ATRAUMATIC ARTHROSCOPIC INSTRUMENT SHEATH AND METHOD

摘要

A removable, resilient atraumatic sheath for arthroscopic instruments. The sheath covers sharp edges on the arthroscopic instrument, particularly the distal tip of the rigid cannula, and thereby protects tissue and objects near a surgical site from accidental trauma. The sheath may be provided in the form of an inflow/outflow sheath that allows a surgeon to irrigate and drain a surgical field without the use of a separate irrigation instrument.

主权项

1. A system for performing arthroscopic surgery, said system comprising:
an arthroscopic instrument suitable for performing an arthroscopic surgical procedure, said arthroscopic instrument characterized by a distal tip; a rigid cannula, said rigid cannula characterized by a lumen and a distal tip, said rigid cannula sized and dimensioned such that the arthroscopic instrument may be extended through the lumen and distally of the distal tip of the rigid cannula; an atraumatic sheath comprising a tube of resilient material having a distal end, said sheath having an opening at the distal end of the sheath, said sheath having an inner diameter sized and dimensioned to closely conform to an outer diameter of the rigid cannula, said sheath having an interior surface; a ring secured to the interior surface of the sheath at the distal end of the sheath, said ring disposed, sized and dimensioned to prevent the distal tip of the rigid cannula from extending distally from the sheath, said ring disposed, sized and dimensioned to allow the arthroscopic instrument to extend distally from the distal end of the sheath; wherein the atraumatic sheath is adapted to be removably disposed over the arthroscopic instrument.