Blunt dissector, delivery and deployment device for delivery and deployment of surgical mesh during soft tissue repairs

A method for delivering a surgical mesh, the method comprising:

• providing apparatus for delivering a surgical mesh, the apparatus comprising:
• a hollow outer tube having a distal end and a proximal end;
• a distal housing mounted to the distal end of the hollow outer tube;
• a hollow inner tube having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the hollow inner tube is slidably disposed within the hollow outer tube;
• a central rod having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the central rod is slidably disposed within the hollow inner tube;
• an actuation element mounted to the proximal end of the central rod;
• and
• a surgical mesh carriage comprising a plurality of legs, wherein each of the plurality of legs comprises a first hinged end mounted to the distal end of the hollow inner tube and a second hinged end mounted to the distal end of the central rod;
• wherein the distal housing comprises a proximal mount fixedly mounted to the distal end of the hollow outer tube and an atraumatic distal shroud comprising a cone-shaped tip having at least one expandable slot;
• advancing the apparatus through an incision to a surgical site;
• moving the actuation element distally to a first location, whereby to project the surgical mesh carriage out of the distal housing;
• moving the actuation element distally to a second location, whereby to hinge each of the plurality of legs at their respective first hinged ends and cause the plurality of legs to assume a radially-expanded configuration;
• and
• delivering a surgical mesh to the surgical site.

Apparatus for delivering a surgical mesh, the apparatus comprising:

• a hollow outer tube having a distal end and a proximal end;
• a distal housing mounted to the distal end of the hollow outer tube;
• a hollow inner tube slidably disposed within the hollow outer tube having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the hollow inner tube comprises a locking collar;
• a central rod having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the central rod is slidably disposed within the hollow inner tube;
• an actuation element mounted to the proximal end of the central rod;
• a surgical mesh carriage comprising a plurality of legs, wherein each of the plurality of legs comprises a first hinged end mounted to the distal end of the hollow inner tube and a second hinged end mounted to the distal end of the central rod;
• and
• a handle comprising a locking tab mounted to the proximal end of the hollow outer tube;
• wherein the distal housing comprises a proximal mount fixedly mounted to the distal end of the hollow outer tube and an atraumatic distal shroud comprising a cone-shaped tip having at least one expandable slot;
• wherein the apparatus is configured such that when (i) the actuation element is moved distally to a first location, the central rod and the hollow inner tube move distally so as to move the surgical mesh carriage out of the distal housing, and (ii) the actuation element is moved distally to a second location the central rod moves distally and hinges each of the plurality of legs at their respective first hinged ends so as to assume a radially-expanded configuration;
• and
• wherein distal movement of the actuation element to the second location causes the locking collar to audibly snap over the locking tab so as to provide feedback to a user indicating that the plurality of legs are in the radially-expanded configuration.