Smith + Nephew

Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics Ag

Smith Nephew Asia Pacific Pte. Limited

Christopher D McDonald

Mathew Erle Mitchell

Paul Robert Duhamel

Rafal Z Jezierski

Douglas D Sjostrom

Peter M Cesarini

Karen Drucker

Michael A Brodsky

Albert R Lopes, Jr

Determining orientation of cutting windows of a mechanical resection instrument. At least some of the example embodiments are methods including: sensing a location of a cutting window through an outer tube of the mechanical resection instrument, the sensing based on a magnetic field strength of a first magnet; sensing a location of a cutting window through an inner tube concentrically disposed within the outer tube, the sensing based on a combined magnetic field strength of the first magnet and a second magnet; and stopping a rotation of the inner tube relative to the outer tube with the cutting window through the outer tube and the cutting window through the inner tube in a predetermined orientation, the stopping based on the combined magnetic field strength.

Systems and methods of determining orientation of cutting windows of a mechanical resection instrument

An instrument includes a handle portion, an actuator, a shaft, a rigid member, and an angular control mechanism. The shaft has a proximal end and a distal end with an electrode region, and a flexible region in between. Moving the actuator causes portions of the flexible region distal of a pivot region to bend such that an angular orientation and a radial offset of the electrode region reach an angular orientation and a radial offset, respectively, when the actuator reaches the end position. A distal portion of the rigid member defines the pivot region. Moving the rigid member along the shaft causes the pivot region to translate. The radial offset varies depending on the position of the pivot region.

Flexible probe with adjustable tip

An instrument includes a handle portion, an actuator, a shaft, a rigid member, and an angular control mechanism. The shaft has a proximal end and a distal end with an electrode region, and a flexible region in between. Moving the actuator causes portions of the flexible region distal of a pivot region to bend such that an angular orientation and a radial offset of the electrode region reach a maximum angular orientation and a maximum radial offset, respectively, when the actuator reaches the end position. A distal portion of the rigid member defines the pivot region. Moving the rigid member along the shaft causes the pivot region to translate. The maximum radial offset varies depending on the position of the pivot region. The angular control mechanism is configured to control the angular orientation such that the maximum angular orientation is same regardless of the position of the rigid member.

One surgical device includes a first member and a second member defining a lumen for receiving the first member. The first member is configured to be movable relative to the second member to cut tissue. An electrical connector is physically and electrically coupled to the second member, to electrically couple the second member to a source of electricity. A tension device holds a distal region of the first member in electrical contact with a distal region of the second member. The first member includes a blade used both to cut tissue mechanically, and to coagulate cut tissue. The blade is electrically conductive and serves as an active electrode in a bipolar arrangement with a return electrode. Electrical energy is transferred to the blade through a point contact at a distal tip of the first and second members.

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Newburyport, MA, United States of America

Christopher D McDonald