Lipped cannula and methods of introducing surgical instruments in arthroscopic surgical procedures

A cannula for introducing surgical instruments in the body through a portal of minimal size formed in a wall of anatomical tissue including

• an elongate member having a longitudinal axis, a distal end to be inserted through the portal into the body, a proximal end and a cross-sectional configuration having a periphery;
• a housing mounting said proximal end of said cylindrical member to be disposed externally of the body;
• a lumen through said cylindrical member and said housing providing a passage for receiving surgical instruments to be introduced in the body;
• and
• a lip defined by a protrusion on said elongate member proximally spaced from said distal end, said protrusion tapering in a distal direction from said lip to said distal end and having a periphery spaced outwardly from said periphery of said elongate member to be disposed within the body, said elongate member periphery being disposed within said lip periphery, said lip including a surface substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis for engaging the wall of the body with said distal end inserted in the body to prevent backing out of said distal end from the body.

A cannula for introducing surgical instruments in the body through anatomical tissue of a wall of the body including

• a tubular member having a distal end to be inserted through the wall of the body, a proximal end and a circumference;
• a housing mounting said proximal end of said cylindrical member to be disposed externally of the body;
• a lumen in said tubular member and said housing for receiving surgical instruments to be introduced in the body;
• and
• a lip on said tubular member including a substantially flat surface spaced proximally of said distal end and having a periphery rigidly spaced outwardly of said circumference for being inserted through the wall of the body to engage the wall with said distal end disposed in the body to prevent backing out of said distal end from the wall.

A cannula for introducing surgical instruments in the body through anatomical tissue of a wall of the body having an internal surface including

• a tubular member having a distal end to be inserted through the wall of the body, a proximal end and a circumference;
• a housing mounting said proximal end of the cylindrical member to be disposed externally of the body;
• a lumen in said tubular member and said housing for receiving surgical instruments to be introduced in the body;
• an annular lip on said tubular member including a wall engaging surface spaced proximally of said distal end a minimal distance, said lip having a periphery, said circumference being disposed concentrically with said periphery, said periphery being spaced outwardly of said circumference for being inserted through the wall of the body to position said wall engaging surface in engagement with the internal surface of the wall with said distal end disposed in the body to prevent backing out of said distal end from the wall;
• and
• a tapered surface having a truncated conical configuration joining said lip to said tubular member, said tapered surface tapering in a distal direction from said lip to said distal end.

A method of introducing a surgical instrument at an operative site in the body in endoscopic procedures including the steps of

• forming a portal of minimal size in tissue of a wall of the body adjacent the operative site;
• visualizing the operative site endoscopically;
• inserting a lip on an end of a cannula into the body through the portal with a periphery of the lip rigidly disposed outwardly of a periphery of the cannula;
• positioning a substantially planar surface of the lip against an internal surface of the wall to prevent backing out of the cannula from the body;
• and
• introducing a surgical instrument at the operative site through a lumen of the cannula.

A method of introducing a surgical instrument at the knee in arthroscopic procedures including the steps of

• forming a portal of minimal size in tissue adjacent the knee;
• visualizing the knee with an arthroscope;
• inserting an end of a cannula through the portal;
• positioning a lip on the end of the cannula against an internal surface of the tissue to prevent backing out of the cannula from the tissue;
• and
• introducing a surgical instrument at the knee through a lumen of the cannula.

A method of preventing extravasation when introducing a surgical instrument at an operative site in the body through a portal of minimal size in endoscopic procedures including the steps of

• forming a portal of minimal size through tissue forming a wall of the body adjacent the operative site;
• visualizing the operative site endoscopically;
• inserting an end of a cannula into the body through the portal;
• positioning an annular, substantially planar lip on the end of the cannula disposed within the body in engagement with an internal surface of the wall;
• and
• introducing a surgical instrument at the operative site through a lumen of the cannula.