FIELD OF THE INVENTION:

This invention relates to the field of biomedical engineering.

Particularly, this invention relates to an electrical micro-bone cutting forceps.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

An osteoma (plural: "osteomata") is a new piece of bone usually growing on another piece of bone, typically the skull. It is a benign tumor. When the bone tumor grows on other bone it is known as "homoplastic osteoma" ; when it grows on other tissue it is called "heteroplastic osteoma".

There is no specific instrument to remove the osteoma; normally, a micro-bone drill, endoscopic dcr drills, and / or chisels are used for this purpose. All of these instruments create some limitations and difficulties to surgeons and patients; which are discussed below:

Limitations, from patients’ point of view, are as follows:

1. Patients have to sacrifice some structures in their nasal cavity to take out the osteoma. While taking out the bony mass, a surgeon has to break choana[posterior nasal aperture] or nasal bones to clear the passage to take out the bony mass, which leads to life long complications to patients after surgery. 2. Sometimes, in the case of large nasal osteomas , if the surgeon fails to take out the bony mass through the nasal aperture, surgeon has to make an external incision in the face, which gives cosmetic disfigurement to those patients.

3. While doing all these attempts by the surgeons, the bony mass itself causing mucosal damage and local bleeding in the nasal cavity due to friction

Limitations, from surgeon’s point of view, are as follows:

1. According to prior art, a lot of electrically powered micro bone cutting tools are available - but, while cutting, the surgeon has to hold the cutting specimen(because, the excised bone mass floating in the nasal cavity hence, it slips aw ay). Unfortunately in case of nasal cavity surgeries in ENT, it is impossible to introduce a cutting tool and a holding tool(like forceps) through nasal aperture, at the same time, to reach the nasal cavity and nasopharynx(because of the small size of nasal aperture). So, it is very difficult to take out an excised nasal osteoma from the nose through nasal aperture.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:

An object of the invention is to provide a device for conducting micro surgeries related to bone.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for removal of osteoma.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device for use in septoplasty. Still another object of the invention is to provide a device for use in surgeries related to removal of nasal septal spur.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a device for use in surgeries related to removal of maxillary crest.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

According to this invention, there is provided an electrical micro-bone cutting forceps device, for micro surgeries related to bone, said forceps device comprises: a base member being one of the arms of this device, said base member being configured to provide base support to the bone that is to be held and holds the bone from a first side, said base member comprises a proximal end which is a pivot end, at a pivot point / fulcrum point, and a distal end which is engage-able with a user / surgeon using said device; a top member being one of the arms of said device, said top member being configured as a lever for said device and holds said bone from a second side, said top member comprises a proximal end which is a pivot end, at the pivot point / fulcrum point, and a distal end which is engage-able with a user / surgeon using said device, said top member being angularly displaceable about this pivot point / fulcrum point; a middle member being one of the arms of said device, said middle member being a toothed saw comprising its saw teeth on its operative ventral side such that this side engages with said bone that is to be held and cut by said device, said middle member acts on said bone from said second side while said first side is in communication / being held by the base member, said middle member comprises a proximal end which is a pivot end, at a pivot point / fulcrum point, and a distal end which is engage-able with a user / surgeon using said device, characterised in that, said middle member is angularly displaceable about said pivot point / fulcrum point; and a slider switch configured with a user-slidable mechanism on its operative outer surface and an engageable / mesh surface on its operative inner surface, said slider switch’ s operative inner/ under surface, is a rack which engages / meshes with a pinion of a pinion and rack mechanism which, in turn, interfaces with said middle member.

Typically, said top member is communicably coupled to said base member, at said pivot point / fulcrum point, by means of a resilient element such as a torsion sprint., characterised in that, in its normally open condition, the distal end of said top member is spaced apart from the distal end of said base member and in its torsioned closed condition, the distal end of said top member moves close to the distal end of said base member upon application of force by a user / surgeon using said device.

Typically, the proximal end of said middle member comprises a linear actuator which is placed inside said top member.

Typically, said middle member is communicably coupled to said top member, at said pivot point / fulcrum point, by means of a resilient element such as a torsion spring such that, in its normally open condition, said distal end of said top member along with said distal end of said middle member is spaced apart from said distal end of said base member.

Typically, said middle member is communicably coupled to said top member, at said pivot point / fulcrum point, by means of a resilient element such as a torsion spring such that, in its normally open condition, said distal end of said middle member rests inside a groove in said top member.

