Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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~ his invention relates to orthopedic surgical instruments and in parti-
cular to instruments capable of performing intra-articular arthroplasty by
arthroscopic visualization. The term "intra-articular" refers to joints of the
body such as the knee, "arthroplasty" refers to a surgical yrocedure for the
moulding or shaping of joint surfaces, and "arthroscopic" refers to viewing by
probes inserted into the joint region through punctures, i.e. ~ithout surgically
laying the joint open.
Although it was proven possible decades ago to visualize the joints of
a human being by insertion of viewing probes ~endoscopes), surgery of the joints
has continued to be performed mainly by open surgery. Thus, in a typical knee
operation, although the object of the surgery for instance is to remove small
amounts of cartilage or bone, a relatively large incision has been required.
This takes a considerable time to heal, which itself can cause trauma, discomfort,
and limitations of movement.
To anyone who might contemplate arthroplasty by closed surgery of the
knee or other joint space, numerous restrictive and apparently conflicting re-
quirements are encountered. For instance, the instrument should be small for
maneuverability and ability to enter the region of interest of the joint but
large in order to transmit the forces and to conduct away the matter to be re-
moved; it should be safe from unwanted action against the joint surface, but
capable of sufficiently strong action when desired. And above all, it should
be reliable and capable of safe use by orthopedic surgeons of varying skill.
Arthroscopic surgical instruments so far developed, e.g. the Intra-
articular Shaver corresponding to ~nited States ~atent No. 4,203,444 by Bonnell
et al., are highly effective for their intended purpose, but are not applicable
to certain arthroplasty procedures such as those requiring removal of bone.
In certain instances, e.g. when the thin coating of articular cartilage
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that acts as a low-friction load bearing surface on the condylar surfaces of the
tibia and femur degenerates, e.g., as is the case in degenerative arthritis, it
has been proposed, at selected spaced apart points, to drill into subchondral
bone to a depth, e.g. of 3 or ~ mm, to expose the vascular bed with the hope of -
encouraging growth of fibro cartilage to regenerate an articular surface.
In other instances curretage has been employed for the same purpose,
but often with detrimental alteration of the surface contour.
According to one aspect of the invention, it has been discovered that
in lieu of such deep and discrete drilling or severe curretage, a more favorable
result is attained by uniformly decorticating, i.e. abrading the articular sur-
face over a general extended area to only a depth of about 0.5 to 1 mm, using a
rotating, semi-shielded cartilage and bone abrading, suctioning instrument under
direct arthroscopic surgical visualization.
A further aspect of the invention is the provision of such an arthro-
scopic abrading instrument that enables such arthroplasty under arthroscopic
control, with the instrument being sufficiently small to allow maneuverability
and accessibility within a restricted joint area while transmitting the forcas
necessary for the abrading removal of cartilage and bone, and conduct ng away the
matter removed, thus enabling the arthroplasty to be performed via a small punc-
ture wound.
To summarize in greater detail, the invention provides a surgical in-
strument for removing bone at a load-bearing, articular surface of a joint,
- especially a knee, of a living being to expose lower-lying bone tissue which has
blood supply (is vascular), thereby to enable, under the influence of said blood
supply, growth of fibre cartilage that can extend over said articular surface for
improving articular function, comprising a rotary shaft being on its proximal
end driven by a motor and having on its distal end an element, capable of progres-
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sively removing said bone by gradually reducing the bone to small particles,
characterized in that an outer tubular sheath encloses said motor driven shaft
and is sized to be inserted from the exterior through a puncture in the flesh
of said living being into said joint to the situs of said articular surface and,
under visual control via an arthroscope introduced via another puncture in the
flesh, adapted to be operated within the joint, said power driven shaft comprises
a hollow tubular shaft extending through said outer sheath and carrying at its
distal end as said bone removing element an abrading element, having at least a
side abrading surface for removing a thin layer of bone over an extended area of
said load-bearing articular surface, said outer sheath is configured to expose a
limited portion of said abrading surface, thereby to assist in limiting depth
penetration of said abrading element into said articular surface and shielding
said abrading element from contact with joint surfaces in other directions, said
shaft being rotatably supported relative to said outer sheath by at least one
hollow, annular distal bearing member to enable transverse loading of said abrad-
ing element, and having the inner hollow volume of the hollow tubular shaft com-
municating through the bearing with a fluid opening, located distally of said
bearing member and communicating with the region of operation of said abrading
element, and being with its proximal end connectable to a vacuum source, thereby
enabling fluid with suspended abraded material ~o be withdrawn from said region
of operation through said opening and through said driven tubular shaft.
