# US 10,307,183 B2 · Surgical access system with navigation element and method of using same

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- Number: US 10,307,183 B2
- Document ID: US10307183B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/996,847
- Filed: 2016-01-15
- Published: 2016-05-12
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2011-10-24
- Assignees: Nico Corporation
- Applicants: Nico Corporation
- Inventors: Joseph L. Mark; Amin Kassam
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307183B2

## CPC

- A61B 17/3423: {Access ports, e.g. toroid shape introducers for instruments or hands (access sites for liquids A61M39/0247)}
- A61B 1/32: Devices for opening or enlarging the visual field, e.g. of a tube of the body
- A61B 5/055: involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
- A61B 17/320016: {Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes (A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence)}
- A61B 17/3417: {Details of tips or shafts, e.g. grooves, expandable, bendable; Multiple coaxial sliding cannulas, e.g. for dilating (syringe needles A61M5/32; dilators A61M29/00)}
- A61B 17/3421: {Cannulas}
- A61B 17/3468: {for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires (devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069)}
- A61B 90/50: Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms
- A61M 39/06: Haemostasis valves, i.e. gaskets sealing around a needle, catheter or the like, closing on removal thereof
- A61B 5/0066: {Optical coherence imaging}
- A61B 5/0071: {by measuring fluorescence emission}
- A61B 5/061: {Determining position of a probe within the body employing means separate from the probe, e.g. sensing internal probe position employing impedance electrodes on the surface of the body (A61B1/00158 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/6847: {mounted on an invasive device}
- A61B 6/12: Arrangements for detecting or locating foreign bodies
- A61B 8/0808: {for diagnosis of the brain}
- A61B 8/12: in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters
- A61B 17/3205: Excision instruments
- A61B 90/361: {Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras}
- A61B 2017/320064: {with tissue or sample retaining means}
- A61B 2017/3405: {using mechanical guide means}
- A61B 2017/3456: {blunt}
- A61B 2034/2051: {Electromagnetic tracking systems}
- A61B 2090/062: {penetration depth}
- A61B 2090/0807: {Indication means}
- A61B 2090/0811: {for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument}
- A61B 2090/103: {Cranial plugs for access to brain}
- A61B 2090/309: {using white LEDs}
- A61B 2090/3614: {using optical fibre}
- A61B 2090/3782: {transmitter or receiver in catheter or minimal invasive instrument}
- A61M 37/00: Other apparatus for introducing media into the body (for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30); Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin (salt baths A61H33/04)
- A61M 2039/0626: {used with other surgical instruments, e.g. endoscope, trocar}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- 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 access assembly and method of use is disclosed. The surgical access assembly comprises an outer sheath and an obturator. The outer sheath and obturator are configured to be delivered to an area of interest within the brain. Either the outer sheath or the obturator may be configured to operate with a navigational system to track the location of either device within the brain.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A surgical access assembly for creating an operative pathway through body tissue, comprising
an outer sheath defined by an open distal end and an open proximal end and including a hollow body portion therebetween, wherein the outer sheath further comprises a tapered portion positioned between the body portion and the open distal end;
an obturator defined by a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end further comprises a tapered distal tip member that terminates in a closed distal tip for atraumatically dilating tissue; and
a navigational element operatively connected to the outer sheath and a navigation system, wherein the navigational element is configured to indicate the location of the outer sheath within a patient during use;
wherein the obturator received within the outer sheath when in an introducing configuration such that the tapered distal tip member protrudes from the open distal end of the outer sheath, with a transition between the tapered portion and the tapered distal tip cooperating to form an atraumatic assembly distal end.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The surgical assembly of claim 1, wherein the navigational element is permanently attached to a portion of the outer sheath.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The surgical assembly of claim 2, wherein the navigational element is impregnated or molded into the body portion of the outer sheath.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The surgical assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer sheath includes at least one channel formed in the body portion and wherein the at least one channel is configured to selectively receive the navigational element therein.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The surgical assembly of claim 1, further comprising an illumination ring that is configured to be selectively connected to the proximal end of the outer sheath, wherein the navigational element is mounted on the illumination ring such that when the illumination ring is connected to the outer sheath, the navigation system is configured to track the location of the outer sheath so as to indicate the position of the outer sheath with respect to a patient's anatomy.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The surgical assembly of claim 5, wherein the illumination ring further comprises a plurality of outwardly extending flange members positioned on a periphery of a wall member of the illumination ring, and wherein the navigational element includes a plurality of reflective balls that serve as position indicators, wherein one of the reflective balls are mounted to each flange member.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The surgical assembly of claim 1, wherein the distal tip is configured as a closed radiused distal tip.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The surgical assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer sheath further comprises a grip ring positioned at least partially around the open proximal end thereof, and wherein the navigational element is mounted to the grip ring.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The surgical assembly of claim 8, wherein the navigational element further comprises a plurality of reflective members positioned thereon, wherein the reflective members are configured to cooperate with the navigation system.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The surgical assembly of claim 1, further comprising a support ring that is configured to be operatively mounted to the outer sheath, wherein the navigational element is mounted to the support ring such that when the support ring is connected to the outer sheath, the navigation system is configured to track the location of the outer sheath so as to indicate the position of the outer sheath with respect to a patient's anatomy.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The surgical assembly of claim 10, wherein the navigational element further comprises a plurality of reflective members configured to cooperate with the navigation system.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The surgical assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer sheath is non-expanding.