Split sheath for trocar assembly

• US 20090043328A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Senorx Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Senorx Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Delsman, Jill
• Granted Patent: US 8,419,762 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/185
• 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 17/3431 being collapsible, e.g. made of thin flexible material A61B17/3423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/038 during shipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0801 Prevention of accidental cutting or pricking
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/03 Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0662 Guide tubes

Abstract

A trocar assembly including a trocar and a trocar sheath and methods for accessing an intracorporeal site, e.g. biopsy or trocar site, using the trocar assembly. The trocar has a tissue penetrating distal tip, an elongated shaft and a proximal handle portion. The distal portion of the trocar sheath forms a releasable connection, such as a friction fit, with the shaft of the trocar and a slit that extends from the distal portion to the proximal end of the trocar sheath. The trocar assembly is advanced through the patient'"'"'s tissue until the distal end of the trocar sheath is located at the desired site and then the trocar is removed. A treatment device such as a radiation balloon catheter is advanced through the interior of the sheath until the treatment component thereof is at the desired site.

Claims

1. A trocar assembly, comprising:

a. a trocar having a tissue penetrating distal tip, an elongated shaft and a proximal handle portion; and

b. a trocar sheath having a distal end, a proximal end, a distal cylindrical portion having an interior configured to provide a releasable connection with the elongated shaft of the trocar and a slit extending proximally from the distal cylindrical portion to the proximal end of the trocar and an inner portion defining at least in part a guide leading to the distal cylindrical portion.

2. The trocar assembly of claim 1 wherein the distal cylindrical portion of the sheath is a closed cylindrical portion and has a scored line aligned with the slit thereof.

3. The trocar assembly of claim 2 wherein the scored line is configured to tear upon passage therethrough of another instrument having a transverse dimension or expandable to a transverse dimension slightly larger than the transverse dimension of the closed cylindrical portion.

4. The trocar assembly of claim 1 wherein the slit expands proximally from the closed distal cylindrical portion.

5. The trocar assembly of claim 1 wherein the closed distal cylindrical portion of the sheath defines at least in part an opening in the distal end thereof.

6. The trocar assembly of claim 1 wherein the releasable connection between the trocar and the trocar sheath is a friction fit.

7. The trocar assembly of claim 1 wherein the releasable connection between the trocar and the trocar sheath is a threaded connection.

8. The trocar assembly of claim 1 wherein the releasable connection between the trocar and the trocar sheath is a detent in one of the trocar and trocar sheath and a recess or groove in the other of the trocar and trocar sheath.

9. The trocar assembly of claim 1 wherein the tissue penetrating distal tip has a sharp point and three concaved surfaces which form three cutting edges extending proximal from the sharp point.

10. A trocar sheath which has an elongated shaft with proximal and distal ends, a closed cylindrical distal shaft portion, an elongated slit in the shaft extending proximally from the closed cylindrical distal shaft portion and a score line in the closed cylindrical distal portion at least part of which is aligned with the elongated slit.

11. The trocar sheath of claim 10 wherein the width of the slit expands proximally.

12. The trocar sheath of claim 10 wherein the proximal end thereof has opposed exterior finger grips.

13. The trocar sheath of claim 10 wherein the proximal end thereof has a U-shaped structural support member to hold the proximal end of the sheath so as to form a tapered interior channel.

14. The trocar sheath of claim 13 wherein the U-shaped structural support member is provided with opposed exterior finger grips.

15. The trocar sheath of claim 13 wherein the distal end thereof is chamfered to provide a smooth transition with a trocar disposed in the interior channel.

16. A sheath for delivery of a catheter having a balloon on a distal portion thereof through a passageway to an intracorporeal site from which tissue has been removed, comprising:

an elongate shaft with proximal and distal ends;

a close cylindrical distal shaft portion which is configured to open upon passage of the balloon on the catheter,

an elongated expanded or expandable proximal shaft portion having free edges extending proximally from the closed cylindrical distal shaft portion and configured to guide the catheter to the closed distal shaft portion.

17. The sheath of claim 16 wherein the closed cylindrical distal shaft portion has a score line which facilitates opening of the closed cylindrical distal shaft portion upon passage of the balloon therethrough.

18. The sheath of claim 17 wherein the free edges of the proximal shaft portion define an elongated slit.

19. The sheath of claim 18 wherein the score line on the closed cylindrical distal portion is at least in part aligned with the elongated slit.

20. The sheath of claim 18 wherein the proximal end thereof has opposed exterior finger grips.

21. The sheath of claim 16 wherein the proximal end thereof has opposed exterior finger grips.

22. The sheath of claim 16 wherein the proximal end thereof has a U-shaped structural support member to hold the proximal end of the sheath so as to form a tapered interior channel.

23. The sheath of claim 22 wherein the U-shaped structural support member is provided with opposed exterior finger grips.

24. The sheath of claim 16 wherein the distal end is chamfered.