Trocar anchor

• US 20070088258A1
• Filed: 10/13/2005
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Wenchell, Thomas, Gresham, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,811,251 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/34 Trocars; Puncturing needles pointed biopsy instruments A61B10/0233; devices for piercing the ear-lobes A44C7/001; seals or hemostasis valves A61M39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3419 Sealing means between cannula and body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3484 Anchoring means, e.g. spreading-out umbrella-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3486 Balloon

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for providing access to a body cavity without substantial loss of inflation gas therein. The apparatus includes an access assembly that has a tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, an elastic portion interposed the proximal end and the distal end, and a lumen therethrough. An anchor sleeve is disposed coaxially over the tubular member and has a radially expandable region. The anchor sleeve is moveable between an axially elongated configuration and an axially shortened configuration and is biased toward the axially shortened configuration by a force exerted by the elastic portion of the tubular member. The axially shortened configuration corresponds to the anchor sleeve being in the fully deployed position. Methods for providing anchored access to a cavity within a patient are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An access assembly comprising:

a tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, an elastic portion interposed therebetween, and further defining a lumen therethrough; and

an anchor sleeve disposed coaxially over the tubular member, said sleeve having a radially expandable region, wherein the anchor sleeve is moveable between an axially elongated configuration and an axially shortened configuration, further wherein the anchor sleeve is biased toward the axially shortened configuration by a force exerted by the elastic portion of the tubular member.

2. The access assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising an obturator removably receivable in the lumen of the tubular member.

3. The access assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein the obturator engages a distal portion of the sleeve to axially elongate the anchor sleeve such that the anchor sleeve collapses to its smallest diameter to facilitate entry into a percutaneous opening in the patient.

4. The access assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a trocar removably receivable in the lumen of the tubular member.

5. The access assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the proximal end of the tubular member is configured as a hub member.

6. The access assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the anchor sleeve is attached at at least one of a proximal end and a distal end, to the tubular member.

7. The access assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the anchor sleeve has an intermediate radially expandable region.

8. The access assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the radially expandable region comprises a mesh covered with an elastomer sheet.

9. The access assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the force exerted by the elastic portion of the tubular member is a compressive force which causes the anchor sleeve to be biased to the axially shortened configuration.

10. The access assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the radially expandable region provides a seal against an internal surface of an abdominal wall.

11. The access assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a flange on the proximal end of the tubular member, wherein the flange is configured to be positioned adjacent an outside surface of dermis of a patient.

12. A method for providing anchored access to a cavity within a patient, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a tubular member having an anchor sleeve disposed coaxially over the tubular member, said anchor sleeve having a radially expandable region, wherein the anchor sleeve is moveable between an axially elongated configuration and an axially shortened configuration and is biased toward the axially shortened configuration by a force exerted by an elastic portion of the tubular member;

elongating the anchor sleeve in an axial direction to reduce an outside diameter of the sleeve;

inserting the tubular member and anchor sleeve into a percutaneous opening in a patient; and

returning the anchor sleeve to its biased axially shortened configuration, thereby forming a seal against an inside surface of the dermis of a patient around the percutaneous opening.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of inserting an obturator into a lumen defined by the tubular member in a distal direction to elongate the elastic portion of the tubular member and the anchor sleeve.

14. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein the obturator engages a distal end portion of the tubular member.

15. The method as recited in claim 13 further comprising the step of removing said obturator from the lumen after inserting the tubular member through the percutaneous opening.

16. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of insufflating the cavity with a gas, wherein the seal inhibits loss of the gas through the percutaneous opening.

17. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of axially advancing a flange on a proximal end of said tubular member to clamp against an exterior surface of the dermis of the patient.

18. A trocar access assembly comprising:

an access assembly having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and a lumen therethrough; and

a self-adjusting sheath tube disposed within the lumen defined by the access assembly, wherein the self-adjusting sheath tube comprises an elastic section to maintain a constant force on the access assembly to bias the access assembly towards a deployed position.

19. The trocar access assembly as recited in claim 18 wherein the access assembly comprises an anchor base and an anchor.

20. The trocar access assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein the anchor base includes a tubular portion connected at a distal end thereof to a proximal end of the anchor and a flange connected at a distal end thereof to a proximal end of the tubular portion.

21. The trocar access assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein the anchor is formed of a mesh material.

22. The trocar access assembly as recited in claim 18 wherein the self-adjusting sheath tube comprises a plastic distal tip portion, a flange forming the proximal portion and the elastic section interposed the distal tip portion and the proximal portion.

23. The trocar access assembly as recited in claim 18 wherein a distal portion of the access assembly is connected to a distal tip of the self-adjusting sheath tube.

24. The trocar access assembly as recited in claim 23 further comprising an obturator disposed within a lumen defined by the self-adjusting sheath tube, wherein a distal portion of the obturator engages the distal tip of the self-adjusting sheath tube and upon further distal movement of the obturator within the lumen, the obturator causes the self-adjusting sheath tube and access assembly to elongate in the axial direction.