Surgical introducer with guidance system receptacle

An introducer system for use with a navigation probe having a navigation element and a navigation probe shaft having a diameter and terminating at a distal probe tip, the introducer system comprising:

• an introducer having:
• a sidewall extending along a longitudinal axis and forming an introducer passage extending from a proximal introducer end to a distal introducer end, the sidewall being larger, in a lateral direction that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, than the navigation probe shaft diameter, and
• a probe receptacle located at the distal introducer end, the probe receptacle extending along the longitudinal axis within the introducer passage from a proximal receptacle end to a distal receptacle end, the probe receptacle having a conical inner surface extending from the proximal receptacle end towards the distal receptacle end, the conical inner surface tapering from a first lateral size in the lateral direction at the proximal receptacle end to a second lateral size in the lateral direction at the distal receptacle end, the first lateral size being greater than the second lateral size, and wherein the inner surface comprises a proximal portion adjacent the proximal receptacle end having a first angle relative to the longitudinal axis, and an intermediate portion located distally from the proximal portion and having a second angle relative to the longitudinal axis, the second angle being less than the first angle;
• and
• a probe retainer configured to selectively connect to the proximal introducer end, the probe retainer comprising a receiver configured to receive the navigation probe shaft and limit movement of the navigation probe shaft in the lateral direction.

An introducer system for use with a navigation probe having a navigation element and a navigation probe shaft having a diameter and terminating at a distal probe tip, the introducer system comprising an introducer having:

• a sidewall extending along a longitudinal axis and forming an introducer passage extending from a proximal introducer end to a distal introducer end, the sidewall being larger, in a lateral direction that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, than the navigation probe shaft diameter;
• a probe receptacle located at the distal introducer end, the probe receptacle extending along the longitudinal axis within the introducer passage from a proximal receptacle end to a distal receptacle end, the probe receptacle having an inner surface having a first lateral size in the lateral direction at the proximal receptacle end and a second lateral size in the lateral direction at the distal receptacle end, the first lateral size being greater than the second lateral size;
• wherein the inner surface is configured and dimensioned to receive the distal probe tip and restrict movement of the distal probe tip in the lateral direction, and the sidewall is configured and dimensioned to allow the navigation probe shaft to move in the lateral direction within the passage when the distal probe tip is positioned in the probe receptacle;
• wherein at least a portion of the probe receptacle is spaced from the sidewall in the lateral direction by a gap;
• and
• wherein the probe receptacle comprises at least one opening at a location between the proximal receptacle end and the distal receptacle end forming a fluid communication path between the inner surface and the gap.

An introducer system for use with a navigation probe having a navigation element and a navigation probe shaft having a diameter and terminating at a distal probe tip, the introducer system comprising:

• an introducer having:
• a sidewall extending along a longitudinal axis and forming an introducer passage extending from a proximal introducer end to a distal introducer end, the sidewall being larger, in a lateral direction that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, than the navigation probe shaft diameter, and
• a probe receptacle located at the distal introducer end, the probe receptacle extending along the longitudinal axis within the introducer passage from a proximal receptacle end to a distal receptacle end, the probe receptacle having an inner surface having a first lateral size in the lateral direction at the proximal receptacle end and a second lateral size in the lateral direction at the distal receptacle end, the first lateral size being greater than the second lateral size;
• and
• a probe retainer configured to selectively connect to the proximal introducer end, the probe retainer comprising a receiver configured to receive the navigation probe shaft and limit movement of the navigation probe shaft in the lateral direction;
• wherein the probe retainer comprises two clamps connected to the receiver and configured to selectively connect to the proximal introducer end, each clamp being connected to the receiver by a clamp arm having an arm opening therethrough, each arm opening being aligned with the introducer passage to provide a visual path into the introducer passage.