Method and apparatus for accessing the interior of a hip joint, including the provision and use of a novel telescoping access cannula and a novel telescoping obturator

Apparatus comprising a telescoping access cannula, the telescoping access cannula comprising:

• an outer tube;
• and
• an inner tube carried by the outer tube, the inner tube being longitudinally movable relative to the outer tube;
• wherein movement of the inner tube relative to the outer tube is controlled by movement of a finger relative to a seat.

Apparatus comprising a telescoping access cannula, the telescoping access cannula comprising:

• an outer tube;
• and
• an inner tube carried by the outer tube, the inner tube being longitudinally movable relative to the outer tube;
• wherein rotational movement of the inner tube relative to the outer tube permits longitudinal motion of at least a portion of the inner tube relative to the outer tube.

Apparatus comprising a telescoping obturator, the telescoping obturator comprising:

• a handle;
• a shaft carried by the handle, the shaft being longitudinally movable relative to the handle;
• and
• a locking mechanism for selectively locking the shaft to the handle.

A method for providing an access corridor from a first location located outside the body to a second location located inside the body, the method comprising:

• providing a telescoping access cannula having a first overall length and adjustable to a different overall length;
• measuring the distance from the first location to the second location;
• adjusting the length of the telescoping access cannula from the first overall length to another length which is a function of the distance from the first location to the second location;
• and
• inserting the telescoping access cannula into the body so that the proximal end of the telescoping access cannula is located at the first location and the distal end of the telescoping access cannula is disposed inside the body.