Surgical endoscopic cutting device and method for its use

Abstract

A surgical endoscopic cuffing device includes cutting elements fitted in a protective tube. The device has an inlet for fluid, a discharge outlet for tissue and fluid, and a further outlet that discharges most of the fluid.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional application of and claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 780,759, filed on Jul. 20, 2007, which is a continuation application of and claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 486,977, filed on Mar. 6, 2000.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a surgical endoscopic cutting device. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Surgical cutting devices are generally known and used for the removal of hard and / or soft tissue, such as in the vicinity of the knee joint. Such cutting devices are used in, for example, a joint cavity, where they can be guided endoscopically by separately inserting a viewing device having a light source and an observation portion. Such operations are successfully used in organs and joints lying not too deep underneath the skin. [0004] When operations are being carried out on organs lying deeper, other techniques are currently used. If, for example, ti...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] According to the invention, a further outlet channel is provided, the function of which is independent of whether or not detached tissue has been released. In other words, a regular discharge of fluid can occur through this further outlet channel. Since only a minor part of the fluid is now discharged through the outlet, in which there are detached pieces of tissue, the pressure inside the body cavity can be regulated and controlled accurately. This makes it possible to remove undesired tissue from cavities such as the uterus. The applicability of the removal of tissues by cutting is consequently considerably increased.

[0015] Discharge of the tissue material which has been detached can be achieved either by making the stem on which the cutting elements are fitted hollow, or by fitting a protective tube around the cutter. Such a protective tube can also be used without the space between protective tube and stem serving as an outlet channel. This means that the cutter can be designed as a separate unit which can be coupled to the rigid housing, which has advantages in particular for purposes of sterilization. Namely, the device can then be detached in a simple way.

Problems solved by technology

This can lead to highly dangerous electrolyte displacements.

It has been found that the tissue can be removed more easily by working with a high-frequency monopolar electric current, but there is a risk of high-frequency electric current leading to internal and external burns.

This means that such operations are very time-consuming and require the surgeon to repeatedly move the device back and forth.

This is tiring and consequently difficult to learn.

It is not uncommon for such an operation to be broken off because the patient's life is endangered by the side effects.

However, in the case of other body cavities, it is necessary to “blow up” the cavity before treatment can be carried out.

The irregular discharge of fluid through the hollow stem of the cutter, caused partly by the irregular release of tissue, means that it cannot be guaranteed that the pressure inside the cavity is accurately controlled.

Such a device is consequently not very suitable for use in the treatment of such a cavity.

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