Surgery – Instruments – Orthopedic instrumentation
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-03
2004-04-13
O'Connor, Cary E. (Department: 3732)
Surgery
Instruments
Orthopedic instrumentation
C606S075000, C606S104000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06719758
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a Kirschner wire for use in endoscopic surgery, as well as methods and apparatus for installing and removing the Kirschner wire. In particular, the present invention relates to a Kirschner wire having a holding device at a proximal end for ease of insertion and removal of the Kirschner wire. The Kirschner wire is sufficiently short so as not to protrude from the working channel of the endoscope. The insertion instrument has a receptacle which is adapted to engage with the holding device of the Kirschner wire. A targeting ring on the insertion instrument enables placement of the Kirschner wire under x-ray supervision. A removal device has a wire body with a receptacle located at a distal end thereof for engagement with the holding device of the Kirschner wire. The Kirschner wire may be adapted for use in marking a point of entry for a cannulated bone screw or as a point of orientation for an endoscopic procedure.
During endoscopic surgical procedures, such as spinal surgeries and the like, there is normally a single working channel provided by the endoscope. For surgical techniques that require the use of a Kirschner wire, the Kirschner wire may protrude from the working channel once in place. Alternatively, a shorter Kirschner wire may be used that does not protrude from the working channel. However, removal of such short Kirschner wires are difficult.
It would be advantageous to provide a sufficiently short Kirschner wire that does not protrude from the working channel of an endoscope, but that is easily removed. It would also be advantageous to provide a holding device on the proximal end of the Kirschner wire to aid in removal of the Kirschner wire. It would be further advantageous to provide an insertion instrument for placing such a short Kirschner wire endoscopically and a removal device for removing said short Kirschner wire endoscopically. It would be still further advantageous to provide a targeting ring to aid in the placement of the Kirschner wire under x-ray supervision.
The methods and apparatus of the present invention provide the foregoing and other advantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a Kirschner wire for use in endoscopic surgery, as well as methods and apparatus for installing and removing the Kirschner wire. In particular, the present invention relates to a Kirschner wire having a holding device at a proximal end for ease of insertion and removal of the Kirschner wire. The Kirschner wire is sufficiently short so as not to protrude from the working channel of the endoscope. The insertion instrument has a receptacle which is adapted to engage with the holding device of the Kirschner wire. A targeting ring on the insertion instrument enables placement of the Kirschner wire under x-ray supervision. A removal device has a wire body with a receptacle located at a distal end thereof for engagement with the holding device of the Kirschner wire. The Kirschner wire may be adapted for use in marking a point of entry for a cannulated bone screw or as a point of orientation for an endoscopic procedure.
In an exemplary embodiment, a Kirschner wire for use in endoscopic procedures is provided. The Kirschner wire has a wire body with distal and proximal ends. A holding device is provided at the proximal end of the wire body for use in installing and removing the wire. The Kirschner wire may have a trocar point at the distal end of the wire body.
In a preferred embodiment, the holding device comprises external threads on the proximal end of the wire body. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the holding device may also comprise internal threads on a cannulated portion of the proximal end of the wire body. The threads may be fine-pitch threads. Alternatively, the holding device may comprise any other type of interlocking mechanism which can be mated to a corresponding mechanism on an insertion instrument or a removal device for use in installing and removing the Kirschner wire during a surgical procedure.
Regardless of the nature of the holding device, it is preferable if the diameter of the holding device is equal to or less than a diameter of the wire body. This enables the wire to be removed through a cannulated instrument, such as a cannulated screwdriver.
It is preferable if the Kirschner wire is sufficiently short so as not to protrude from the working channel of an endoscope. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the length of the wire body is approximately 80 mm and the diameter of the wire body is approximately 2 mm.
The Kirschner wire may be adapted for use with an endoscope to provide a defined entry point for a bone screw or a defined point of orientation for an endoscopic procedure.
The Kirschner wire may be placed endoscopically using an insertion instrument. The insertion instrument has a hollow tube body for guiding the Kirschner wire. A plunger within the hollow tube body has a receptacle at a distal end thereof for engagement with the holding device of the Kirschner wire. A piston is connected to the plunger for use in driving the Kirschner wire to a desired depth (e.g., into a bone segment). A housing at the proximal end of the tube body is provided for guiding the piston. A metal targeting ring is provided on the housing for guiding the placement of the Kirschner wire using x-ray supervision.
The holding device may comprise external threads on the proximal end of the Kirschner wire. In such an embodiment, the receptacle will comprise corresponding internal threads on the distal end of the plunger. As discussed above, the holding device and the corresponding receptacle on the insertion instrument (and the removal device as discussed below) may take a variety of forms.
Where the holding device comprises threads, the Kirschner wire can be disengaged from the plunger by turning the plunger.
Preferably, the diameter of the holding device is equal to or less than a diameter of the Kirschner wire.
A stop may be provided at the distal end of the tube body for limiting a driving depth of the Kirschner wire.
In a further embodiment, a handle may be provided on the insertion instrument which extends transversely from the housing. The handle may be detachable.
The Kirschner wire may be removed endoscopically using removal device. The removal device has a wire body with a receptacle located at a distal end thereof for engagement with the holding device of the Kirschner wire. A handle is provided at a proximal end of the wire body for use in pulling the wire body after engagement with the Kirschner wire.
In one embodiment, the holding device comprises external threads on the proximal end of the Kirschner wire. In such an embodiment, the receptacle of the removal device comprises corresponding internal threads on the distal end of the wire body of the removal device. The diameter of the holding device is preferably equal to or less than the diameter of the Kirschner wire. In addition, the wire body of the removal device preferably has a diameter equal to a diameter of the Kirschner wire.
The removal device may be adapted for insertion into a cannulated insertion device. Alternatively, the removal device may be adapted for insertion into a cannulated screwdriver.
The invention also provides for a system for endoscopic insertion and removal of a Kirschner wire. The system consists of the insertion instrument, the removal device, and the Kirschner wire. The Kirschner wire has a first wire body with distal and proximal ends. A holding device is provided at the proximal end of the first wire body for use in installing and removing the Kirschner wire.
The insertion instrument for inserting the Kirschner wire has a hollow tube body for guiding the Kirschner wire. A plunger located within the hollow tube body has a first receptacle at a distal end thereof for engagement with the holding device of the Kirschner wire. A piston connected to the plunger is provided for use in driving the wire to a desired depth. A housing is provided at the proximal end of the tube body for
Beger Jens
Beisse Rudolf
Potulski Michael
Zepf Rudolf
Aesculap AG & Co. KG
Lipsitz Barry R.
McAllister Douglas M.
O'Connor Cary E.
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