Typically, said middle member is communicably coupled to said top member, at said pivot point / fulcrum point, by means of a resilient element such as a torsion spring such that, in its torsioned closed condition, said distal end of said middle member moves close to said distal end of said base member upon application of force by a user / surgeon using said device.

Typically, said middle member comprises a high-speed linear actuator which is configured to move forwards and backwards with respect to the bone that is held and is to be cut, thereby providing a simultaneous activity of ‘holding’ and ‘cutting’ within a limited enclosure such as a nasal cavity.

Typically, said pivot point / fulcrum point is a joint configured by coupling the proximal end of the top member to the proximal end of the middle member, in that, a torsion spring being, advantageously, provided at this point to provide recoil action of the middle member.

Typically, said pivot point comprises two separate pivot joints, in that, a first joint being formed by a ring shaped projection from two lateral surface of said proximal end of said top member and a corresponding ring shaped dip (of same dimension as ring shaped projection) in an inner surface of said proximal end of said base member makes the pivot joint, the ring-shaped projection being placed in said dip to make a stable pivot joint. Typically, said pivot point comprises two separate pivot joints, in that, a second joint formed by a ring shaped projection from the two lateral surfaces of said proximal end of said middle member and a corresponding ring shaped dip (of same dimension as ring shaped projection) in an inner surface of said proximal end of said top member makes the pivot joint, the ring-shaped projection being placed in said dip to make a stable pivot joint.

Typically, said device comprising a slider switch is provided at the proximal end of said top member from where the user / surgeon operates said device, said slider switch being configured to interface said top member with said middle member such that action on said top member translates into action of said middle member.

Typically, said pinion comprises an axially located pin which extends out of, from both sides, the rotational axis of the pinion.

Typically, first ends of said two arms interface with the pinion of said pinion and rack mechanism being communicably coupled to said pinion, which interfaces with said slider mechanism, and second ends of said two arms of said pinion and rack mechanism being communicably coupled to a wheel which interfaces / engages with said middle member.

Typically, in pinion and rack mechanism, its two arms are spaced apart from each other, in that, a first arm having its first end coupled with the pinion at its first side and its second arm having its first end coupled with the pinion at its second side. Typically, in pinion and rack mechanism, a wheel is located in the spaced apart region of its two arms at the arms’ second ends, said wheel is freely angularly displaceable in the spaced apart region.

Typically, in pinion and rack mechanism, a wheel is located in the spaced apart region of its two arms at the arms’ second ends, said wheel is a disc with a circumferential groove, in that, the groove always touches with the upper surface of said middle member and said wheel rolls on the dorsal edge of said middle member, in that, the width of said groove is a little more than the width of the dorsal edge of said middle member.

Typically, the sliding of said switch makes a rack move forward and thereby angularly displace said pinion.

Typically, said slider switch is coupled with a pulling spring from its operative back in order to achieve recoiling nature after forward sliding.

Typically, the opening angle is restricted to 13 degrees at the pivot joint between the top member and the base member.

Typically, said middle member’s proximal end comprises a high-speed high-power micro linear actuator, the output (mechanical linear to and fro motion) of said linear actuator being motion of said saw.

Specifically, said middle member’s proximal end comprises a high-speed high- power micro linear actuator, the output (mechanical linear to and fro motion) of said linear actuator being motion of said saw, said actuator selected from a group consisting of an electric actuator and a pneumatic actuator.

Alternatively or additionally, a lateral side of a distal portion of said top member being removed to expose said saw to said lateral side and a lateral side of said distal portion of said base member being removed to expose said saw to said lateral side

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:

The invention will now be described in relation to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a cross-section view of the device;

FIGURE 2 illustrates an exploded view of the device;

FIGURE 3a illustrates a cross section of the instrument showing the middle member placed inside the groove in top member (in normally opened condition); FIGURE 3b illustrates positioning of a middle member, in a normally open condition;

FIGURE 4 illustrates the location of the pivot point / fulcrum point with respect to the middle member and the top member;

FIGURE 5 illustrates the location of the pivot point / fulcrum point with respect to the top member;

FIGURE 6 illustrates mechanism configured to interface the top member with the middle member such that action on the top member translates into action of the middle member;

FIGURES 7a and 7b illustrate the pinion mechanism along with coupled arms which interface with a wheel; FIGURE 8 illustrates the mechanism of Figure 6 along with its wheel and middle member;

