TYMPANOSTOMY TUBE DELIVERY DEVICE WITH CUTTER FORCE CLUTCH

摘要

A tympanostomy tube delivery device comprises a drive assembly and a force limiting shaft assembly. The shaft assembly comprises a cannula and a piercer operable to translate relative to the cannula so as to pierce the tympanic membrane of a patient. The piercer is mechanically coupled with the drive assembly such that actuation of the drive assembly causes translation of the piercer relative to the cannula. The piercer is mechanically coupled with the drive assembly by a clutch. The clutch is resiliently biased to couple the piercer with the drive assembly. The clutch is configured to uncouple the piercer from the drive assembly in response to a threshold force being imposed upon the piercer so as to inhibit translation of piercer relative to the cannula.

主权项

1. An instrument, comprising:
(a) a shaft assembly including a translatable piercing element; (b) a drive assembly including a translatable driver; and (c) a coupling member coupling the translatable piercing element with the translatable driver, wherein the translatable driver is operable to drive the translatable piercing element via the coupling member; wherein the coupling member is configured to disengage the translatable driver from the translatable piercing element in response to a threshold resistance force being imposed on the translatable piercing element; wherein the translatable driver is configured to translate relative to the translatable piercing element in response to disengagement by the coupling member.