Medical passing device and method

A method for placing a medical tube within a patient, the method comprising:

• (a) inserting an obturator into a channel of a passer, the passer having a proximal end and a distal end, the obturator having an elongated body, and a first end and a second end, the second end comprising a cradle, the obturator having a removable probe, the removable probe having a first section that fits within the cradle and a second section having a tunneling tip that is exposed outside the cradle,
• (b) making a first incision in the patient,
• (c) making a second incision in the patient, the second incision being spaced apart from the first incision,
• (d) inserting the distal end of the passer into the first incision,
• (e) forming a tunnel within the patient using a tunneling tip by moving the distal end of the passer from the first incision to the second incision by feeding the passer into the patient at the first incision,
• (f) removing the probe from the cradle of the obturator after the tunneling tip reaches the second incision,
• (g) inserting a portion of the medical tube into the cradle so that the portion of the medical tube is held within the cradle,
• (h) moving the distal end of the passer back through the tunnel, along with the cradle of the obturator and the portion of the medical tube held therein, and
• (i) removing the portion of the medical tube from the cradle of the obturator after the distal end of the passer reaches the first incision, thereby leaving the medical tube within the tunnel.

A method for placing a medical lead within a patient, the method comprising:

• (a) inserting an obturator into a channel of a passer, the passer having a proximal end and a distal end, the obturator having an elongated body, and a first end and a second end, the second end comprising a cradle, the obturator having a removable probe, the removable probe having a first section that fits within the cradle and a second section having a tunneling tip that is exposed outside the cradle,
• (b) making a first incision in the patient,
• (c) making a second incision in the patient, the second incision being spaced apart from the first incision,
• (d) inserting the distal end of the passer into the first incision,
• (e) forming a tunnel within the patient using a tunneling tip by moving the distal end of the passer from the first incision to the second incision by feeding the passer into the patient at the first incision,
• (f) removing the probe from the cradle of the obturator after the tunneling tip reaches the second incision,
• (g) inserting a portion of the medical lead into the cradle so that the portion of the medical lead is held within the cradle,
• (h) moving the distal end of the passer back through the tunnel, along with the cradle of the obturator and the, portion of the medical lead held therein, and
• (i) removing the portion of the medical lead from the cradle of the obturator after the distal end of the passer reaches the first incision, thereby leaving the medical lead within the tunnel.