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US 8,257,251 B2Granted
Methods and devices for providing access into a body cavity
AssigneeEthicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
InventorsFrederick E. Shelton, IV, Christopher W. Widenhouse
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and devices are provided for providing surgical access into a body cavity. In one embodiment, a surgical access device is provided that includes a proximal housing and a distal retractor. At least one stability thread can extend around a perimeter of at least a portion of the distal retractor. In some embodiments, the stability thread can be mechanically adjustable to change a diameter of the distal retractor.
Claims18
A surgical access device, comprising:
- a proximal housing having one or more sealing ports extending therethrough, each sealing port having a sealing element configured to form a seal around an instrument inserted through the sealing port;
- a distal flexible retractor including a proximal flange, a distal flange, and an elongate portion extending between the proximal and distal flanges, the elongate portion being configured to be positioned in tissue of a body to form a pathway therethrough into a body cavity with the proximal and distal flanges positioned on opposed sides of the tissue;
- and
- an actuation member spiraling around a perimeter of the retractor, the actuation member being configured to selectively effect a change in a diameter of the retractor, wherein
- the retractor has a lumen extending through a sidewall thereof, the actuation member being disposed in the lumen, and
- the retractor has a working channel extending therethrough configured to define the pathway, the lumen spiraling around the working channel, and the actuation member is configured to move within the lumen relative to the retractor to effect the change in the diameter of the retractor.
3 more elements
A surgical access device, comprising:
- a proximal housing having one or more sealing ports extending therethrough, each sealing port having a sealing element configured to form a seal around an instrument inserted through the sealing port;
- a distal flexible retractor including a proximal flange, a distal flange, and an elongate portion extending between the proximal and distal flanges, the elongate portion being configured to be positioned in tissue of a body to form a pathway therethrough into a body cavity with the proximal and distal flanges positioned on opposed sides of the tissue;
- and
- an actuation member spiraling around a perimeter of the retractor, the actuation member being configured to selectively effect a change in a diameter of the retractor, wherein
- the elongate portion has at least one ridge spiraling around an outside surface thereof, the actuator being located within the ridge, and
- the actuation member is configured to move within the ridge to change a length of the actuation member positioned within the ridge to effect the change in the diameter of the retractor.
3 more elements
A surgical access device, comprising:
- a proximal external portion;
- a distal portion including a flexible retractor having a working channel extending therethrough, the retractor having a lumen spiraling around the working channel, and the retractor being configured to be positioned in tissue of a body such that the working channel forms a pathway through the tissue into a body cavity;
- and
- an actuation member disposed in the lumen and spiraling around a perimeter of the retractor, the actuation member being configured to selectively effect a change in a diameter of the retractor, wherein the actuation member is configured to slide through the lumen relative to the retractor to effect the change in the diameter of the retractor.
1 more element
A surgical access device, comprising:
- a proximal external portion;
- a distal portion including a flexible retractor having a working channel extending therethrough, the retractor having a lumen spiraling around the working channel, and the retractor being configured to be positioned in tissue of a body such that the working channel forms a pathway through the tissue into a body cavity;
- and
- an actuation member disposed in the lumen and spiraling around a perimeter of the retractor, the actuation member being configured to selectively effect a change in a diameter of the retractor, wherein the actuation member is configured to slide within the lumen to change a length of the actuation member positioned within the lumen to effect the change in the diameter of the retractor.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.