Surgical cannula with channels for irrigation and suction

A method of providing access to a surgical site in a body of a patient, the method comprising:

• utilizing a surgical cannula, the surgical cannula comprising:
• a cannula body having a proximal end, a distal end, a central longitudinal axis extending through the proximal and distal ends, and a peripheral surface, the cannula body having a first cannula body portion and a second cannula body portion, the first and second cannula body portions being pivotally attached to one another adjacent the proximal end, the cannula body having a bore extending therethrough, and a length between the proximal end and the distal end such that the cannula body is adapted to extend from at least a superficial fascia of the patient above the surgical site to the surgical site;
• a flange portion attached to the proximal end of the cannula body, the flange portion having an upper surface, a lower surface, and at least a first aperture defined therebetween;
• a thread around at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the cannula body, the thread being adapted to hold the cannula in place in the patient's body;
• and
• at least a first elongated channel in communication with the first aperture in the flange, the first channel extending from the flange portion through the cannula body to at least adjacent the distal end of the cannula body such that the first channel is adapted to extend to at least adjacent the surgical site;
• inserting the cannula body, in an undeployed position, with the first and second cannula body portions proximate one another, into the body of the patient, at least until the lower surface of the flange portion contacts the superficial fascia of the patient's body, and the thread engages the patient's body;
• and
• providing one of light, irrigation, and suction to the surgical site via the first aperture and the first channel in communication therewith, wherein the cannula body, when in the undeployed position in the patient's body, provides, via the bore, a first amount of access to the surgical site.

A method of providing access to a surgical site of a body of a patient, the method comprising:

• accessing the body of the patient above the surgical site;
• inserting a surgical cannula into the body of the patient, the surgical cannula having a body portion and a flange portion, the body portion having a first portion, a second portion, a proximal end, an opposite distal end, the first and second portions being moveable from an undeployed position to a deployed position, and the flange portion being positioned adjacent the proximal end;
• positioning the distal end of the body portion adjacent the surgical site with the first and second body portions in the undeployed position;
• accessing the surgical site through a bore formed through the surgical cannula;
• moving the first and second body portions from the undeployed position to the deployed position, the undeployed position providing a first amount of access to the surgical site, the deployed position providing a second amount of access to the surgical site greater than the first amount of access to the surgical site;
• providing a first one of light, irrigation, and suction to the surgical site via a first elongated channel through the body portion, the first elongated channel extending through the body portion from adjacent the flange portion to adjacent the distal end of the body portion;
• and
• providing a second one of light, irrigation, and suction to the surgical site via a second elongated channel through the body portion, the second elongated channel extending through the body portion from adjacent the flange portion to adjacent the distal end of the body portion.