linear and at least a portion of the distal segment is relatively curved. The nozzle is fluidly connected to the irrigation channel, and is rotatably maintained at a distal end of the introducer. The actuator assembly includes an actuator maintained by the handle and connected to the nozzle. Movement of the actuator causes the nozzle to rotate relative to the introducer. The introducer can be sized and shaped in accordance with a size and a shape of a nasal passageway/frontal sinus of a human adult.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A surgical instrument for irrigating a frontal sinus target site of a patient, the instrument comprising:
a handle;
an elongate introducer extending from the handle and defining a proximal segment and a distal segment terminating at a distal end, the introducer rigidly forming at least a portion of the proximal segment to be relatively linear and at least a portion of the distal segment to be relatively curved as compared to the relatively linear portion in longitudinal extension of the introducer from the handle, a rigidity of the relatively linear portion and the relatively curved portion characterized by each portion not elastically deforming in response to a manually applied bending force;
an irrigation channel comprising a tubular body extending through the introducer, the tubular body having a terminal first end, the first end disposed within the introducer adjacent to the distal end;
a nozzle fluidly connected to the irrigation channel at the first end of the tubular body, the nozzle is maintained partially within and rotatably assembled to the distal end of the introducer such that the nozzle is rotatable relative to the introducer; and
an actuator assembly including an actuator maintained by the handle and connected to the nozzle; wherein the instrument is configured such that movement of the actuator causes the nozzle to rotate relative to the introducer.

2. The instrument of claim 1 , further comprising: an irrigation assembly extending within the introducer, the irrigation assembly forming a portion of the irrigation channel.

3. The instrument of claim 2 , wherein the irrigation assembly includes:
a proximal tube; and a distal tube extending from the proximal tube;
wherein the distal tube has a flexibility greater than a flexibility of the proximal tube and assumes a curvature defined by the introducer.

4. The instrument of claim 3 , wherein the proximal tube is relatively rigid.

5. The instrument of claim 2 , wherein the irrigation assembly mechanically couples the nozzle and the actuator assembly.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein the irrigation assembly includes a distal tube and a proximal tube; wherein a first diameter of the distal tube is less than a second diameter of the proximal tube.

7. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is configured to generate a fan-type spray pattern.

8. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is rotatable relative to the introducer through 360 degrees of rotation.

9. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the actuator assembly includes:
a wheel rotatably secured to the handle;
a first coupling attached to the wheel and rotatably maintained within the handle;
wherein the first coupling is connected to the nozzle;
a second coupling fluidly connected to the first coupling, the second coupling being affixed relative to the handle and rotatably associated with the first coupling such that fluid connection between the first and second couplings remains intact with rotation of the wheel; and
irrigation tubing connected to the second coupling and extending from the handle.

10. The instrument of claim 1 , further comprising:
an electrical switch assembly adapted to prompt activation of an external pump, the switch assembly including:
a switch mechanism maintained by the handle; and
wiring electrically connected to the switch mechanism and extending from the handle.

11. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the relatively curved portion of the distal segment of the introducer has a working length on an order of 9-19 mm.

12. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the relatively curved portion of the distal segment defines a bend angle in a range of 65°-85°.

13. A system for irrigating a frontal sinus target site of a human patient, the system comprising:
a surgical irrigation instrument comprising:
a handle,
an elongate introducer extending from the handle and defining a proximal segment and a distal segment terminating at a distal end, the introducer rigidly forming at least a portion of the proximal segment to be relatively linear and at least a portion of the distal segment to be relatively curved as compared to the relatively linear portion in longitudinal extension of the introducer from the handle, a rigidity of the relatively linear portion and the relatively curved portion characterized by each portion not elastically deforming in response to a manually applied bending force,
an irrigation channel comprising a tubular body extending through the introducer, the tubular body having a terminal first end disposed adjacent the distal end of the introducer,
a nozzle fluidly connected to the irrigation channel at the first end of the tubular body and rotatably extending within and retained by the distal end of the introducer such that the nozzle is rotatable relative to the introducer, the distal end defining an inner diameter to rotatably capture the nozzle, and
an actuator assembly including an actuator maintained by the handle and connected to the nozzle,
wherein the instrument is configured such that movement of the actuator causes the nozzle to rotate relative to the introducer; and

an irrigation source fluidly connected to the irrigation channel.

14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising:
an irrigation assembly disposed within the introducer, the irrigation assembly forming a portion of the irrigation channel.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the irrigation assembly includes a distal tube and a proximal tube; wherein a first diameter of the distal tube is less than a second diameter of the proximal tube.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the irrigation source includes a pump for delivering a pressurized irrigant from a reservoir to the irrigation channel, the system being configured such that a pressurized flow of the irrigant is dispensed from the nozzle upon operation of the pump.

17. A method for irrigating a frontal sinus target site of a human patient, the method comprising:
providing a surgical irrigation instrument comprising:
a handle, an elongate introducer extending from the handle and defining a proximal segment and a distal segment terminating at a distal end, the introducer rigidly forming at least a portion of the proximal segment to be relatively linear and at least a portion of the distal segment to be relatively curved as compared to the relatively linear portion in longitudinal extension of the introducer from the handle, a rigidity of the relatively linear portion and the relatively curved portion characterized by each portion not elastically deforming in response to a manually applied bending force, an irrigation channel extending through the introducer, an irrigation assembly extending within the introducer and forming a portion of the irrigation channel, the irrigation assembly defining a proximal tube and a distal tube extending from the proximal tube, wherein the distal tube has a flexibility greater than a flexibility of the proximal tube and assumes a curvature defined by the introducer, a nozzle fluidly connected to the distal tube and rotatably maintained partially within the introducer at the distal end of the introducer, an actuator assembly including an actuator maintained by the handle and connected to the nozzle, wherein the instrument is configured such that movement of the actuator causes the nozzle to rotate relative to the introducer;

surgically inserting the distal segment of the introducer into a naris of the patient;
positioning the nozzle within a frontal sinus of the patient;
dispensing a pressurized f

Assignees

• Perry Isaac C
• Prisco John R
• Slenker Dale E
• Medtronic Xomed Inc

Inventors

• Perry Isaac C
• Prisco John R
• Slenker Dale E

Classifications

• A61M3/025

  supplied directly from the pressurised water source, e.g. with medicament supply (combined with bidets A61M3/06) · CPC title

• A61M3/0233

  characterised by liquid supply means, e.g. from pressurised reservoirs · CPC title

• A61M3/0258

  by means of electric pumps · CPC title

• A61M2206/16

  Rotating swirling helical flow, e.g. by tangential inflows · CPC title

• A61M3/0216

  Pressure · CPC title