Cannula and sizing insertion method

Abstract

A relatively inexpensive cannula is sized by including indica on a cannulated dilator that is used to measure the depth of a body cavity, and in one embodiment with the use of a cuttable fixture inserted into an initially enlarged dilator retractor made from a cuttable material the excess of the dilator retractor is snipped by a commercial cutter. A tool engaging the end of the cannulated dilator provides leverage on the cannulated dilator for rotation as it is forced into the body cavity, a pusher tool provides leverage on the dilator retractor for inserting the dilator retractor into the body cavity. A clamp that fits the top of the dilator retractor serves to support the dilator retractor through an arm to a rigid structure. In an alternate embodiment one of a series of sized dilator retractors are selected commensurate with the measurement attained by the scaled cannulated dilator.

Description

18 16. Hence, if the width of the clamp 18 16 is 10 mm and the depth of cavity is 30 mm, the user would select 40 mm as the juncture where the dilator retractor is cut to size.

Once the length of the depth of the body cavity as calculated by the cannulated dilator 10 is determined and while the dilator retractor 14 is mounted on the fixture portion 30, and after the user determines the number of annular grooves on the fixture portion that will match the depth of the body cavity as measured by the indicia on the cumulated dilator and the amount necessary to hold the retractor clamp 18 16, the user with the use of the commercially available cutters 34 snips off the end of the retractor dilator 14. The fixture will also be cut and this system for cutting assures that the dilator retractor 14 will have a clean, smooth cut. A suitable cutter 34 is one that is available in many hardware stores such as Home Depot and is under the name “Orbit”. This cutter was tested and has proven to work satisfactory. However, any type of cutter is contemplated for use with this invention, such as commercially available knives and pipe cutters, being other examples.

Once the dilator retractor 14 has been cut to size the dilator retractor 14 is then fitted over the cannula dilator 10 and is forced into the body cavity with a suitable pusher tool of the type shown in FIG. 4. Pusher tool portion 36 which in this instance is integral with the member 12 is formed on one end and includes the enlarged diameter portion 38 having a central axial bore that complements the outer diameter of the cannulated dilator 10. The bottom annular face 40 is formed with a flat surface that bears against the end 42 of the dilator retractor 14. This serves to provide leverage for the surgeon to push the dilator retractor 14 into the body cavity.

Also in accordance with this invention the end clamp 16 comprises an annular body 46 being split at 47 and including a threaded lateral bore that accommodates the tightening screw 50. The central opening is dimensioned to fit over the end of the dilator retractor 14 and slide thereon. Once in position the screw is tightened to secure the clamp to the dilator retractor 14. A bracket 56 having a bifurcated slot 58 serves to engage a flexible arm that is clamped to a rigid member. This serves to support the dilator retractor 14 while the surgeon is performing the surgical procedure.

FIG. 9 exemplifies another embodiment of this invention where the dilator retractors 14 come in a series of different sizes so that the surgeon after determining the size of the depth of the body cavity as ascertained by the graduated scale on the cannulated dilator 10, the surgeon merely selects the size to match the body cavity depth taking into consideration the extra length needed to accommodate the clamp 16.

The cannulated retractor tool 39 is a relatively rectangular flat member 41 having a central bore 43 that is made from two spaced diameters. The most inner diameter on the bottom face of the tool 39 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cannula dilator 10 and the outer diameter on the top face of the tool 39 is equivalent to the inner diameter of the cannulated dilator 10 to provide a shoulder for bearing on the annular top surface 45 of the cannulated dilator 10. A pair of concentrically spaced recesses 49 are formed in the top surface extending through the upper portion of tool 40 to accommodate and complement the tabs 22. Thus tool 39 serves to provide a leverage tool that helps the surgeon for forcing the cannulated dilator 10 into the body cavity and against the resistance created by the body tissue adjacent thereto.

FIG. 10 exemplifies another embodiment of this invention where the fixture 12a which is identical to fixture 12 does not include the spaced annular grooves and the cannula 14a which is identical to the cannula 14 includes indicia on the outer wall that corresponds to the indicia on the cannulated dilator 10. As is apparent from the foregoing the user merely has to size the cannula 14a by making a measurement of the body cavity with the cannulated dilator 10 and select the measurement corresponding thereto from the indicia on the cannula 14a, and after the cannula is inserted onto the fixture 12a, the user cuts the cannula 14a and fixture 12a so that the cannula 14a is sized to fit the body cavity. Obviously, the cannula 14a in this instance need not be transparent and can be opaque.

