WE CLAIM:
1. A continuous pressure sensing arthroscopic knot pusher apparatus, the apparatus comprising of:
a hollow casing (1) having a circular end (1a) and an elongated end (1b), the circular end (1a) comprising of an outer surface (2a) and an inner surface (2b), wherein the circular end (1a) is provided with a slot (11);
a trigger (3) positioned proximal to the circular end (1a), wherein the trigger (3) is coupled to a hook (5) provided on the elongated end (1b) of the hollow casing (1), the hook (5) configured for executing a linear motion;
a needle (17) operably coupled to the trigger (3), the needle (17) mounted on the elongated end (1b) of the hollow casing (1), the needle having a threaded end (17a) for coupling with the trigger (3), and a pointed end (17b) with a projection having an aperture (19) for allowing the suture to be positioned; and
a pressure sensing arrangement mounted between the trigger (3) and the hook (5),
wherein the pressure sensing arrangement enables determination of a compression and / or a traction during repair of a damaged soft tissue.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure
sensing arrangement is selected from a mechanical based pressure sensing arrangement, a fluid based pressure sensing arrangement and a digital based pressure sensing arrangement.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mechanical sensing arrangement comprises of a flexible strip (9) coupled to the trigger (3), the flexible strip (9) is capable of executing a curvilinear motion along an axis within the hollow casing (1), wherein the flexible strip (9) is provided with a gradient of preset colours for visualization through the slot (11), the visibility of a certain colour indicates the compression or traction allowable.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fluid based pressure sensing arrangement comprises a suction plunger housed within a semicircular channel (21) containing pressure indicating fluids, wherein the fluids traverse through the semicircular channel (21) up until the slot (11) provided on the circular end (1a) for displaying the pressure applied.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the digital based pressure sensing arrangement comprises of a pressure sensor (51) configured to digitally display the pressure on the slot (11); and a graded scale (53) positioned adjacent to a slit (13) provided with gradations or markings, wherein the pressure applied is alternatively visualized by locating the position of the hook (5) aligning with the gradations on the graded scale (53).
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hook (5) facilitates looping of the suture.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the linear motion of the hook is enabled by a resilient means, wherein the resilient means is a spring (7).
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spring (7) counter forces the pressure applied while operating the trigger (3) providing a haptic feedback to the operator.
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hollow casing (1) is provided with a pair of anti-slip gripper (15) for holding the knot pusher apparatus.
10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slot (11) further functions as a feedback unit to the operator for providing visual and auditory feedback on the pressure or force or tension applied while placing the suture.
11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the auditory feedback is enabled by adding a mechanical system that translates curvilinear motion of the flexible strip into a clicking sound.
12. A continuous pressure sensing arthroscopic knot pusher apparatus, the apparatus comprising of:
a hollow casing (1) having a circular end (1a) and an elongated end (1b), wherein the hollow casing (1) is provided with a pair of anti-slip gripper (15) for holding the knot pusher apparatus;
a trigger (3) positioned proximal to the circular end (1a), wherein the trigger (3) is coupled to a hook (5) provided on the elongated end (1b) of the hollow casing (1), the hook (5) configured for executing a linear motion through a first spring (7); and
a pressure sensing arrangement comprising of
an outer sleeve (31) having a first end (31a) and a second end (31b), the outer sleeve (31) provided with a first graded scale (35) proximal to the second end (31b) to determine the extent of pressure applied; a rod (37) mounted within the outer sleeve (31) and connected to the hook (5); a second spring (33) coupled to the rod (37) and configured for sensing the pressure; an aperture (19) provide at the second end (31b) of the outer sleeve (31), wherein the pressure suffered by the second spring (33) is displayed by the first graded scale (35); and
a second graded scale (41) positioned adjacent to a slit (13), the second graded scale (41) provided with readings or markings for determining the pressure; wherein the pressure is visualized based on the position of the hook (5) with respect to the second graded scale (41),
wherein the pressure sensing arrangement enables determination of a compression and / or a traction during repair of a damaged soft tissue.
13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first end (31a) of the outer sleeve (31) is mounted on the elongated end (1b) of the hollow casing (1).
14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the outer sleeve (31) is contoured to enable linear motion of the sliding rod (37) by compressing the second spring (33).
15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the compression of the second spring (33) to a maximum threshold
is facilitated by a disc trijunction (39), wherein the disc trijunction (39) intersects with the rod (37).
16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first spring (7) counter forces the pressure applied while operating the trigger (3), providing a haptic feedback to the operator.
17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first graded scale (35) and second graded scale (41) further functions as a feedback unit to the operator for providing visual feedback of the pressure applied.