FIGURE 9 illustrates a first embodiment of the device;

FIGURE 9a illustrates the first embodiment of FIGURE 9 in its normally open condition where saw is exposed laterally in top member;

FIGURE 9b illustrates the first embodiment of FIGURE 9 wherein the whole width of distal portion of top member is cut (from one side only);

FIGURE 10 illustrates a second embodiment, in that, this second embodiment is a large-scale size model of this device;

FIGURE 11a illustrates a third embodiment (in its normally open condition; FIGURE lib illustrates the third embodiment of FIGURE 1 la - with all three members;

FIGURE lie illustrates a top member of the third embodiment of the device; and FIGURE lid illustrates a base member of the third embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:

According to this invention, there is provided an electrical micro-bone cutting forceps for micro surgeries related to bone. Typically, this device is an electrical powered forceps used to precisely cut bony mass from inside the nasal cavity and nasopharynx, especially to cut bone masses in the surgeries for removing osteoma from the nose.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a cross-section view of the device (100) of this invention.

In this figure, it can be seen that the sliding switch is on a position of half of its pathway, thereby the saw is in a position of half of its angular displacement.

FIGURE 2 illustrates an exploded view of the device (100) of this invention. In at least an embodiment, the device (100) comprises a base member (12) being one of the arms of this device. This base member is configured to provide base support to the bone that is to be held and holds the bone from a first side. The base member (12) comprises a proximal end which is a pivot end, at a pivot point / fulcrum point (13), and a distal end which is engage-able with a user / surgeon using this device.

In at least an embodiment, the device (100) comprises a top member (14) being one of the arms of this device. This top member is configured as a lever for this device and holds the bone from a second side. The top member comprises a proximal end which is a pivot end, at the pivot point / fulcrum point (13), and a distal end which is engage-able with a user / surgeon using this device. Typically, the top member is angularly displaceable about this pivot point / fulcrum point.

In at least an embodiment, the top member (14) is communicably coupled to the base member (12), at the pivot point / fulcrum point (13), by means of a resilient element such as a torsion spring. In its normally open condition, the distal end of the top member is spaced apart from the distal end of the base member. In its torsioned closed condition, the distal end of the top member moves close to the distal end of the base member upon application of force by a user / surgeon using this device (100).

FIGURE 3a illustrates a cross section of the instrument showing the middle member placed inside the groove in top member (in normally opened condition). FIGURE 3b illustrates positioning of a middle member (16), in a normally open condition of this device. In at least an embodiment, the device (100) comprises a middle member (16) being one of the arms of this device. This middle member is a toothed saw comprising its saw teeth on its operative ventral side such that this side engages with the bone that is to be held and cut by this device. This middle member acts on the bone from the second side while the first side is in communication / being held by the base member (12). The middle member (16) comprises a proximal end which is a pivot end, at a pivot point / fulcrum point (13), and a distal end which is engage-able with a user / surgeon using this device. The proximal end comprises a linear actuator which is placed inside the top member. The proximal end of middle member is a high speed linear actuator which can be of electrical or pneumatic type.

Typically, the middle member (16) is angularly displaceable about this pivot point / fulcrum point in normal condition (i.e. no bone in between the middle member and the base member. The angular displacement of this middle member (16) starts when the top member (14) is angularly displaced towards the base member (12). And when surgeon holds a bone (to cut) in between the middle member and the base member, then the angular displacement of the middle member (16) starts when the surgeon moves the sliding switch (22) forward with his finger / thumb.

In at least an embodiment, the middle member (16) is communicably coupled to the top member (14), at the pivot point / fulcrum point (13), by means of a resilient element such as a torsion sprint. In its normally open condition, the distal end of the top member (14) along with the distal end of the middle member (16) is spaced apart from the distal end of the base member (12) (14). Additionally, in its normally open condition, the distal end of the middle member (16) rests inside a groove in the top member. In its torsioned closed condition, the distal end of the middle member (16) moves close to the distal end of the base member (12) upon application of force by a user / surgeon using this device (100).

Typically, the middle member (16) comprises a high-speed linear actuator which is configured to move forwards and backwards with respect to the bone that is held and is to be cut. This provides simultaneous activity of ‘holding’ and ‘cutting’ within a limited enclosure such as a nasal cavity. This device can be used with a single hand of the user / surgeon.

