Surgical tool

• US 20070173879A1
• Filed: 01/23/2006
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Heartware,Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Heartware,Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Pandey, Rajesh
• Granted Patent: US 8,088,138 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/190
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00008 Vein tendon strippers tube strippers A61M1/83
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06109 Big needles, either gripped by hand or connectable to a handle
• 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 17/3415 for introducing tubes or catheters, e.g. gastrostomy tubes, drain catheters A61B17/3417 takes precedence; body piercing catheter guide needles A61M25/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320044 Blunt dissectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320056 Tunnelers

Abstract

A tunneling device for creating a pathway in subcutaneous tissue of a person'"'"'s body. The tunneling device includes a member having two ends, where each of the ends defines an insertion surface that facilitates the insertion of the ends into the subcutaneous tissue of the person'"'"'s body. The tunneling device includes an interchangeable handle connectable to each of the ends. The handle defines a grasping surface and an opening. The opening is configured to receive either of the ends. The grasping surface enables a user to securely hold the handle with one hand to forcibly move the member through the subcutaneous tissue of the person'"'"'s body to create the pathway in the subcutaneous tissue, and pull a cable of an implant device through the created pathway.

Claims

1. A tunneling device for creating a pathway in subcutaneous tissue of a person'"'"'s body, said tunneling device comprising:

a member having two ends, each of said ends defining an insertion surface that facilitates the insertion of the ends into the subcutaneous tissue of the person'"'"'s body; and

an interchangeable handle connectable to each of said ends, said handle defining a grasping surface and an opening, said opening configured to receive either of said ends, said grasping surface enabling a user to securely hold the handle with one hand to forcibly move said member through the subcutaneous tissue of the person'"'"'s body to create the pathway in the subcutaneous tissue, and enabling the user to pull a cable of an implant device through the created pathway.

2. The tunneling device of claim 1, which includes a tip removably connected to at least one of said ends, said tip defining said insertion surface.

3. The tunneling device of claim 1, which includes a tip removably connected to each of said ends, said tips respectively defining said insertion surface, wherein at least a portion of each of said ends defines a plurality of threads, and wherein each of said tips is threadingly engaged with one of said ends of said member.

4. The tunneling device of claim 1, wherein said insertion surface defined by at least one of said ends is a tapered surface.

5. The tunneling device of claim 1, wherein said insertion surface defined by each of said ends is a tapered surface.

6. The tunneling device of claim 1, which includes a coupler removably connected to one of said ends of said member, said coupler adapted to couple said member to an end of said cable.

7. The tunneling device of claim 1, wherein the handle includes an actuator, said actuator operable to cause the handle to engage with or disengage from one of said ends.

8. The tunneling device of claim 7, wherein said handle includes a shaft and a spring positioned between said shaft and said actuator, wherein said actuator is operable to compress said spring and cause said shaft to move to a position wherein one of said ends of said member is insertable into or releasable from said handle.

9. A tunneling system for creating a pathway in subcutaneous tissue of a person'"'"'s body, said tunneling system comprising:

a malleable member having a first end and a second end, each of said ends defining an insertion surface that facilitates the insertion of the first and second ends into the subcutaneous tissue of the person'"'"'s body;

an interchangeable handle connectable to each of said first and second ends, said handle defining a grasping surface and an opening, said opening configured to receive either of said first and second ends, said grasping surface enabling a user to securely hold the handle with one hand; and

a coupler operable to join one of said first and second ends of said malleable member and an end of a cable of an implant device to secure said malleable member and said cable together,

said handle operable to enable a user to forcibly move said malleable member through the subcutaneous tissue of the person'"'"'s body to create the pathway in the subcutaneous tissue, and enable the user to pull the cable of the implant device through the created pathway.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said handle includes a post and a spring positioned between said post and said actuator, said post having a first diameter and a second smaller diameter,

said post initially positioned adjacent to said first end of said malleable member inserted in said handle to prevent said first end from being removed from said handle, and

said spring biasing said post inwardly to cause said second diameter of said post to be positioned adjacent to said first end of said malleable member to enable said first end of said malleable member to be removed from said handle.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said insertion surface of at least one of said first and second ends is a tapered surface.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said insertion surface of each of said first and second ends is a tapered surface.

13. The system of claim 9, which includes a removable tip attached to each of said first and second ends, said removable tips respectively defining said insertion surface.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said insertion surface of at least one of said tips is a tapered surface.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said insertion surface of each of said tips is a tapered surface.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of each of said tips defines a plurality of threads, and wherein each of said tips are threadingly engaged with one of said ends of said malleable member.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein said coupler includes a plurality of connectors, a first connector of said plurality of connectors operable to secure said coupler to said end of said cable and a second connector of said plurality of connectors operable to secure one of said first and second ends of said malleable member to said coupler.

18. A method of forming a pathway in subcutaneous tissue of a person'"'"'s body, said method comprising:

(a) providing a member having two ends, each of said ends being insertable into the subcutaneous tissue of the person'"'"'s body;

(b) providing a handle connectable to each of said ends of said member, said handle including an actuator operable to cause the handle to be engaged with and disengaged from one of said ends of said member;

(c) activating said actuator;

(d) connecting said handle to one of said ends of said member;

(e) inserting the other of said ends into the subcutaneous tissue of the person'"'"'s body;

(f) moving said other of said ends through the subcutaneous tissue of the person'"'"'s body to create the pathway in the tissue of the body;

(g) connecting a cable of an medical device implanted in the body to said other of said ends; and

(h) moving said cable through the pathway created in the body using said handle.

19. The method of claim 18, which includes connecting a coupler to one of said ends of said member and to an end of said cable.

20. The method of claim 18, which includes connecting a removable tip to each of said ends, each of said removable tips defining an insertion surface to facilitate the movement of the tips through the subcutaneous tissue of the body.