What has been described by this invention is a cannula that is sized to fit the individual patient. A cannulated dilator includes indicia of a scale for measuring the depth of the individual patient. With that measurement, the cannula in one embodiment may be made from a plastic, transparent material fits onto a fixture that is cuttable and contains a visible predetermined scale to cut the cannula to the particular length. In another embodiment the cannula includes indicia of a scale corresponding to the scale on the cannulated dilator and is similarly cut. The invention teaches a tool is provided to insert the cannulated dilator into the cavity and another tool to insert the cannula into the body cavity. In another embodiment a series of pre-sized cannulas are provided so that the user can select from this series the size that corresponds to the measurement obtained with the cannulated dilator.

Although this invention has been shown and described with respect to detailed embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.

Claims

1. A cannulated dilator having an outer surface, said cannulated dilator for insertion into an access hole formed in a patient for stretching the tissue adjacent to the access hole so as to enlarge the same, said cannulated dilator having an elongated tubular body, a beveled portion at the distal end thereof, the improvement comprising indicia on the side outer surface of the cannulated dilator for measuring the depth of the access hole, said cannulated dilator having a proximal end and a tool engagement portion formed thereon, in combination with a tool having an engagement portion complementing the tool engagement portion of the cannulated dilator adapted to fit thereon for rotation and applying leverage on said cannulated dilator for insertion thereof into the access hole and a cannula for fitting into said access hole for permitting the performance of a medical procedure after the cannulated dilator has been removed.

2. A cannulated dilator having an outer surface, said cannulated dilator for insertion into an access hole formed in the body of a patient for stretching the tissue adjacent the access hole and for enlarging the same, said cannulated dilator having an elongated tubular body, a beveled portion at the distal end thereof, the improvement comprising indicia on the side outer surface of the cannulated dilator for measuring the depth of the access hole, said cannulated dilator having a pair of circumferentially spaced tabs extending radially from the proximal end, in combination with a tool having a rectangularly shaped planar body, a central bore formed intermediate the ends thereof, an enlarged diameter recess extending from one face into said planar body and being concentric with said central bore but spaced from the opposite face thereof to define a shoulder, said tabs complementing recesses formed in said planar body adjacent to said enlarged diameter recess, whereby the cannulated dilator fits into said tool and said cannulated dilator engages said shoulder to permit the user to insert said cannulated dilator into said access hole and rotate same as it progresses into said access hole and a cannula for insertion into said access hole to permit a surgical procedure after the cannulated dilator has been removed.

3. The combination of a cannulated dilator and a dilator retractor wherein said cannulated dilator includes indicia for measuring the depth of an access hole formed in a patient for medical procedure and said dilator retractor being made from a cuttable material and being dimensioned larger in length than is anticipated of any depth of said access hole of the body of any patient that is anticipated in the medical procedure, the dilator retractor being cuttable commensurate with the depth of said access hole as measured by said cannulated dilator for sizing said dilator retractor to a length that is shorter than the original length of the dilator retractor prior to being inserted into the access hole so as to be utilized for performing the medical procedure whereby said dilator retractor is sized for the anatomy of the patient.

4. The combination of a cannulated dilator and a dilator retractor as claimed in claim 3 wherein said dilator retractor is made from a plastic material.

5. The combination of a cannulated dilator and a dilator retractor as claimed in claim 4 wherein said dilator retractor is made from a transparent material.

6. The combination of a cannulated dilator and dilator retractor as claimed in claim 3 including an annular clamp, said clamp being dimensioned to fit said dilator retractor and means including a bracket extending from said annular clamp adapted to support the dilator retractor to a rigid member.

7. The combination of a cannulated dilator and dilator retractor as claimed in claim 6 wherein said clamp is split through a portion thereof to define a gap between the ends adjacent the split, an adjustment for enlarging or decreasing said gap and the inner diameter portion surrounding the dilator retractor for securing said annular clamp to the dilator retractor and including means adapted to support the dilator retractor to a rigid member.

8. The combination of a cannulated dilator and dilator retractor as claimed in claim 6 including an elongated fixture having a circular cross section and made from a cuttable plastic material, and means to cut said dilator retractor an amount commensurate with the measurement attained by said cannulated retractor and the width of said annular clamp.

9. The combination of a cannulated dilator and dilator retractor as claimed in claim 8 wherein said elongated fixture includes a series of axially spaced grooves spaced a predetermined amount, said dilator retractor being transparent and fitting over said elongated fixture for the spaced grooves to be visible wherein the selection of said annular grooves determines the length of the dilator retractor to be cut.

10. The combination of a cannulated dilator and dilator retractor as claimed in claim 3 including a pusher tool having an elongated circular body, a central bore having a dimension to complement the outer diameter of said cannulated dilator, and a bottom surface overlying the end of said dilator retractor so that when said pusher tool is pushed into the body cavity the dilator retractor is forced into the body cavity and the central bore slides over said cannulated dilator.

