TRAJECTORY GUIDE WITH ANGLED OR PATTERNED GUIDE LUMENS OR HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT

• US 20060192319A1
• Filed: 05/04/2006
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Image Guided Neurologics, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Image Guided Neurologics, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Solar, Matthew S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,658,879 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 264/271.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3462 with means for changing the diameter or the orientation of the entrance port of the cannula, e.g. for use with different-sized instruments, reduction ports, adapter seals expandable cannulas A61B17/3417
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3445 used as instrument channel for multiple instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3449 whereby the instrument channels merge into one single channel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3466 for simultaneous sealing of multiple instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/11 with guides for needles or instruments, e.g. arcuate slides or ball joints

Abstract

This document discusses trajectory guides that include an instrument guide with at least one lumen angled with respect to an orthogonal or other through-axis. In one example, patterned lumens on the instrument guide provide a mirror image pattern of trajectory axes intersecting a target plane. In another example, height adjustment of the instrument guide extends these or other targeting techniques to a three-dimensional volume. This document also describes a method of manufacturing such an instrument guide, which is also applicable to manufacturing an instrument guide providing parallel lumens.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

disposing at least one tube in a desired orientation within at least a portion of a bushing;

introducing a flowable hardening agent about the tube within at least a portion of the bushing; and

allowing the agent to harden.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the disposing at least one tube comprises:

disposing at least one pin in the desired orientation within at least a portion of the bushing; and

placing at least one tube over the respective at least one pin.

3. The method of claim 2, further including removing the at least one pin after allowing the agent to harden.

4. The method of claim 1, in which the allowing the agent to harden includes allowing the agent to harden into a plug that includes the at least one tube, wherein the plug is configured to be used as an instrument guide for providing a trajectory for an instrument in a medical procedure.