US 11,666,356 B2
Soft tissue cutting device and methods of use
Darryl E. Barnes, Eagan, MN (US); and Jay Smith, Byron, MN (US)
Assigned to Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Rochester, MN (US)
Filed by Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Rochester, MN (US)
Filed on Jan. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/648,627.
Application 16/413,481 is a division of application No. 14/854,775, filed on Sep. 15, 2015, granted, now 10,357,272, issued on Jul. 23, 2019.
Application 17/648,627 is a continuation of application No. 16/413,481, filed on May 15, 2019, granted, now 11,259,829.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/052,208, filed on Sep. 18, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/167,543, filed on May 28, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/192,770, filed on Jul. 15, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2022/0211406 A1, Jul. 7, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/32 (2006.01); A61M 25/10 (2013.01); A61B 17/22 (2006.01); A61B 17/30 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 17/320036 (2013.01) [A61B 17/320016 (2013.01); A61B 2017/22061 (2013.01); A61B 2017/22065 (2013.01); A61B 2017/306 (2013.01); A61B 2017/320048 (2013.01); A61B 2090/0801 (2016.02); A61B 2217/005 (2013.01); A61M 25/10182 (2013.11)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for cutting a transverse carpal ligament in a hand, the device comprising:
a handpiece;
a shaft extending from the handpiece and including a shaft opening that extends longitudinally along an upper surface of the shaft;
a blade coupled with the handpiece and extending through at least part of the shaft, the blade comprising:
a blade shaft; and
a blade working end, including a cutting edge; and
a guideway within the shaft for guiding the blade along the shaft from an inactive position, in which the blade working end is housed within the shaft, to an active position, in which the blade working end is exposed through the shaft opening to cut the transverse carpal ligament, the guideway comprising:
a proximal incline beginning at a proximal guideway end;
a distal incline beginning at a distal guideway end; and
a plateau between the proximal incline and the distal incline,
wherein the blade working end is housed within the shaft when it is positioned at the proximal guideway end or the distal guideway end.