Suture tracking dilators and related methods
AssigneeAlfred E. Mann Foundation for Scientific Research
InventorsMICHAEL R. PERRIN, KENNETH L. RIPLEY, JOSEPH L. CALDERON
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Abstract
Suture tracking dilators and methods for removing implanted medical devices such as microstimulators or microsensors from living tissue are described. A suture tracking dilator has a slit running along its axial length. The slit can have a curved portion. A suture is attached to a medical device prior to its implantation. To remove the implanted medical device, the free end of the suture is exposed and inserted in the slit in the suture tracking dilator. The suture is held under tension at its free end, the dilator is inserted in the living tissue and the dilator follows the suture to the implanted medical device. The medical device is removed by pulling on the free end of the suture.
Claims17
A surgical dilator comprising:
- a tubular portion having a distal end, a proximal end and a major radius;
- a conical portion having a distal end, a proximal end and a circular lateral cross section with a radius increasing from a minor radius at the distal end to a major radius at the proximal end, the proximal end of the conical portion coupled with the tubular portion;
- and
- a slit extending through the dilator from the distal end of the conical portion to the proximal end of the tubular portion of the dilator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.