US 3,999,551 A · Subcutaneous guide assembly

Abstract

A subcutaneous guide assembly for use by surgeons during an operation where surgical elements must be passed through an elongated path internal to a human body. The guide assembly includes an elongated rod of predetermined contour and length which is secured on opposing ends to a handle member and to one of a variety of surgical elements which may be releasably secured to the rod through threaded engagement. Additionally, a plurality of rod members of differing lengths and contours may be easily secured to the handle section of the subcutaneous guide assembly. The handle section includes an internal chamber where various surgical elements may be contained for use in particular portions or phases of an operation. The handle further includes a mechanism whereby the contained surgical elements within the handle internal chamber may be easily sterilized.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A subcutaneous guide assembly adapted to be passed internal a human body from a first opening in a first positional location of said body to a neighborhood of a second opening in a second positional location of said body comprising:

a. handle means having an internal chamber;
b. cap means releaseably secured to a first end of said handle means, said cap means having at least one opening passing therethrough in communication with said internal chamber for selective communication with an external sterilizing chamber;
and,
c. a guide element releasably secured to a second end of said handle means, said guide element forming an elongated, inflexible, and substantially solid rod member having having a predetermined inflexible arcuate contour adaptable for passage through said body from said first to said second opening.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Subcutaneous guide assembly

Life of this patent

Subcutaneous guide assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12