Devices, systems, and methods for subcutaneously placing an article
First Claim
1. A sheath for use with a tunneling tool, the sheath comprising:
- a pair of nested tubes, each tube having a leading end, a trailing end, and a longitudinal opening; and
a coupling element attached to the leading ends of the nested tubes, the coupling element being removably attachable to a tunneling tool.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides devices, systems, and methods for positioning an article, such as a graft or catheter, in a subcutaneous tunnel between skin and muscle tissue of a patient to establish improved access to the patient'"'"'s vascular system for hemodialysis, hemofiltration, or other extracorporeal blood treatments. In particular, the present invention provides devices, systems, and methods which minimize longitudinal forces or friction acting against the vascular graft as it is being subcutaneously positioned while still providing a tight seal between the graft and the subcutaneous tissue, which in turn minimizes hematomas, bleeding, and infections and enhances needle accessibility of the graft for extracorporeal treatment. A system for subcutaneously positioning an article comprises a tunneling tool, a pair of nested tubes coupleable to a trailing end of the tunneling tool, and a flexible article which can be slidably received within the pair of nested tubes. The nested tubes each have a leading end, a trailing end, and a longitudinal opening.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A sheath for use with a tunneling tool, the sheath comprising:
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a pair of nested tubes, each tube having a leading end, a trailing end, and a longitudinal opening; and
a coupling element attached to the leading ends of the nested tubes, the coupling element being removably attachable to a tunneling tool. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for subcutaneously positioning an article, the method comprising:
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providing a trailing sheath;
inserting an article into the trailing sheath;
coupling the trailing sheath to a tunneling tool;
subcutaneously passing the tunneling tool through patient tissue to position the article at a desired location; and
removing the sheath from over the article while the article remains at the desired location. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for positioning an article in a subcutaneous tunnel, the method comprising:
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providing a trailing sheath having a pair of nested tubes, each tube having a longitudinal opening;
inserting the article into the trailing sheath;
coupling the trailing sheath to a tunneling tool;
subcutaneously passing the tunneling tool through patient tissue to position the article at a desired location; and
removing the sheath from over the article while the article remains at the desired location by separating the nested tubes within the tunnel.
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Specification