Stabilization assist device for trocar

• US 20080058728A1
• Filed: 07/23/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Soltz, Michael, Prommersberger, Megan, Gresham, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,137,322 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/174
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3417 Details of tips or shafts, e.g. grooves, expandable, bendable; Multiple coaxial sliding cannulas, e.g. for dilating syringe needles A61M5/32; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00898 expandable upon contact with fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00942 hydrophilic
• 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

Abstract

A stabilizer is provided to secure and fix the position of a cannula assembly relative to tissue. The stabilizer is a liquid swellable member which expands within an incision in tissue in response to the absorption of a liquid. The stabilizer includes an inner adhesive layer to secure the stabilizer relative to a cannula assembly. The stabilizer is formed of a polymeric gel or foam. In one embodiment, the stabilizer is fixedly secured to an elongate tubular member of a cannula assembly. In an alternative embodiment, the stabilizer is mounted for longitudinal movement along an elongate tubular member of a cannula assembly.

Claims

1. A stabilizer for use in securing a cannula assembly relative to tissue comprising:

a stabilizing member positionable upon an elongate tubular member associated with a cannula assembly, the stabilizing member being swellable from an initial dimension to a greater final dimension in response to the absorption of a liquid.

2. The stabilizer as recited in claim 1, wherein the stabilizing member is a hollow, elongate tubular member, the elongate tubular member swellable from an initial diameter to a greater final diameter in response to the absorption of a liquid.

3. The stabilizer as recited in claim 2, wherein the stabilizing member includes a longitudinal slit to facilitate positioning the stabilizing member about the elongate tubular member of the cannula assembly.

4. The stabilizer as recited in claim 2, wherein the stabilizing member includes an adhesive layer formed on the inner surface of the stabilizing member to secure the stabilizing member to an elongated tubular member of a cannula assembly.

5. The stabilizing member as recited in claim 2, wherein the stabilizing member is formed of a polymeric gel.

6. The stabilizing member as recited in claim 2, wherein the stabilizing member is formed of a polymeric foam.

7. The stabilizing member as recited in claim 2, wherein the diameter of the stabilizing member is reducible from the final diameter to the initial diameter upon the application of a subsequent material.

8. An adjustable stabilizer for securing a cannula assembly relative to tissue comprising:

a hollow tubular member for receipt of a portion of a cannula assembly; and

a stabilizing member secured to the hollow tubular member and being swellable from an initial dimension to a greater final dimension in response to the absorption of a liquid.

9. The adjustable stabilizer as recited in claim 8, wherein the stabilizing member has an inner adhesive layer on an inner surface thereof to secure the stabilizing member to the hollow tubular member.

10. The adjustable stabilizer as recited in claim 8, wherein the hollow tubular member includes a locking member for securing the hollow tubular member at a predetermined position along the length of a cannula assembly.

11. The adjustable stabilizer as recited in claim 10, wherein the locking member includes a spring biased clamp.

12. The adjustable stabilizer as recited in claim 11, wherein the locking member is positioned at a proximal end of the hollow tubular member.

13. The adjustable stabilizer as recited in claim 10, wherein the locking member is positioned proximally of the stabilizing member.

14. The adjustable stabilizer as recited in claim 8, wherein the stabilizing member is formed of a polymeric gel.

15. The adjustable stabilizer as recited in claim 8, wherein the stabilizing member is formed of a polymeric foam.

16. A stabilized cannula assembly comprising:

a cannula assembly having a valve body and an elongate tubular member extending distally from the valve body; and

a stabilizing member positionable upon the elongate tubular member, the stabilizing member being swellable from an initial dimension to a greater final dimension in response to the absorption of a liquid.

17. The stabilized cannula assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein the stabilizing member is fixedly secured to the elongate tubular member of the cannula assembly.

18. The stabilized cannula assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein the stabilizing member is movably mounted relative to the elongate tubular member of the cannula assembly such that the stabilizing member may be moved longitudinally relative to the elongate tubular member.

19. The stabilized cannula assembly as recited in claim 18, wherein the stabilizing member is mounted on hollow tube movably mounted on the elongate tubular member.

20. The stabilized cannula as recited in claim 19, wherein the hollow tube includes a locking member to secure the hollow tube longitudinally relative to the elongate tubular member.