FIGURE 4 illustrates the location of the pivot point / fulcrum point (13) with respect to the middle member (16) and the top member (14).

In at least an embodiment, the pivot point / fulcrum point (13) is a joint configured by coupling the proximal end of the top member (14) to the proximal end of the middle member (16). A torsion spring is, advantageously, provided at this point (13) to provide recoil action of the middle member (13).

FIGURE 5 illustrates the location of the pivot point / fulcrum point (13) with respect to the top member (14).

In at least an embodiment, the pivot point / fulcrum point (13) is a joint configured by coupling the proximal end of the base member (12) to the proximal end of the top member (14). A torsion spring is, advantageously, provided at this point (13) to provide recoil action of the top member (14).

The pivot point (13) comprises two separate pivot joints:

- First joint: a ring shaped projection from the two lateral surfaces of the proximal end of top member and a corresponding ring shaped dip (of same dimension as ring shaped projection) in the inner surface of proximal end of base member makes the pivot joint. The ring-shaped projection is placed in the dip to make the stable pivot joint. Second joint: a ring shaped projection from the two lateral surfaces of the proximal end of middle member and a corresponding ring shaped dip (of same dimension as ring shaped projection) in the inner surface of proximal end of top member makes the pivot joint. The ring-shaped projection is placed in the dip to make the stable pivot joint.

FIGURE 6 illustrates mechanism configured to interface the top member (14) with the middle member (16) such that action on the top member (14) translates into action of the middle member (16). This slider switch is provided at the proximal end of the top member (14) from where the user / surgeon operates this device.

FIGURES 7a and 7b illustrate the pinion mechanism along with coupled arms which interface with a wheel.

In at least an embodiment, a slider switch (22) is configured with a user-slidable mechanism on its operative outer surface and an engageable / mesh surface on its operative inner surface. This slider switch’ s operative inner/ under surface, is a rack (21) which engages / meshes with a pinion (23) of a pinion and rack mechanism (21, 23). The pinion (23) comprises an axially located pin which extends out of, from both sides, the rotational axis of the pinion (23). First ends of the two arms (24) interfacing with the pinion of the pinion and rack mechanism (21, 23) is communicably coupled to the pinion (23), which interfaces with the slider mechanism (22), and second ends of the two arms (24) of the pinion and rack mechanism (21, 23) is communicably coupled to a wheel (26) which interfaces / engages with the middle member (16). The two arms (24a, 24b) are spaced apart from each other; a first arm (24a) having its first end coupled with the pinion (23) at its first side and its second arm (24b) having its first end coupled with the pinion (23) at its second side. The wheel (26) is located in the spaced apart region of the two arms (24a, 24b) at the arms’ (24a, 24b) second ends. This wheel is freely angularly displaceable in the spaced apart region.

FIGURE 8 illustrates the mechanism of Figure 6 along with its wheel and middle member.

The wheel (26) is a disc with a circumferential groove, in that, the groove always touches with the upper surface of the middle member (16) and the wheel (26) rolls on the dorsal edge of the middle member, in that, the width of the groove is a little more than the width of the dorsal edge of the middle member (16).

The sliding of the switch (22) makes the rack (21) move forward and thereby angularly displaces the pinion (23). The sliding switch (22) is coupled with a pulling spring from its operative back in order to achieve recoiling nature after forward sliding. When forced for forward sliding (i.e. the force exerted from a user’s / surgeon’s finger / thumb on the sliding switch is withdrawn, the switch should recoil back automatically) so the rack and pinion mechanism also recoils to its original position, and the wheel (26) also moves operatively upwards. Subsequently, the middle member (16) also moves operatively upwards and goes inside a groove in the top member (14) - this is by the action of resilient element in the pivot joint. The pushing force from a user’s / surgeon’s finger transmits through the rack and pinion to the wheel from which the force is transferred to the middle member as a force to press the saw. So, while moving towards the base member (or bone, there between), the saw exhibits a reciprocating motion (output of linear actuator), resulting in the cutting action.

In a preferred embodiment, the opening angle is restricted to 13 degrees at the pivot joint between the top member and the base member. This allows the instrument to hold or cut items of size up to 4 cm.

In at least an embodiment, the middle member’s (16) proximal end comprises a high-speed high-power micro linear actuator (17), the output (mechanical linear to and fro motion) of the linear actuator connected to the saw (actually, not connected but, the saw itself is the output).

