Method for anchoring and sealing a cannula assembly to the body of a patient
AssigneeApollo Camera, LLC
InventorsJohn I. Shipp, Jeffrey White
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cannula assembly for use in laproscopic surgery includes a cannula having a proximal end for use in orientating the assembly into an abdominal cavity, a distal end for insertion into a patient, and a passage through which surgical instruments can be inserted. An expandable feature in the form of an anchor is located toward the distal end of the cannula and is selectively expandable and collapsible. The feature in its expanded state prevents withdrawal of the cannula. A collar is pushed distally until it releasably cinches to the outside of the abdominal cavity thereby creating an airtight seal and stabilizing the assembly. The collar has a friction fit with the cannula designed to prevent excessive force against the cavity walls.
Claims11
A method for anchoring and sealing a cannula assembly to the body of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing the cannula assembly having a proximal end;
- a distal end, and a longitudinal axis passing through the proximal and distal ends, the cannula assembly having an inner sleeve having an interior surface forming a passage through the cannula assembly and the inner sleeve having an exterior surface, the cannula assembly having an outer sleeve having an interior surface adapted for slidable engagement with the exterior surface of the inner sleeve, the cannula assembly having a radially expandable anchor toward the distal end of the cannula assembly, the radially expandable anchor being configured to be movable between a retracted position and an expanded position, and the cannula assembly having a longitudinally movable collar having an internal surface forming a friction fit with the exterior surface of the outer sleeve, a force sufficient to overcome the friction fit being greater than a force to move the radially expandable anchor from the retracted position to the expanded position;
- inserting the cannula assembly to a depth to place the radially expandable anchor in a retracted position within the patient;
- expanding the radially expandable anchor from the retracted position to the expanded position by moving the collar and the outer sleeve together toward the distal end of the cannula assembly, movement of the collar and the cuter sleeve as a unit providing the force to move the radially expandable anchor from the retracted position to the expanded position without overcoming the friction fit between the internal surface of the collar and the exterior surface of the outer sleeve;
- and sliding the collar toward the distal end of the cannula assembly after the expanding of the radially expandable anchor from the retracted position to the expanded position with sufficient force to overcome the friction fit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.