Method for positioning a surgical instrument relative to a surgical handpiece

(54) METHOD FOR POSITIONING A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT RELATIVE TO A SURGICAL HANDPIECE

(75) Inventors: Douglas D. Sjostrom, Reading, MA

(US); Peter M. Cesarini, Londonderry,
NH (US); Paul A. Torrie, Marblehead,
MA (US); Graham Smith, Plaistow,
NH (US); Steven Ek, Bolton, MA (US)

(73) Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc., Andover, MA (US)

( * ) Notice: This patent issued on a continued prosecution application filed under 37 CFR 1.53(d), and is subject to the twenty year patent term provisions of 35 U.S.C. 154(a)(2).

Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.

(21) Appl. No.: 09/587,798

(22) Filed: Jun. 6, 2000

Related U.S. Application Data

(63) Continuation of application No. 09/233,915, filed on Jan. 21, 1999, now Pat. No. 6,090,122, which is a continuation of application No. 08/630,537, filed on Apr. 10,1996, now Pat. No. 5,871,493.

(60) Provisional application No. 60/007,117, filed on Oct. 31, 1995.

(51) Int. CI. A61B 1714

(52) U.S. CI 606/180

(58) Field of Search 606/180, 170,

606/79, 85, 80, 1, 86, 167; 604/22; D32/31

(56) References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

Re. 034,556 3/1994 Sjostrom et al. .

D. 141,801 * 7/1945 Coss D32/31

D. 303,148 8/1989 Rexroth et al. .

2,842,131 7/1958 Smith .

4,188,942 2/1980 Fehlberg .

4,895,570 1/1990 Larkin .

5,133,729 7/1992 Sjostrom .

5,135,483 8/1992 Wagner et al. .

5,171,245 12/1992 Cezana .

5,217,478 6/1993 Rexroth .

5,380,333 1/1995 Meloul et al. .

5,487,747 1/1996 Stagmann et al. .

5,492,527 2/1996 Glowa et al. .

5,496,323 3/1996 Dye .

5,507,774 * 4/1996 Holmes et al 606/208

5,712,543 * 1/1998 Sjostrom 606/180

5,910,143 * 6/1999 Cripe et al 606/86

5,947,983 * 9/1999 Solar et al 606/170

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

1980002916221 3/1980 (DE) . 1985003341876 5/1985 (DE) .

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

International Search Report dated Jan. 15, 1997.
Aesculap AG, product brochure, "Integral Shaver System".
Arthrex, product brochure, "A Revolutionary New Shaver
System With Quality You Can Count On"; Naples, FL1994.
Karl Storz GmbH & Co. and Karl Storz Endoscopy, "Unid-
rive—A New Shaver System For Surgical Arthroscopy";
Endo World Art No. 3-E, 1994.

Linvatec Corporation, product brochure, "Presenting the
Apex Universal Drive System"; Largo, FL; 1995.
Smith & Nephew Endoscopy; product catalog; "Shaver
Systems"; 1996.

* cited by examiner

Primary Examiner—Eduardo C. Robert

(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Fish & Richardson PC.

(57) ABSTRACT

A surgical apparatus includes a body configured for insertion into a bore of a surgical handpiece and a latch that includes a resilient member connected to the body. The resilient member has a latching structure configured to latchingly engage a surface of the surgical handpiece within the bore.

30 Claims, 17 Drawing Sheets