11. The combination of a cannulated dilator and dilator retractor as claimed in claim 10 wherein said pusher tool is integral with said elongated fixture.

12. The combination of a cannulated dilator and dilator retractor, said cannulated dilator being in the series of the last cannulated dilator for enlarging the access hole in the body of a patient, at least one of said cannulated dilators having an elongated body, indicia on said elongated body indicative of a measurement of depth for measuring the depth of the access hole, said dilator retractor including a series of dilator retractors each having different lengths, whereby the dilator retractor for use in the access hole is selected from said series of dilator retractors that is commensurate with the measurement of said cannula(d dilator as obtained from said indicia when inserted into said access hole for defining a working space for performing a medical procedure when the cannulated dilator has been removed.

13. The method of sizing the length of a cannula to fit the depth of an access hole formed in the body of a patient including the steps of:

i. providing a cannula that is oversized in length;

ii. providing a cannulated dilator that is in the last of a series of cannulated dilators used for enlarging the access hole with indicia of a scale for measuring a length;

iii. measuring the depth of the access hole by inserting the cannulated dilator obtained in the step of providing a cannulated dilator into the access hole to ascertain the depth;

iv. cutting the cannula to the size obtained in the step of measuring before being inserted into the access hole; and

v. inserting the cannula obtained in the step of cutting into the access hole over the cannulated dilator and removing the cannulated dilator to define a working space to perform a medical procedure.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13 including the step of providing a template made from a cuttable material that is dimensioned to fit into the cannula;

i. inserting the template into the cannula;

ii. cutting the cannula and template at the length commensurate with the access hole.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14 including the provision of including markings on said template graduated to a scale commensurate with the scale of the indicia on the cannulated dilator; and the cannula being transparent so that the scale on the fixture is visible.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14 including a clamp to fit the end of the cannula; cutting in the step of cutting the cannula to a length that includes the width of the clamp.

17. The method as claimed in claim 14 including the step of providing a tool for engaging the proximal end of the cannulated dilator and inserting the cannulated dilator by pushing and turning the tool.

18. The method as claimed in claim 14 including the step of providing a tool for engaging said cannula for pushing said cannula into the access hole.

19. The method of sizing the length of a cannula to fit the depth of an access hole formed in the body of a patient including the steps of:

i. providing a series of different length cannulas;

ii. providing a cannulated dilator with indicia of a scale for measuring a length;

iii. measuring the depth of the access hole by inserting the cannulated dilator into the access hole to ascertain the depth;

iv. selecting from said different length cannulas obtained in the step of providing a series of different length cannulas the length correlating to the length obtained in the step of measuring before inserting said selected cannula; and

v. inserting said the cannula obtained in the step of selecting from said different length cannulas into said access hole for defining a working chamber for performing the medical procedure.

20. The combination of a cannulated dilator and dilator retractor as claimed in claim 12 including an annular clamp, said clamp being dimensioned to fit any of said dilator retractor from said series of said dilator retractors and a bracket extending from said annular clamp adapted to support the dilator retractor to a rigid member.

21. The combination of a cannulated dilator and dilator retractor as claimed in claim 12 wherein each of said cannulated dilator has a proximal end and a tool engagement portion formed thereon, a tool having an engagement portion complementing the tool engagement portion of the cannulated dilator adapted to fit thereon for rotation and applying leverage on said cannulated dilator for insertion thereof into the body cavity.

22. The combination of a cannulated dilator and dilator retractor, said cannulated dilator having an elongated body, said cannulated dilator for obtaining the measurement of depth of an access hole formed in a body, said dilator retractor including a series of dilator retractors having different lengths, whereby the dilator retractor for use in the access hole is selected from said series of dilator retractors that is commensurate with the measurement obtained from said cannulated dilator when extended into said access hole.

23. The combination of a cannulated dilator and dilator retractor as claimed in claim 12 wherein said dilator retractor is made form a plastic material.

24. The combination of a cannulated dilator and dilator retractor as claimed in claim 23 wherein said dilator retractr is made form a transparent material.

25. A system for forming an access hole through tissue, comprising:

a cannulated dilator configured to form and enlarge an access hole through tissue and into a body cavity;

a series of dilator retractors having different lengths each configured to be inserted over the cannulated dilator such that the cannulated dilator can be removed from the tissue to form a working channel through one of the dilator retractors inserted thereover;

wherein a depth of the access hole is measured using a cannulated dilator with indicia indicative of a measurement of depth, such that the one of the dilator retractors having a length commensurate with the depth of the access hole can be selected from the series of dilator retractors and inserted over the cannulated dilator to form the working channel.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the cannulated dilator includes a beveled end at a distal end thereof and a plurality of tabs extend from a proximal end thereof.

