US 12,594,089 B2 · Medical tools for and methods of gaining access to extravascular spaces

Abstract

In some examples, a tool for, e.g., creating a sub-sternal tunnel in a patient or other use, is described. The tool may include a handle and a tunneling shaft coupled to the handle. The tunneling shaft extends from a proximal end to a distal end, and at least a portion of the tunneling shaft extends in a curved orientation between the first end to the distal end. The distal end of the tunneling shaft includes a cutting tool having a sharp edge. The cutting tool is moveable from a recessed position in which the sharp edge of the cutting tool is recessed into the distal end of the tunneling shaft to a deployed position in which the sharp edge of the cutting tool extends beyond the distal end of the tunneling shaft in the deployed position, e.g., to cut pericardium, scar tissue, and/or connective tissue with the sharp edge.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A tool comprising:

a handle;
a tunneling shaft coupled to the handle, wherein the tunneling shaft extends from a proximal end to a distal end, and at least a portion of the tunneling shaft extends in a curved orientation between the proximal end to the distal end, wherein the distal end of the tunneling shaft includes an electrosurgical tool configured to cauterize tissue, and wherein the tunneling shaft includes an inner lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the tunneling shaft, and
an optical window comprised of a transparent material at the distal end of the tunneling shaft, the optical window configured to provide, to an optical tool inserted into the inner lumen, a view of a path of the distal end of the tunneling shaft.

A method comprising:

inserting a distal portion of a tool in a patient through an incision in the patient, wherein the tool comprises:
a handle;
a tunneling shaft coupled to the handle, wherein the tunneling shaft extends from a proximal end to a distal end, and at least a portion of the tunneling shaft extends in a curved orientation between the proximal end to the distal end, wherein the distal end of the tunneling shaft includes a electrosurgical tool configured to cauterize tissue adjacent the distal end of the tunneling shaft, and wherein the tunneling shaft includes an inner lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the tunneling shaft, and
an optical window comprised of a transparent material at the distal end of the tunneling shaft, the optical window configured to provide, to an optical tool inserted into the inner lumen, a view of a path of the distal end of the tunneling shaft;
and cauterizing the tissue adjacent the distal end of the tunneling shaft with the tool.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

17/544,399Filed 7 Dec 2021 · continuation

Priority

1 Aug 2018

Published

US 2022/0168007 A12 Jun 2022

Granted

7 Apr 2026

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

A61B 17/32
Surgical instruments, devices or methods: surgical cutting instruments
A61B 17/320016
Surgical cutting instruments: endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes
A61B 17/3468
Trocars; Puncturing needles: for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires
A61B 17/3494
Trocars; Puncturing needles: with safety means for protection against accidental cutting or pricking, e.g. limiting insertion depth, pressure sensors

Family

Application16/052,280Parent of this continuation · filed 1 Aug 2018

US 2022/0168007 A1Pre-grant publication · published 2 Jun 2022

US 11,197,687 B2Parent of this continuation

US 2020/0038048 A1Published application

US 12,594,089 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Medical tools for and methods of gaining access to extravascular spaces

Life of this patent

Medical tools for and methods of gaining access to extravascular spaces

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20