Apparatus and method for the insertion of a medical device

Abstract

An apparatus and method for use in the percutaneous insertion of medical devices is disclosed. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes an access tube defining a central lumen and a retention portion disposed at a distal end of the access tube. The retention portion is reconfigurable between a first configuration of reduced lateral extent and a second configuration of increased lateral extent. A trocar is moveably disposed within the central lumen of the access tube. The access tube is movably disposed within a central lumen of an overtube. In an embodiment of a method of the present invention, the method includes the steps of inserting the trocar and access tube through a body wall of a patient, where the trocar is disposed within the access tube and where a retention portion disposed at a distal end of the access tube is configured in a first configuration of reduced lateral extent. The retention portion is then configured in a second configuration of increased lateral extent. The trocar is removed from the access tube. An overtube is inserted around the access tube and through the body wall, where the access tube is received within a central lumen of the overtube and where the retention portion is received through a slot defined by the overtube. The retention portion is returned to the first configuration of reduced lateral extent. The access tube is removed from the central lumen of the overtube and the medical device is inserted within the central lumen of the overtube and through the body wall. The overtube is then removed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.