The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 13, 1999
Filed:
Oct. 06, 1997
Gregory Spitz, Batavia, IL (US);
Smith & Nephew, Inc., Memphis, TN (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates to devices and methods for removing veins in a venous system of a patient. One device includes an elongated shaft having a first end and a second end, the second end of the first elongated shaft sized for insertion into an incision of a patient and a cutting head associated with the second end of the elongated shaft and being movable in response to electrical energy, the cutting head being constructed to cut veins into small pieces of a patient that are exposed to the cutting head. A method of removing varicose veins is also provided. The method includes the steps of making at least one incision through the skin layer of a patient in close proximity the undesired veins, inserting a distal end of a surgical instrument having a cutting element, and advancing the cutting element end of the surgical instrument to a position adjacent to a selected vein. The method function includes the steps of energizing surgical instrument to cause the cutting element to move at a desired speed, contacting the cutting element against the undesired vein while the cutting element is moving to break up the vein into particles, and withdrawing the distal end of the surgical instrument and closing the at least one small incision.