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US 2003/0195551 A1Published application
Cannula for receiving surgical instruments
AssigneeZimmer Spine, Inc.
InventorsThomas W. Davison, Timothy E. Taylor, Adam Sher
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AssigneeZimmer Spine, Inc.
InventorsThomas W. Davison, Timothy E. Taylor, Adam Sher
Estimating the term…
A cannula (10) receives surgical instruments (120) for performing a surgical procedure on a body (130). The cannula (10) comprises a tube structure (12) defining a passage (16) through which the surgical instruments (120) are inserted into the body (130). The tube structure (12) has a proximal end (20) and a distal end (62). The tube structure (12) includes an expandable portion (40) for enabling an increase in the cross-sectional area of the passage (16) at the distal end (62). The expandable portion (40) of the tube structure (12), when expanded, has a conical configuration.
A device for retracting tissue to provide access to a surgical location within a patient, said device comprising:
The device of claim 7, further comprising a first tubular portion extending distally from the proximal end of the elongate body.
The device of claim 7, wherein the elongate body is sized to provide access to a spinal location.
The device of claim 7, wherein the elongate body comprises rigid material extending around substantially the entire perimeter of the cross-sectional area between the proximal and distal ends.
A device for retracting tissue to provide minimally invasive access to a surgical location at or near the spine of a patient, said device comprising:
A device for retracting tissue to provide minimally invasive access to a surgical location at or near the spine of a patient, said device comprising:
A retractor for providing access to a surgical location within a patient, said device comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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Details of tips or shafts, e.g. grooves, expandable, bendable; Multiple coaxial sliding cannulas, e.g. for dilating: cannulas
For holding wounds open, e.g. retractors; Tractors: for minimally invasive surgery
Specially adapted for particular parts of the body: for the spine
Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes: with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
Term end not estimated
The present invention is directed to a cannula for receiving surgical instruments for performing a surgical procedure on a body.
Endoscopic surgical techniques allow a surgical procedure to be performed on a patient's body through a relatively small incision in the body and with a limited amount of body tissue disruption. Endoscopic surgery typically utilizes a tubular structure known as a cannula which is inserted into a small incision in the body. The cannula holds the incision open and serves as a conduit extending between the exterior of the body and the local area inside the body where the surgery is to be performed.
Due to the relatively small size of the passage into the body which is defined by the cannula, certain surgical procedures, such as posterior disectomies and procedures using steerable surgical instruments, have been difficult to perform using endoscopic techniques.
The foregoing and other features of the present invention will becomes apparent to one skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon consideration of the following description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a surgical cannula constructed in accordance with the present invention, the cannula being shown in an expanded condition;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cannula of FIG. 1 with parts removed for clarity, the cannula being shown in a contracted condition;
The present invention is directed to a cannula for receiving surgical instruments for performing a surgical procedure on the body of a patient. The present invention is applicable to a variety of surgical procedures in which endoscopic surgical techniques are used.
FIG. 1 illustrates a cannula 10 constructed according to the present invention. The cannula 10 is a tubular structure 12 centered on an axis 14. The tubular structure 12 defines a passage 16 through the cannula 10. Surgical instruments are inserted into the body during endoscopic surgery through the passage 16.
The tubular structure 12 comprises a first tubular portion 20 and a second tubular portion 40 attached to the first tubular portion. The first tubular portion 20 is preferably made of a length of stainless steel tubing, but could alternatively be made of another suitable material. The first tubular portion 20 has a proximal end 22 and a distal end 24. Parallel cylindrical inner and outer surfaces 26 and 28, respectively, extend between the ends 22, 24 of the first tubular portion 20. The inner surface 26 defines a first passage portion 30 of the passage 16 through the cannula 10. The first passage portion 30 has a diameter D1 which is preferably in the range from 10 mm to 20 mm.