In preferred embodiments: spaced apart distal and proximal bearing
surfaces are provided, preferably the distal bearing member being an annular
surface extending radially and rotatable with the inner tubular shaft; the outer
sheath is configured to expose a limited portion of one side and a ~imited por-
tion of the end of the abrading element for the abrading action; the distal por-
tion of the outer tubular sheath is progressively relieved along one side to
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progressively expose from one side the abrading surface of the abrading element,
the distal end of the shaft is termi.nated proximally of the end surface of the
abrading element, and the exposed side of the abrading element is substantially
aligned with the tubular wall of the outer sheath, preferably the outer sheath
being progressively relieved along a line which lies in a plane disposed at an
angle of 30 or less to the axis of the tubular sheath; the internal tubular
shaft is capable of removing fluid carrying abraded tissue and bone from the
joint at a flow rate of the order of at least 100 cubic centimeters per minute;
the abrading element is formed at one end of a drive spur, the drive spur being
removably carried axially at the distal end of the inner tubular shaft; the
distal end of the inner tubular shaft is a chuck member, the chuck member being
hollow and having a receiving means to axially receive and fixably retain the
drive spur of the abrading element during engagement with the joint surface, the
distal bearing extending annularly from the external wall of the chuck member
proximally of the receiving means, and there being a hole through the annular
wall of the chuck member, the hole being proximal of the receiving means and
distal of the bearing member, the chuck member serving as a conduit for fluid
carryi.ng abraded tissue through the distal bearing and the chuck member conduit
being connected to the internal tubular shaft conduit to carry the fluid from
the body; the inner tubular shaft has a locking means which is adapted to re-
ceive the distal end of the abrading element drive spur in a secure relatisnship
that prevents dislodgement of the drive spur during surgicai maneuvering, prefer-
ably the abrading element and the drive spur being formed as a single unit; the
outer tubular sheath is about 50 mm in length or longer and has an outer diam-
eter of the order of ~ mm or larger; and the inner tubular shaft is rotated at a
speed of the order of between 500 rpm and 3,000 rpm the motor is reversible un-
der the control of the surgeon, with the abrading element adapted to abrade less
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aggres5ively in the reversed direction than in the forward direction.
Beyond the specific arthroplasty that has been described, the instru-
ment is fo~md to have use in other casesJ e.g. when the cartilage in the joint
has a surface defect or an irregular surface, or even during other intra-
articular surgery when irregularities are formed in the cartilage. The instru-
ment can be effective to smooth and shape surface defects and irregularities to
reduce the pain felt by the patient and improve the patient's joint mobility.
In a totally different context, i.e. for removing objects from the
body, especially objects in the eye, e.g. lenses with cataracts, an abrasive
cutting instrument with an adjus~able tubular means to control the exposure of
the abrasive cutting tip is shown in Banko United States Patent No. 3,937,222.
The structure and operation of a preferred embodiment of the invention
will now be described, after first briefly describing the drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the set-up o~ the instrument
according to the invention with accessories for performing intra-articular
arthroplasty of the knee;
Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view partially broken away
of the proximal end of the instrument of the preferred embodiment~ Figure 2a is
a somewhat more enlarged view of the distal end, while Figure 3 is a similar
view of the extreme distal portion of the instrument turned 90;
Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the instrument on
an enlarged scale showing the chuck member, while Figure 5 is a similar view of
the chuck member turned 90;
Figure 6 is a side view of an abrading element according to the in-
vention, Figure 7 is a similar view turned 90~, while Figure 8 is an end view-
ing showing the helical, fluted abrading surface of the element;
Figure 9 is a side view of the tool for removing the abrading member
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of the invention;
Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view of the intra-articular surface of a
joint ~mdergoing arthroplasty of the vascular bed by an instrument according to
the invention;
Figure 11 is a top view at 11 - 11 of Figure 10; and
Figures 12, 12a, and 12b are end views of the top of the instrument
taken at 12 - 12, 12a - 12a, and 12b - 12b of Figure 4.
Referring now to the Figures, in Figures 1 and 2 the instrument 10 is
shown inserted into the joint of the knee to act on the low-friction load bear-
ing condylar surfaces of the tibia 6 and the femur 8. At the same time, a fiber
optic visualization instrument 4 introduces light to the interior of the joint
from light source 12 and returns a visual image along a separate optical path.