27. The system of claim 27, wherein the plurality of tabs extending from the proximal end of the cannulated dilator is configured to engage with a tool for inserting the cannulated dilator through tissue.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein lengths of each of the dilator retractors are predetermined.

29. A method of forming a working channel through tissue, comprising:

inserting a first dilator through tissue to form an access hole;

inserting at least one additional dilator over the first dilator inserted through the tissue, thereby widening the access hole;

determining a depth of the access hole using a cannulated dilator;

selecting from a series of access instruments having different lengths an access instrument having a length corresponding to the determined depth of the access hole; and

inserting the access instrument over the first dilator and the at least one additional dilator.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein inserting the access instrument includes pushing on a proximal end of the access instrument with a pusher tool to insert the access instrument over the dilators.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising removing the first dilator and the at least one additional dilator from the tissue, thereby forming a working channel through the access instrument.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein determining the depth of the access hole comprises using indicia formed on at least one of the first dilator and the at least one additional dilator.

33. The method of claim 40, further comprising selecting one of a plurality of possible lengths of the access instrument based on the depth determined using the indicia.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the at least one additional dilator is cannulated such that the at least one additional dilator has an inner pathway extending therethrough, and inserting the at least one additional dilator over the first dilator comprises positioning the first dilator through the inner pathway.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein the access instrument defines a pathway therethrough, and inserting the access instrument over the first dilator and the at least one additional dilator results in the first dilator and the at least one additional dilator extending through the pathway.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising removing the first dilator and the at least one additional dilator from the pathway to form a working channel through the tissue through the pathway defined by the access instrument.

37. A method of forming a working channel through tissue, comprising:

inserting a first dilator through tissue to form an access hole;

inserting at least one additional dilator over the first dilator;

determining a depth of the access hole using one of the first dilator and the at least one additional dilator;

selecting an access instrument from a plurality of access instruments having different lengths, the access instrument having a length corresponding to the determined depth of the access hole; and

inserting the access instrument obtained in the step of selecting from said plurality of different length access instruments into said access hole over the at least one additional dilator.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein inserting the access instrument includes pushing on a proximal end of the access instrument with a pusher tool to insert the access instrument over the at least one additional dilator.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein selecting the access instrument comprises selecting one of a plurality of possible lengths of the access instrument based on the determined depth.

40. The method of claim 37, further comprising removing the first dilator and the at least one additional dilator from the tissue, thereby forming a working channel through the access instrument.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein determining the depth of the access hole comprises using indicia formed on at least one of the first dilator and the at least one additional dilator.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein the at least one additional dilator is cannulated such that the at least one additional dilator has an inner pathway extending therethrough, and inserting the at least one additional dilator over the first dilator comprises positioning the first dilator through the inner pathway.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein the access instrument defines a pathway therethrough, and inserting the access instrument over the at least one additional dilator results in the first dilator and the at least one additional dilator extending through the pathway.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising removing the first dilator and the at least one additional dilator from the pathway to form a working channel through the tissue through the pathway defined by the access instrument.

45. A system for forming an access hole through tissue, comprising:

a plurality of dilators of increasing diameter configured to form and enlarge an access hole through tissue and into a body cavity via sequential dilation; and

a plurality of access instruments of differing lengths, wherein a depth of the access hole is measured via indicia on at least one of the dilators such that a one of the access instruments having a length commensurate with the measured depth of the access hole can be selected from the plurality of access instruments and inserted over the dilators to form a working channel.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the lengths of each of the access instruments is predetermined.

47. The system of claim 45, wherein the one of the access instruments defines a pathway therethrough, the pathway forming the working channel.

48. The system of claim 45, wherein at least one of the dilators has a beveled end.

49. A method of forming a working channel through tissue, comprising:

inserting a first dilator through tissue to form an access hole;

inserting at least one additional dilator over the first dilator;

determining a depth of the access hole using indicia of a scale for measuring a length formed on at least one of the first dilator and the at least one additional dilator;

selecting a retractor from a plurality of retractors each having a different length, the length of the selected retractor being commensurate with the determined depth of the access hole; and

inserting the retractor over the at least one additional dilator.

50. The method of claim 49, further comprising removing the first dilator and the at least one additional dilator from the tissue, thereby forming a working channel through the retractor.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein selecting the retractor comprises selecting one of a plurality of possible lengths of the retractor based on the determined depth.

52. The method of claim 49, wherein the at least one additional dilator is cannulated such that the at least one additional dilator has an inner pathway extending therethrough, and inserting the at least one additional dilator over the first dilator comprises positioning the first dilator through the inner pathway.