Cannula for receiving surgical instruments

• US 20030195549A1
• Filed: 05/16/2003
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zimmer Spine, Inc. (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Adam Sher, Thomas William Davison, Timothy E. Taylor
• Inventors: Taylor, Timothy E., Sher, Adam, Davison, Thomas W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,033,369 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/198
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0218 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0293 with ring member to support retractor elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1735 for rasps or chisels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1757 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/282 Jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3439 with means for changing the inner diameter of the cannula, e.g. expandable A61B17/3423, A61B17/3431 take precedence; catheters A61M25/0662
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00238 Type of minimally invasive operation A61B2017/00805 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00261 Discectomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable

Abstract

A cannula (10) receives surgical instruments (120) for performing a surgical procedure on a body (130). The cannula (10) comprises a tube structure (12) defining a passage (16) through which the surgical instruments (120) are inserted into the body (130). The tube structure (12) has a proximal end (20) and a distal end (62). The tube structure (12) includes an expandable portion (40) for enabling an increase in the cross-sectional area of the passage (16) at the distal end (62). The expandable portion (40) of the tube structure (12), when expanded, has a conical configuration.

Claims

1. A system for providing minimally invasive access to the spine of a patient, said system comprising:

an elongate body having a distal end, a proximal end, an outer surface and an inner surface, said inner surface defining a passage extending through the elongate body through which instruments can be inserted to the surgical location; and

an expander configured to be inserted into the passage and to engage the inner surface to cause opposing portions of the distal end of the elongate body to be moved transversely to increase access to the surgical location.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the expander is configured to engage the inner surface to move the elongate body such that the cross-sectional area of the passage at a first location is greater than the cross-sectional area of said passage at a second location, wherein the first location is distal to the second location.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the elongate body comprises rigid material extending around substantially the entire perimeter of the cross-sectional area between the first and second locations.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the inner surface defining the passage is made of a smooth metal.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the passage is sized to receive at least two instruments simultaneously.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the expander comprises a pair of legs pivotally connected to one another.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the elongate body includes an area overlap between the inner surface and outer surface, and wherein actuating the expander reduces the area of overlap.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the elongate body includes two portions capable of pivoting relative to each other, and wherein actuating the expander causes the two portions to pivot relative to each other.