Trocar for inserting implants
AssigneeAlza Corporation
InventorJohn R. Peery
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An implant retention trocar includes a cannula for puncturing the skin of an animal and an obturator for delivering the implant beneath the skin of the animal. The implant retention trocar has a cannula distal tip design which causes a minimum of trama and tearing of tissue during implant insertion. A spring element received within the cannula prevents an implant which is to be inserted into an animal from falling out of the cannula during the implant insertion process. The spring element includes a longitudinal leg which is folded with a zig-zag shaped bend. When the spring element is inserted into the cannula the zig-zag shaped bend of the longitudinal leg retains the implant within the cannula.
Claims15
A trocar comprising:
- a cannula for receiving an implant and inserting the implant into an animal, the cannula having a sharp tissue penetrating distal end;
- a spring element received entirely within the cannula, the spring element having a leaf spring for retaining the implant inside the cannula, the leaf spring applying a frictional force against the implant sufficient to prevent the implant from sliding out of the cannula under a weight of the implant, wherein the spring element is formed as a sheet with the leaf spring formed as a T-shaped cut out portion within the sheet;
- and
- an obturator for delivering the implant from the cannula into the animal.
A trocar comprising:
- a cannula for receiving an implant and inserting the implant into an animal;
- a spring element received within the cannula, the spring element having a leaf spring for retaining the implant inside the cannula, the leaf spring applying a frictional force against the implant sufficient to prevent the implant from sliding out of the cannula under a weight of the implant;
- an obturator for delivering the implant from the cannula into the animal;
- and
- wherein the leaf spring has a plurality of successive bends and the successive bends are arranged to alternatively contact an inside wall of the cannula and an outside of the implant to retain the implant in the cannula.
A trocar comprising:
- a cannula for receiving an implant and inserting the implant into an animal;
- a spring element received within the cannula, the spring element formed from a sheet with a continuous cut forming a T-shaped leaf spring connected to a surrounding sheet;
- an obturator for delivering the implant from the carnula into the animal;
- and
- wherein the leaf spring retains the implant inside the cannula by applying a frictional force against the implant sufficient to prevent the implant from sliding out of the cannula under a weight of the implant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.