# US 10,117,664 B2 · Combined tunneling tools

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- Number: US 10,117,664 B2
- Document ID: US10117664B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/041,257
- Filed: 2016-02-11
- Published: 2016-08-18
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-02-13
- Assignees: HeartWare, Inc.
- Applicants: HeartWare, Inc.
- Inventors: John Rudser
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10117664B2

## CPC

- A61B 17/32: Surgical cutting instruments ({A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467;} implements for ligaturing and cutting {A61B17/122, A61B17/12; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133})
- B25G 1/06: reversible or adjustable for position
- A61B 17/00234: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)}
- A61B 17/320016: {Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes (A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence)}
- A61B 17/8875: {Screwdrivers, spanners or wrenches}
- A61M 60/178: drawing blood from a ventricle and returning the blood to the arterial system via a cannula external to the ventricle, e.g. left or right ventricular assist devices
- A61M 60/861: Connections or anchorings for connecting or anchoring pumps or pumping devices to parts of the patient's body
- A61M 60/865: Devices for guiding or inserting pumps or pumping devices into the patient's body
- A61B 17/3415: {for introducing tubes or catheters, e.g. gastrostomy tubes, drain catheters (A61B17/3417 takes precedence; body piercing catheter guide needles A61M25/06)}
- A61B 2017/00353: {one mechanical instrument performing multiple functions, e.g. cutting and grasping}
- A61B 2017/0046: {with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable}
- A61B 2017/00464: {for use with different instruments}
- A61B 2017/00477: {Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/320056: {Tunnelers}
- A61B 2090/031: {torque limiting}
- A61M 60/148: in line with a blood vessel using resection or like techniques, e.g. permanent endovascular heart assist devices
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- B25G: HANDLES FOR HAND IMPLEMENTS (attaching the blades or the like to handles of hand tools for soil working A01B1/22; handles of hand implements for harvesting A01D1/14; handles integral with brushware A46B)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

A surgical device includes a handle body extending along a handle axis. The handle body is releasably engaged to a tunneling shaft extending along a shaft axis transverse to the handle axis. At least one tool is mounted to the handle body. Each tool includes a working end adapted to actuate an element of an implantable device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A surgical device comprising:
a handle body extending along a handle axis, the handle body being releasably engaged to a tunneling shaft extending along a shaft axis transverse to the handle axis; and
at least one tool mounted to the handle body, each said tool having a working end adapted to actuate an element of an implantable device, wherein the working end forms a wrench having a torque limiting element.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one tool is rigidly connected to the handle body.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one tool is mounted to the handle body for movement between a stored position and a working position, and wherein a portion of tool is contained within the handle body in the stored position.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The device of claim 3, further comprising an actuator operable to move the at least one tool from the stored position to the working position.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one tool is releasably mounted to the handle body.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The device of claim 5, wherein the at least one tool is releasably mounted to the handle body along an axis transverse to the handle axis.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6, wherein the handle body has an opening sized to receive a connecting end of the at least one tool and a connecting end of the tunneling shaft.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6 further comprising a release element, wherein operation of the release element releases either of the connecting end of the at least one tool or the connecting end of the tunneling shaft from the opening.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6, wherein the handle body has a first opening sized to receive a connecting end of the at least one tool and a second opening sized to receive a connecting end of the tunneling shaft, and wherein operation of an actuator releases either connecting end from the first or second opening.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the tunneling shaft has at least one hole transverse to the shaft axis adjacent to the at least one tool.

### Claim 11

A surgical device comprising:
a handle body extending along a handle axis, the handle body being releasably engaged to a tunneling shaft extending along a shaft axis transverse to the handle axis;
at least one tool mounted to the handle body, each said tool having a working end adapted to actuate an element of an implantable device, wherein the at least one tool is mounted to the handle body for movement between a stored position and a working position;
an actuator operable to move the at least one tool from the stored position to the working position; and
a depression in an external surface of the handle body that is shaped to receive the at least one tool in the stored position, wherein the actuator is a tab mounted on the at least one tool, wherein application of a force to the actuator rotates the at least one tool and the actuator about a point on the handle body to sit flush in the depression, and wherein a portion of the at least one tool is contained within the handle body in the stored position.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The device of claim 11, wherein the handle body has a tool receiving bore extending into the handle body, wherein the tool is at least partially contained within the tool receiving bore in the stored position, and wherein operation of the actuator slides the at least one tool out of the tool receiving bore.

### Claim 13

A surgical device comprising:
a handle body extending along a handle axis, the handle body being releasably engaged to a tunneling shaft extending along a shaft axis transverse to the handle axis; and
at least one tool mounted to the handle body, each said tool having a working end adapted to actuate an element of an implantable device, wherein the at least one tool is mounted to the handle body for movement between a stored position and a working position, and wherein a portion of the at least one tool is contained within the handle body in the stored position;
an actuator operable to move the at least one tool from the stored position to the working position, wherein the actuator includes a spring element engaged between the at least one tool and the handle body to bias the at least one tool toward the working position; and
a control element movable between a lock position, in which the control element holds the actuator in the stored position, and a release position, in which the tool is free to move toward the working position.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The device of claim 13, further comprising a safety lock that prevents the tool from springing out of the stored position until the safety lock is disengaged.

### Claim 15

A surgical device comprising:
a handle body extending along a handle axis, the handle body being releasably engaged to a tunneling shaft extending along a shaft axis transverse to the handle axis; and
at least one tool mounted to the handle body, each said tool having a working end adapted to actuate an element of an implantable device, wherein the at least one tool is mounted to the handle body for movement between a stored position and a working position, wherein the tunneling shaft has at least one hole transverse to the shaft axis adjacent to the at least one tool, and wherein the at least one hole on the tunneling shaft is in communication with a bore extending through the tunneling shaft and the handle body along the shaft axis.

### Claim 16

A surgical kit comprising:
at least one tunneling shaft extending along a shaft axis;
a handle body extending along a handle axis, the handle body being engageable with each tunneling shaft so that the shaft axis is transverse to the handle axis;
a plurality of tools, each said tool being permanently mounted on the handle body or adapted for temporary mounting on the handle body, each said tool having a working end adapted to actuate an element of an implantable device;
a container including the at least one tunneling shaft, the handle body, and the plurality of tools being disposed within the container; and
at least one elongated implantable element secured in the container, the container, the handle body, the plurality of tools, and the at least one elongated implantable element stored in the container forming an autoclavable sterilizable assembly, and wherein the sterilizable assembly further comprises at least one implantable device selected from a group consisting of a controller, a pump, a battery pack, an induction coil, and a sensor.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The kit of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of tools has a connecting end that is releasably mountable to the handle body, and wherein each connecting end may be releasably mounted to the handle body while the plurality of tools are stored in the container.