US 12,280,520 B2
Arthroscopic devices and methods
Aaron Germain, San Jose, CA (US); Kyle Klein, San Jose, CA (US); and Jan Echeverry, San Jose, CA (US)
Assigned to Relign Corporation, Campbell, CA (US)
Filed by Relign Corporation, Campbell, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 10, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/409,356.
Application 15/832,292 is a division of application No. 15/271,184, filed on Sep. 20, 2016, granted, now 9,855,675.
Application 18/409,356 is a continuation of application No. 16/926,566, filed on Jul. 10, 2020, abandoned.
Application 16/926,566 is a continuation of application No. 15/832,292, filed on Dec. 5, 2017, granted, now 10,744,672.
Prior Publication US 2024/0139997 A1, May 2, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B28B 1/24 (2006.01); A61B 17/32 (2006.01); A61B 17/3207 (2006.01); B28B 7/28 (2006.01); B28B 7/30 (2006.01); B28B 11/24 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC B28B 1/24 (2013.01) [A61B 17/32002 (2013.01); A61B 17/3207 (2013.01); B28B 7/28 (2013.01); B28B 7/303 (2013.01); B28B 11/243 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00526 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0088 (2013.01); A61B 2217/005 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
 
19. A method of forming a molded ceramic body for cutting tissue, the method comprising:
injecting a flowable material comprising a ceramic material into a cavity in a mold to form a molded ceramic body that includes a longitudinal axis, a proximal shaft portion, and a distal cutting portion with a plurality of cutting edges, wherein the mold, during said injecting, accommodates a first removable core pin and a second removable core pin that extend into the cavity through a first portion of the mold and a second portion of the mold, respectively;
removing the first removable core pin from the cavity following said injecting so as to leave a first void in the molded ceramic body, the first void forming a side window in the proximal shaft portion of the molded ceramic body;
removing the second removable core pin from the cavity following said injecting so as to leave a second void in the molded ceramic body, the second void forming an interior channel that extends along the longitudinal axis in the molded ceramic body;
wherein, during said injecting, the first removable core pin and the second removable core pin engage one another in the cavity so that, upon removal of the first removable core pin and the second removable core pin from the cavity following formation of the molded ceramic body, the first void and the second void are fluidly connected to one another to allow cut tissue to be drawn into the interior channel through the side window during use of the molded ceramic body; and
removing the molded ceramic body from the cavity.