US 12,262,908 B2
Apparatus and method for removal of intrauterine fibroid formations
Mike Collinson, Agoura Hills, CA (US); Manish Vaishya, Agoura Hills, CA (US); and Jose Luis Charvet, Agoura Hills, CA (US)
Assigned to Caldera Medical, Inc., Westlake Village, CA (US)
Filed by Caldera Medical, Inc., Agoura Hills, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 24, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/799,711.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/809,456, filed on Feb. 22, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0268404 A1, Aug. 27, 2020
Int. Cl. A61B 17/32 (2006.01); A61B 17/42 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/32002 (2013.01) [A61B 17/42 (2013.01); A61B 2017/320028 (2013.01); A61B 2017/320032 (2013.01); A61B 2017/4225 (2013.01); A61B 2560/0214 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A reciprocating drive system for a cutting tube comprising:
a power source;
a motor connected to the power source and having a drive shaft extending therefrom;
a first spur gear attached to the drive shaft;
a worm connected to the drive shaft;
a cutting tube adjacent the drive shaft and parallel thereto;
a second spur gear surrounding the cutting tube and meshed with the first spur gear;
a worm gear positioned under the worm and meshed therewith such that rotation of the worm around a first axis results in rotation of the worm gear around a second axis perpendicular to the first axis;
wherein a third axis extending longitudinally through a center of the cutting tube orthogonally intersects the second axis of the worm gear;
a crank attached at one end to the worm gear and at a second end to a collar attached to the cutting tube;
a housing including a handle, the housing enclosing the power source, the motor, the first spur gear, the worm, the second spur gear, the worm gear, and the crank;
the power source being positioned within the handle adjacent to the cutting tube;
the motor being positioned above the cutting tube and proximally with respect to the first spur gear and the second spur gear;
wherein rotation of the drive shaft causes rotation of the cutting tube via the first and second spur gears and simultaneously causes reciprocating translation of the cutting tube along a longitudinal axis thereof;
a sleeve extending distally from the second spur gear and terminating at a location within the housing adjacent the crank and the worm gear;
wherein the sleeve is fixedly coupled to and extends radially outward from a proximal portion of the cutting tube that is formed integrally with a distal portion of the cutting tube, the proximal portion located within the housing and the distal portion located externally to the housing;
wherein an end of the sleeve translates across and extends distally beyond a lever of a safety switch to open the safety switch when the cutting tube translates into a distal-most position, the safety switch located entirely below the cutting tube and distal to the first spur gear and the second spur gear, and wherein the cutting tube extends proximally beyond the safety switch toward the second spur gear; and
wherein the motor cannot receive current from the power source when both the safety switch and a motor activation switch are open.