Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140100558 | MICRO-ARTICULATED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS USING MICRO GEAR ACTUATION - A medical device for removing or manipulating tissue of a subject is provided with a distal housing having an end effector, and an elongate member configured to introduce the distal housing to a target tissue site of the subject. The elongate member may have proximal and distal portions interconnected by a joint mechanism that is configured to allow the two portions to articulate relative to one another. In some embodiments, the joint mechanism includes one or more nested crown gear(s) configured to drive associated spur gear(s) to accomplish the articulation. In some embodiments, the end effector is a powered scissors device. | 04-10-2014 |
20140114336 | MINIMALLY INVASIVE MICRO TISSUE DEBRIDERS HAVING TARGETED ROTOR POSITIONS - A medical device for removing tissue from a subject is provided with a distal housing, an elongate member, a first rotatable member and first and second tissue shearing surfaces. The distal housing is configured with at least one tissue engaging opening. The elongate member is coupled to the distal housing and configured to introduce the distal housing to a target tissue site. The first rotatable member is located at least partially within the distal housing. The first and second tissue shearing surfaces are located and configured to cooperate with first and second sides of a first blade to shear tissue therebetween. The first rotatable member is configured to engage tissue from the target tissue site, rotate towards the first and second tissue shearing surfaces and inwardly to direct tissue from the target tissue site through the tissue engaging opening and into an interior portion of the distal housing. | 04-24-2014 |
20140148729 | MICRO-MECHANICAL DEVICES AND METHODS FOR BRAIN TUMOR REMOVAL - A method for removing at least part of a brain tumor may first involve contacting a forward-facing tissue cutter disposed at the distal end of a tissue removal device with the brain tumor. The tissue removal device may include a shaft having a diameter no greater than about 10 mm, and in some embodiments the tissue cutter does not extend laterally beyond the diameter of the shaft. The method may next involve cutting tissue from the brain tumor, using the tissue cutter. The method may then involve moving the cut tissue through a channel of the shaft in a direction from the distal end of the tissue removal device toward a proximal end of the device. | 05-29-2014 |
20140148835 | MICRO DEBRIDER DEVICES AND METHODS OF TISSUE REMOVAL - A bendable medical device such as for removing tissue from a subject is provided with a distal housing, an outer support tube, an inner drive tube, a coupler and a commutator portion. The coupler and commutator portion serve to axially constrain a distal end of the inner drive tube during bending, and to supply fluid for lubricating, cooling and irrigating the distal end of the device. | 05-29-2014 |
20140148836 | MEMS DEBRIDER DRIVE TRAIN - A medical device such as for removing tissue from a subject is provided with a distal housing configured with a tissue cutter assembly, an elongate member coupled to the distal housing and having an outer tube and an inner drive tube with a crown gear located on a distal end thereof, first and second rotatable members each rotatably mounted to the tissue cutter assembly, a first drive gear train coupled between the crown gear and the first rotatable member, and a second drive gear train coupled between the crown gear and the second rotatable member. The first and second drive gear trains are configured to drive the first and second rotatable members, respectively, in opposite directions. Concave and convex gear tooth profiles are also disclosed for improved performance of the first and second drive gear trains. | 05-29-2014 |