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EP-4467093-B1 - MICRO-INVASIVE SURGICAL DEVICE

EP4467093B1EP 4467093 B1EP4467093 B1EP 4467093B1EP-4467093-B1

Inventors

  • BARNES, Darryl E
  • SMITH, JAY

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20200529

Claims (15)

  1. A tissue cutting device comprising: a handle (100); a first blade (200) extending away from the handle (100); a second blade (300) coupled to the handle (100), the second blade being rotatable relative to the first blade (200) such that the second blade (300) is configured to rotate between a first position and a second position, the second blade (300) being in a same plane as the first blade (200) when the second blade (300) is in the first position, the second blade (300) being rotated into a different plane from the first blade (200) as the second blade (300) is rotated from the first position toward the second position; and a cover (510) being coupled to the handle (100), wherein the second blade (300) rotates from the first position toward the second position in response to rotation of the handle (100) relative to the cover (510).
  2. The tissue cutting device of claim 1 wherein a top end of the cover has a first opening (520) and a second opening (525) formed therein, the first opening being configured to receive the first blade, the second opening being configured to receive the second blade.
  3. The tissue cutting device of claim 1, further comprising a lock (860) having a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, the handle being rotatable relative to the cover when the lock is in the unlocked configuration, the handle being restrained from rotating relative to the cover when the lock is in the locked configuration, the second blade being rotatable from the first position toward the second position when the lock is in the unlocked configuration, the lock being configured to restrain the second blade from rotating relative to the first blade when the lock is in the locked configuration, the second blade being locked in the first position when the lock is in the locked configuration.
  4. The tissue cutting device of claim 3 further comprising a biasing member (530) positionable within an interior of the handle, the biasing member being configured to bias the lock into the locked configuration.
  5. The tissue cutting device of claim 4 further comprising a projection (540) attached to the lock, the projection being positionable within the interior of the handle, the biasing member being configured to urge against the projection so as to provide force to the lock for retaining the lock in the locked configuration.
  6. The tissue cutting device of claim 3 further comprising an actuator (550), the actuator being coupled to the lock and configured to move the lock between the locked and unlocked configurations.
  7. The tissue cutting device of claim 6 wherein the handle has a slot (602) formed in an outer surface thereof, the actuator being slidably mounted in the slot and being movable between a first position and a second position, wherein when the actuator is in the first position the lock is in the locked configuration, and wherein when the actuator is in the second position the lock is in the unlocked configuration.
  8. The tissue cutting device of claim 6 wherein an outer surface of the actuator includes surface features or comprises a material configured to facilitate gripping of the actuator.
  9. The tissue cutting device of claim 3 wherein the cover has a notch (512) formed in a side surface thereof, the lock being received in the notch when the lock is in the locked configuration.
  10. The tissue cutting device of claim 9 wherein the handle has a slot (602) formed in an outer surface thereof, the tissue cutting device further comprising an actuator (550), the actuator being coupled to the lock (860) and configured to move the lock between the locked and unlocked configurations, the actuator being slidably mounted in the slot and being movable between a first position and a second position, wherein when the actuator is in the first position the lock is in the locked configuration, wherein when the actuator is in the second position the lock is in the unlocked configuration, and wherein when the lock is received in the notch, the notch is aligned with the slot.
  11. The tissue cutting device of claim 1 wherein the second blade is in a same plane as the first blade when the second blade is in the first position, and wherein the second blade is rotated into a different plane from the first blade when the second blade is rotated from the first position toward the second position.
  12. The tissue cutting device of claim 1 wherein an interior surface of the handle has a recess (630) formed therein, the recess being sized and shaped such that the recess is configured to receive a shaft of the second blade.
  13. The tissue cutting device of claim 1 wherein the tissue cutting device is devoid of a hinge.
  14. The tissue cutting device of claim 1 further comprising one or more break points (450) positioned between the first blade and the second blade, the one or more break points being configured to be disrupted.
  15. The tissue cutting device of claim 14 wherein the one or more break points are: configured to be disrupted when the second blade is rotated from the first position toward the second position and / or formed as a seam comprising snap perforations.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION The present application claims priority to International Patent Application No. PCT/US2020/012682, filed January 8, 2020, and also claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/853,930, filed May 29, 2019. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a micro-invasive surgical device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a micro-invasive tissue cutting device having a first blade and a second blade, wherein the second blade is rotatable relative to the first blade. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The first annular ("A1") pulley is a small band of tissue on the palmar side of a person's hand. In some cases, the flexor tendon thickens and a nodule can get caught on the A1 pulley and cause irritation. The flexor tendon can then become locked in place when a person flexes his or her fingers. This condition is commonly referred to as "trigger finger." To treat trigger finger, the A1 pulley is typically cut so as to release the tendon. For this purpose, certain devices are known that use a hook blade to perform such a procedure. However, a hook blade tends to slide off the tendon. Moreover, with such conventional devices, an additional, separate device is often required to introduce the hook blade into the person's skin. As set forth in the present disclosure, it would be desirable to provide a tissue cutting device having a first blade and a second blade, wherein the second blade is rotatable relative to the first blade. In some cases, it would be desirable to provide such a device where the first blade facilitates introducing the tissue cutting device into and through a patient's skin. It would also be desirable to provide a device having a second blade that is protected by the first blade until the second blade is deployed for a cutting procedure. Additionally, it would be desirable to provide a tissue cutting device that is minimally invasive and that can be used to treat trigger finger. Still further, it would be desirable to provide a tissue cutting device having a lock for selectively controlling rotation of the second blade relative to the first blade. Further yet, it would be desirable to provide a tissue cutting device having one or more break points between the first blade and the second blade, wherein the one or more break points are configured to be disrupted. US2017/042565 A1, US2012/029543 A1 and EP3278749 A1 disclose devices of the prior art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Claim 1 defines the invention and dependent claims disclose embodiments. No surgical methods are claimed. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides a tissue cutting device comprising a handle, a first blade, and a second blade. The first blade and the second blade are coupled to the handle. The first blade is an exposed blade. The second blade is rotatable relative to the first blade such that the second blade is configured to rotate between a first position and a second position. The second blade is in a same plane as the first blade when the second blade is in the first position. The second blade is rotated into a different plane from the first blade as the second blade is rotated from the first position toward the second position. The second blade is an unexposed blade when in the first position and is an exposed blade when in the second position. Certain other embodiments of the disclosure provide a tissue cutting device comprising a handle, a first blade, and a second blade. The first blade extends away from the handle, and the second blade is coupled to the handle. The second blade is rotatable relative to the first blade such that the second blade is configured to rotate between a first position and a second position. The tissue cutting device further includes a cover that is coupled to the handle. The second blade rotates from the first position toward the second position in response to rotation of the handle relative to the cover. Certain other embodiments of the disclosure provide a tissue cutting device comprising a handle, a first blade, a second blade and one or more break points between the first blade and the second blade, the one or more break points being configured to be disrupted. When the one or more break points are intact, the first blade is connected to the second blade. When each of the one or more break points is disrupted, the first blade is separated from the second blade. In some cases, the one or more break points are configured to be disrupted by either rotational force or shear force. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a tissue cutting device in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure, showing a handle coupled to a housing and a second blade in a first (inactive) position.Figure 2 is another top perspective view of the tissue cutting device of FIG. 1, showing the second blade in the first position.Figure 3 is a side perspective view of the tissue cutting device of FIG. 1, showi