While the image can be directed to an eye piece for the surgeon, as well as to
recording cameras, in the preferred embodiment shown, the image îs directed to
television camera 16 which creates the display 18, which the surgeon watches to
control his movements. By thus watching the screen and manipulating the instru-
ment, the instrument is caused to move across the joint, abrading the surface
which is shown in the TV picture. A more detailed view of this is shown in
Figures 10 and 11 which will be discussed below.
During the operation, the joint is distended by providing saline fluid
under controlled hydrostatic pressure from source 2.
The success of the instrument is dependent upon the important aspect
of its construction as have been noted previously. Referring to Figures 2, 2a
and 3, the instrument 10 of the preferred embodiment comprises an external tube
20, here tubing having an outer diameter of 7.5 mm and an inner diameter of
6.4 mm, and telescopically inserted into the external tube is an internal tube
24, here having an outer diameter of 5.2 mm and an inner diameter of 4.4 mm.
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The inner tube 24 is rotated relative to the outer tube 20 by a drive train
Figure 1, including a battery driven motor 154 in handle 50 acting on drive
tang 28, Figure 2. The motor is reversible, under the control of the surgeon,
e.g. via a foot switch 55. The motor is adapted to produce torque values of
the order of 2880 cm gms, and to rotate the abrading element under normal bone-
abrading load at speed of the order of 500 rpm, up to about 3,000 rpm.
Referring to Figwres 2a, 3, 4 and 5, fixed at the distal end of the
inner tube is chuck 30, here a separately formed unit fixed axially on the inner
tube 24 by use of an epoxy adhesive. The chuck 30 is formed to receive and hold
the drive spur 42 of an abrading element 40 positively against the forces in-
herent during engagement of the instrument on the surface of a joint. To meet
this purpose, the wall 32 of the chuck 30, of heat treated stainless steel, is
cut along the axis at 34 and permanently formed into a leaf-spring-like detent
36. The wall 32 is also deformed at 3~ to form an alignment gwide. The abrad-
ing element 40 is comprised of abrading head 44, here with a diameter of 5.5 mm
having an abrading surface with 12 helically fluted edges, on drive spur 42,
here having diameter 2.4 mm and length 10.3 mm. The helical edges are so ar-
ranged that the abrading element cuts more aggressively in the forward than in
the reverse direction of rotation. The head 44 and the spur 42 are machined
from a single piece of heat treated stainless steel to reduce the potential of
separation under the forces experienced during surgery, e.g. transverse dis-
placement pressure of the order of 170 to 340 kg/cm2. ~This abrading element is
also disposable so a new sharp tool may be used for every procedure.) The drive
spur is relieved axially, these relieved areas comprising alignment flat 52,
detent flat 54 and clearance for the alignment guide 56. The spur 42 is also
relieved annularly at 58 at the proximal end to facilitate insertion into the
chuck. To prepare the instrument, the drive spur 42 is inserted lightly into
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the end of chuck 30 and the abrading element 40 is rotated slowly until align-
ment guide 38 is aligned with alignment flat 52, which is signaled by the drive
spur 42 moving further into the chuck 30. The abrading element 40 is then
pushed axially into the chuck until detent 36 is in place in detent flat 54
indicated by the engagement of the shoulder of chuck 30 with the mating shoulder
on abrading element 40. In this position, abrading head 44 is fixed on internal
shaft 24 against all forces experienced during joint surgery. To remove the
abrading element 40, it is necessary to use tool 60 shown in Figure 9. Abrading
head 44 is passed through opening 62 while opening 64 engages around chuck 30.
Force is then exerted along the axis of the instrument as indicated by the arrow
A to withdraw the drive spur 42 from the chuck 30. The abrading element may
then be discarded and a new element inserted. The inner tube 24 and the outer
tube 20 would usually be disassembled to facilitate this procedure.
When assembled, the abrading head 44 extends axially beyond the distal
end of the outer tube 20 by a distance of approximately one millimeter, the
outer tube typically being at least 50 mm long. The distal portion of outer
tube 20 is also progressively relieved along one side at an angle to the axis
of the tube, here at an angle of 24, to progressively expose the side surface
80 of the abrading head 44 at a position aligned with this external wall 82.
This progressive taper is shown in cross~sectional Figures 12 through 12b.
Because of the forces exerted on the abrading element 44 at an angle
essentially perpendicular to the drive axis, it is necessary that the inner
shaft 24 be supported against radial deflection under bone-abrading loads. This
support is provided by distal annular bearing 90 which is fixed to the external
wall 31 of chuck 30 at a point close to the distal end of outer tube 20, and by
proximal annular bearing 92 fixed on the wall of inner shaft 24. Both bearings
rotate with inner shaft 24, supporting the shaft against the interior wall of
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external tube 20. Also it is found that by providing the bearings as described,
the frictional drag of the instrument is low, permitting the desired amount of
torqu0 to be delivered to the abrading element (approximately 2880 cm.gms.).
