Instrument introducer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An instrument introducer for facilitating the introduction of a surgical instrument into a body opening of a patient, the instrument introducer comprising:
- a body portion defining a lumen for passing a portion of the surgical instrument therethrough, the body portion including;
a distal end portion fabricated from a flexible material and including a distal orifice;
a proximal end portion including a proximal orifice; and
at least one fold formed in at least the distal end portion of the body portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Instrument introducers and methods of using the same are provided to facilitate the introduction of a surgical instrument into a cavity or a body opening of a patient. The instrument introducers include a body portion defining a lumen therethrough, a flexible distal end portion having a distal orifice, a proximal end portion having a proximal orifice, and at least one fold formed in at least the distal end portion.
1315 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An instrument introducer for facilitating the introduction of a surgical instrument into a body opening of a patient, the instrument introducer comprising:
a body portion defining a lumen for passing a portion of the surgical instrument therethrough, the body portion including;
a distal end portion fabricated from a flexible material and including a distal orifice;
a proximal end portion including a proximal orifice; and
at least one fold formed in at least the distal end portion of the body portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for inserting a distal end portion of a surgical instrument into a body opening of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an instrument introducer including;
a body portion defining a lumen therethrough for accommodating a distal end portion of a surgical instrument therethrough, the body portion including;
a distal end portion having a distal orifice;
a proximal end portion defining a proximal orifice; and
at least one fold formed in at least the distal end portion of the body portion, wherein at least the distal end portion of the instrument introducer is fabricated from a flexible material;
positioning the distal end portion of the instrument introducer into the body opening of a patient;
inserting the distal end portion of the surgical instrument into the lumen of the instrument introducer; and
advancing the distal end portion of the surgical instrument through the lumen of the instrument introducer, such that as the distal end portion of the surgical instrument is passed into the distal end portion of the instrument introducer, the at least one fold radially expands to accommodate the distal end portion of the surgical instrument. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An instrument introducer for facilitating the introduction of a surgical instrument into a body opening of a patient, the instrument introducer comprising:
a body portion defining a lumen for passing a portion of the surgical instrument therethrough, the body portion including;
a distal end portion including a distal orifice;
a proximal end portion including a proximal orifice; and
at least one fold formed in at least the distal end portion of the body portion.
Specification