# US 11,992,201 B2 · Cannula with cap > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,992,201 B2 - Document ID: US11992201B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/540,317 - Filed: 2021-12-02 - Published: 2022-03-24 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-24 - Assignees: Medos International Sarl - Applicants: Medos International Sarl - Inventors: Stefano Berti; Benjamin Cleveland; Mehmet Z. Sengun - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992201B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/0218: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)} - A61B 17/0401: {Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors (A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811)} - A61B 17/3421: {Cannulas} - A61B 17/3462: {with means for changing the diameter or the orientation of the entrance port of the cannula, e.g. for use with different-sized instruments, reduction ports, adapter seals (expandable cannulas A61B17/3417)} - A61B 2017/00477: {Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence)} - A61B 2017/00986: {Malecots, e.g. slotted tubes, of which the distal end is pulled to deflect side struts} - A61B 2017/0225: {flexible, e.g. fabrics, meshes, or membranes} - A61B 2017/349: {Trocar with thread on outside} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Various devices, systems, and methods are provided for allowing surgical instruments to access a body cavity through an access device, such as a cannula. In one embodiment, a cap can be removably and replaceably coupled to a proximal end of cannula and can have an opening therethrough that communicates with an inner passageway of the cannula. Various surgical elements can be passed through the cap and cannula and into a patient when the cannula is positioned within the patient. The cap can have a side slot formed therein. The slot can be configured to allow surgical elements, such as sutures, to pass through the cap and into the cannula. At least one surgical seal can be in the cap and can be configured to receive surgical elements therethrough. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical system, comprising: a cannula configured to be positioned in tissue and provide a pathway therethrough, the cannula having an inner passageway extending between open proximal and distal ends thereof; a cap configured to be removably and replaceably coupled to the open proximal end of the cannula, the cap having an inner opening that is configured to be in communication with the inner passageway when the cap is removably and replaceably coupled to the open proximal end of the cannula such that a surgical instrument can be advanced through the inner opening of the cap and then into the inner passageway of the cannula, and the cap having a side slot formed in a rim thereof, the side slot being in communication with the inner opening; and a suture configured to, with the cap removably and replaceably couple to the open proximal end of the cannula, extend through the side slot of the cap and remain extending through the cannula after the removal of the cap. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the cap includes a plurality of sealing elements that, with the cap removably and replaceably coupled to the open proximal end of the cannula, are configured to form a seal of the inner passageway of the cannula; the removal of the cap is configured to cause at least a partial loss of the seal of the inner passageway; each of the plurality of sealing elements has a slot formed therein; each of the sealing element slots is radially aligned with the side slot; and each of the sealing element slots is offset radially from one another. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein with the surgical instrument positioned in the inner opening of the cap and in the inner passageway of the cannula, the cap is configured to be removed from the cannula such that the surgical instrument passes through the side slot and remains positioned in the inner opening of the cap and in the inner passageway of the cannula. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the cap is configured to be connected to the cannula with the cap removably and replaceably coupled to the open proximal end of the cannula and with the cap removed from the open proximal end of the cannula. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the cap is connected to the cannula via a hinge, and removing the cap from the cannula comprises opening the hinge. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the cap is connected to the cannula via a tether. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the cannula has a suture engaging feature formed therein and configured to releasably seat therein the suture with the suture extending through the inner passageway; and the side slot is aligned radially with the suture engaging feature. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the cap includes a sealing element that, with the cap removably and replaceably coupled to the open proximal end of the cannula, is configured to form a seal of the inner passageway of the cannula; and the removal of the cap is configured to cause at least a partial loss of the seal of the inner passageway. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the sealing element includes a plurality of sealing elements that each have a slot formed therein, each of the sealing element slots being radially aligned with the side slot, and each of the sealing element slots being offset radially from one another. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein, with the cap removably and replaceably coupled to the open proximal end of the cannula, the cap is configured to seal the inner passageway of the cannula; and with the cap removed from the open proximal end of the cannula, the inner passageway of the cannula is not sealed. ### Claim 11 A surgical system, comprising: a cannula configured to be positioned in tissue and provide a pathway therethrough, the cannula having an inner passageway extending between open proximal and distal ends thereof; and a cap configured to be removably and replaceably coupled to the open proximal end of the cannula, the cap having an inner opening that is configured to be in communication with the inner passageway when the cap is removably and replaceably coupled to the open proximal end of the cannula such that a surgical instrument can be advanced through the inner opening of the cap and then into the inner passageway of the cannula, and the cap having a side slot formed in a rim thereof, the side slot being in communication with the inner opening; wherein the cap includes a plurality of sealing elements that, with the cap removably and replaceably coupled to the open proximal end of the cannula, are configured to form a seal of the inner passageway of the cannula; the removal of the cap is configured to cause at least a partial loss of the seal of the inner passageway; each of the plurality of sealing elements has a slot formed therein, and each of the sealing element slots is aligned with the side slot such that, with the cap removably and replaceably coupled to the open proximal end of the cannula and with a suture extending through the inner passageway and through the sealing element slots, the suture is configured to move through the sealing elements slots and out of the side slot. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further comprising the suture, the suture being configured to, with the cap removably and replaceably coupled to the open proximal end of the cannula, extend through the side slot of the cap and remain extending through the cannula after the removal of the cap. ### Claim 13 A surgical system, comprising: a cannula configured to be positioned in tissue and provide a pathway therethrough, the cannula having an inner passageway extending between open proximal and distal ends thereof; and a cap configured to be removably and replaceably coupled to the open proximal end of the cannula, the cap having an inner opening that is configured to be in communication with the inner passageway when the cap is removably and replaceably coupled to the open proximal end of the cannula such that a surgical instrument can be advanced through the inner opening of the cap and then into the inner passageway of the cannula, and the cap having a side slot formed in a rim thereof, the side slot being in communication with the inner opening; wherein the cap includes a sealing element that, with the cap removably and replaceably coupled to the open proximal end of the cannula, is configured to form a seal of the inner passageway of the cannula; the removal of the cap is configured to cause at least a partial loss of the seal of the inner passageway; and the sealing element includes a plurality of sealing elements that each have a slot formed therein, each of the sealing element slots being aligned with the side slot such that, with the cap removably and replaceably coupled to the open proximal end of the cannula and with a suture extending through the inner passageway and through the sealing element slots, the suture is configured to move through the sealing elements slots and out of the side slot. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein, with the suture extending through the cannula and through the inner opening of the cap, the cap is configured to be removed from the open proximal end of the cannula such that the suture passes through the side slot and remains extending through the cannula after the removal of the cap.