According to non-limiting exemplary embodiments, the above- described invention can have at least the following three embodiments which are described in relation to accompanying figures which are explained in relation to Figure 8, Figure 9, and Figure 10 below.

FIGURE 9 illustrates a first embodiment, in that, this first embodiment is used to cut any mass from its attaching body through its root itself, there by not even a tiny piece of mass will be left back with the attaching body. The saw is exposed to a side of the top member (in other words, the saw is placed laterally in the top member), so that the saw can act on the attachment point of the masses. It is helpful to remove cancerous mass from its attaching body without leaving any mass behind. FIGURE 9a illustrates the first embodiment of FIGURE 9 in its normally open condition where saw is exposed laterally in top member.

FIGURE 9b illustrates the first embodiment of FIGURE 9 wherein the whole width of distal portion of top member is cut (from one side only) into 1.95mm from 3 mm to expose the saw laterally.

FIGURE 10 illustrates a second embodiment, in that, this second embodiment is a large-scale size model of this device. This has an application in orthopaedic surgeries. It can be used to cut large bones precisely without any damages to the surrounding tissues. This embodiment has no other differences from original embodiment except the dimensions. All the dimensions are multiplied by 1.65 (because, here the scaling factor is 1.65). The advantage over prior art (orthopaedic bone saws) are that it protects the surrounding normal tissues while cutting. Damages to surrounding normal tissue and jerking are the problems of prior art. Here, the bone is fixed between the two members of this device, so the cutting is more stable and cutting tool is not exposing to the surrounding normal tissues. This embodiment requires stainless steel with high strength, more powerful linear actuator and an upgraded power supply. This embodiment requires operation with both hands of surgeon at the same time. The scaling factor is 1.65; so, all dimensions multiply by 1.65 - which gives a total length of 321.75 mm to embodiment 2. Like that, all the dimensions will be 1.65 times that of the original instrument.

FIGURE llaillustrates a third embodiment (in its normally open condition), in that, this third embodiment is a large scale size model of this device, application in orthopaedic surgeries to cut any large bony mass from its attaching body. FIGURE lib illustrates the third embodiment of FIGURE 1 la - with all three members.

Just like the first embodiment, in the third embodiment, the saw is exposed to a side of the top member, so that the saw can act on the attachment point of the masses. It can be used to cut large bones precisely through its root of attachment without any damages to the surrounding tissues. It does not leave any tissues behind. Here, the bone is fixed between the two members of the device, so that cutting is more stable and cutting tool is not exposing to the surrounding normal tissues. It requires stainless steel with high strength, more powerful linear actuator and an upgraded power supply.

The differences of this third embodiment with that of the original embodiment are:

1. Large scale (1.65 is the scaling factor);

2. The one of the lateral side of the distal portion of the top member is removed to expose the saw to lateral side; and

3. The one of the lateral side of the distal portion of the base member is removed to expose the saw to lateral side.

This third embodiment is operated with both hands of surgeon at same time. The scaling factor is 1.65; so, all dimensions multiply by 1.65 - which gives a total length of 321.75 mm to the third embodiment. Like that, all the dimensions will be 1.65 times that of the first embodiment.

FIGURE 11c illustrates a top member of the third embodiment of the device, in that, width of distal portion of top member is cut into 3.2mm from 4.95 mm for exposing the saw laterally. FIGURE lid illustrates a base member of the third embodiment, in that width of distal portion of base member is cut into 3.2mm from 4.95 mm for exposing the saw laterally.

The third embodiment is a large-scale version of the first embodiment. Here, difference between the second embodiment and the third embodiment is that the saw is exposed to a side of the top member in the third embodiment, while in the second embodiment, the saw is placed in the groove of the top member (not exposed to any side).

The TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENT of this invention lies in providing a device / instrument wherein the cutting and holding job done by the same device / instrument at the same time. This device / instrument can be passed through nasal aperture and reaching nasal cavity and nasopharynx and performs holding and cuttings actions without any damage to the surrounding normal tissues; thereby, the excised bone mass can be reduced to small pieces and take out as piece meal through the nasal aperture. So, it makes the nasal osteoma removal very easy to surgeons and very comfortable to patients. There need not be sacrifice of any structure or no cosmetic problem due to the incision.

While this detailed description has disclosed certain specific embodiments of the present invention for illustrative purposes, various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims, and it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.