Attachments for arthroscopic shaver handpieces

Abstract

An apparatus, system and method are presented by which certain surgical procedures normally done by powered surgical handpieces may be accomplished by powered arthroscopic handpieces, thus obviating the need to use powered surgical handpieces.

1 . A pin/wire driver for attachment to the distal end of an arthroscopic pencil grip shaver handpiece having an axis, comprising: 
 a body having a first axis and an axially aligned throughbore for receiving a pin or wire;    a collet means for securing a pin or wire within said throughbore to prevent longitudinal motion of said pin or wire within said throughbore while enabling rotation of said pin or wire about said first axis;    a shaver adapter housing transversely attached to said body and having a second axis transverse to said first axis, said housing adapted to be received within the distal end of the arthroscopic shaver handpiece so said first axis is transverse to the axis of said handpiece;    a drivable shaft means axially aligned within said shaver adapter housing and having a proximal end engageable with the drive shaft within said handpiece and a distal end adapted to rotate said pin or wire about said first axis.    
   
   
       2 . A transverse attachment for converting a pencil grip handpiece to a pistol grip handpiece, the pencil grip handpiece including a drive means, the transverse attachment comprising: 
 a first member having a distal end and a proximal end, said proximal end adapted to be received within the distal end of the pencil grip handpiece, said first member comprising a driven means operatively engageable with the drive means in said pencil grip handpiece; and    a second member transversely fixed to said distal end of said first member, said second member having a distal end and a proximal end and having a drive means in operative engagement with said driven means, said second member comprising engagement means adapted to operatively engage an instrument to be driven.    
   
   
       3 . The transverse attachment of  claim 2  wherein said second member is cannulated to receive a wire or pin.  
   
   
       4 . The transverse attachment of  claim 2  wherein said second member is adapted to receive one of a plurality of different attachments capable of being driven by said handpiece via said adapter.  
   
   
       5 . An attachment for use with a powered arthroscopic shaver handpiece having a drive shaft comprising: 
 an instrument for performing a surgical procedure, said instrument having a working end and a connecting end;    a body having a distal end attachable to said connecting end of said instrument and a proximal end selectively attachable to the arthroscopic shaver handpiece; and    a drivable drive shaft operatively secured within said body, said drivable drive shaft having a proximal end adapted to engage said drive shaft and a distal end adapted to drive said instrument.    
   
   
       6 . An attachment according to  claim 5  wherein the instrument is a drill.  
   
   
       7 . An attachment according to  claim 5  wherein the instrument is a bur.  
   
   
       8 . An attachment according to  claim 5  wherein the instrument is a sagittal saw.  
   
   
       9 . An attachment according to  claim 5  wherein the instrument is a reciprocating saw.  
   
   
       10 . An attachment according to  claim 5  wherein the instrument is a coring reamer.  
   
   
       11 . An attachment according to  claim 5  wherein the instrument is a reamer.  
   
   
       12 . An attachment according to  claim 5  wherein the instrument is a tap.  
   
   
       13 . A method of performing an arthroscopic surgical procedure comprising the steps of: 
 providing an arthroscopic shaver handpiece;    providing a shaver blade, attaching the shaver blade to the handpiece and using the handpiece to run the shaver blade during a predetermined portion of the surgical procedure;    removing the shaver blade from the handpiece;    providing an attachment according to  claim 5;     attaching the attachment to the handpiece to run the attachment during a predetermined portion of the surgical procedure.    
   
   
       14 . An attachment for use with a powered arthroscopic shaver handpiece having a drive shaft comprising: 
 a body having a distal end attachable to a predetermined instrument and a proximal end selectively attachable to the arthroscopic shaver handpiece; and    a drivable drive shaft operatively secured within said body, said drivable drive shaft having a proximal end adapted to engage said drive shaft and a distal end adapted to drive said predetermined instrument.    
   
   
       15 . In combination: 
 a pencil grip arthroscopic handpiece;    an arthroscopic shaver having a connecting portion engageable with the arthroscopic handpiece to drive the arthroscopic shaver;    a modular attachment having a connecting portion engageable with the arthroscopic handpiece alternatively to the arthroscopic shaver for driving a powered surgical instrument.    
   
   
       16 . The combination of  claim 15  wherein the attachment comprises a saw attachment and the powered surgical instrument comprises a saw blade.  
   
   
       17 . The combination of  claim 15  wherein the attachment comprises a rotary chuck attachment and the powered surgical instrument comprises a drill bit.  
   
   
       18 . The combination of  claim 15  wherein the attachment comprises a rotary chuck attachment and the powered surgical instrument comprises a reamer.  
   
   
       19 . The combination of  claim 15  wherein the attachment comprises a rotary chuck attachment and the powered surgical instrument comprises a fastener driver.  
   
   
       20 . The combination of  claim 15  wherein the attachment comprises a rotary chuck attachment and the powered surgical instrument comprises a tap.  
   
   
       21 . The combination of  claim 15  wherein the attachment comprises a rotary chuck attachment and the powered surgical instrument comprises a wire.  
   
   
       22 . The combination of  claim 15  wherein the attachment comprises a wire driver attachment and the powered surgical instrument comprises a wire.  
   
   
       23 . The combination of  claim 15  wherein the attachment comprises a transverse attachment having an input portion connectable to the arthroscopic handpiece along a first axis and an output portion connectable to a surgical instrument along a second axis transverse to the first axis to convert the arthroscopic handpiece from a pencil grip to a pistol grip arrangement.  
   
   
       24 . The combination of  claim 23  further comprising a modular attachment having a connecting portion engageable with the transverse attachment for driving a powered surgical instrument.  
   
   
       25 . The combination of  claim 23  wherein the transverse attachment is cannulated along the second axis.  
   
   
       26 . The combination of  claim 25  further comprising a wire driver engageable with the transverse attachment along the second axis and able to receive a wire through the cannulation.