This torque is limited purposefully to avoid any unsafe overload condition.
Located proximally of the drive spur detent 36 in the wall of the
chuck 30 are holes 70 which connect to a conduit formed by the hollow chuck 30
through distal bearing 90 to the inner shaft 24 and thereby to the vacuum source
45 to remove all the abraded tissue from the joint. The vacuum source 45 is
external of the instrument, generally provided as "wall vacuum" in a surgical
suite typically of a value of 14 - 16 in Hg.; the level of vacuum at the instru-
ment is controlled by means of valve 43.
In another embodiment of the same construction, the external tube 20
has an outer diameter of 5.7 mm and an inner diameter of 4.7 mm and telescopical-
ly inserted into this tube in an internal tube 24 having an outer diameter of
4.2 mm and an inner diameter of 3.8 mm and the abrading element has a diameter
of 4.0 mm.
During the operative procedure as shown in Figure 1, the patient may
be given general anesthesia and appropriate punctures of the patient's flesh
are made at selected points about the joint by a trocarring cannula. Liquid
is introduced from source 2 into one cannula at a slightly increased pressure
to inflate the joint, and to provide flow through the joint to the suction port
70 of the instrument 10. This substantial volume of flow, in excess of 100 cc
per minute, is necessary to ensure that all the material abraded from the joint
is drawn into the instrument 10 and removed from the joint; it also keeps the
joint fluid clear for better visual guidance of the instrument.
Visualization instrument 4 is inserted into the joint through another
cannula. The instrument 10 of Figure 2 is inserted into a third cannula.
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The fluid in the joint cavity, as supplied by fluid source 20, is
drawn across the abrading element into the annular cavity 21 between chuck 30
and the distal portion of external tube 20 and from there through openings 70
in the wall of chuck 30. The internal cavity 71 of chuck 30 carries the fluid
through distal bearing 90 and into the conduit 72 formed by internal tube 24
which passes through proximal bearing 92 to discharge at sluff chamber 74 which,
in turn, is connected within housing 42 to vacuum source 45. The relieved con-
figuration of sluff chamber 74 allows suction to be continuously maintained
during rotation of abrading element 40.
The surgeon inserts the instrument into the joint with the motor
stopped. The fluid source 20 and the vacuum source 45 are balanced so the volume
introduced into the joint is the same volume removed through the instrument,
with the inflow maintained at slightly higher pressure to appropriately dis-
tend the joint.
~The flow passages and operative parts of the instrument are co-
operatively constructed for optimal action when the instrument is connected to
a source of suction of 14 to 16 in. Hg.)
The instrument is inserted ~Figure 10) into the narrow cavity 100
~B being of the order of 8 mm) between the condylar surfaces of the tibia 6 and
femur 8 to act on the thin layer 102 of cartilage and the below-lying condylar
bone. Though shown abrading a thin layer of cartilage and a limited depth di-
mension of bone in one pass, the instrument can be controlled to abrade even
less tissue during a single pass, using the heel 82 of the outer tube 20 as a
control fulcrum. While limited portion of one side and end of the abrading head
44 are exposed by the tapered end of outer tube 20 to contact the condylar sur-
face 102, the side and rear portions of the abrading surface are shielded by the
outer tube from inadvertent contact with the surrounding joint tissue.
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In this manner, where the load bearing cartilage 102 of the joint has
degenerated, the rotating semi-shielded cartilage and bone abrading head 44 of
the suctioning instrument is moved across the surface of the joint to remove
uniformly the thin covering layer of articular cartilage and a thin layer of
bone ~the subchondryl bone is removed to a depth of about 0.5 to 1.0 mm) at the
focus, i.e. the localized area of disease. This is done in a manner to provide
a smooth surface 104, with the vascular bed generally exposed, which allows uni-
form generation of fibro cartilage over the joint surface.
Other embodiments of the invention are within the following claims.
For example, oval, cylindrical or other diameter or shaped abrading elements may
be used according to the invention, and other abrading surfaces, even a relative-
ly smooth surface, may be employed for the abrading element.
The instrument of the invention may also be employed for other surgi-
cal procedures for arthroplasty, e.g. for smoothing defects or irregularities
on other cartilaginous surfaces.