Tunnelling Instrument for Subcutaneously Placing an Article, and Method of Use of Said Instrument

• US 20090299377A1
• Filed: 04/18/2007
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Plasmed Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Plasmed Ltd.
• Inventors: Bright, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 9,119,603 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3468 for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320044 Blunt dissectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0136 Handles therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0194 Tunnelling catheters

Abstract

An improved tip and handle for a tunnelling instrument are provided along with an improved tunnelling instrument. The tip is configured for attachment to a tunnelling instrument and includes a first portion configured to form a tunnel, a second portion sized to fit within a tubular component to be placed in the tunnel, and a third portion configured for attachment of the tubular component. The handle is configured to be attached to and detached from a tunneller shaft of a tunnelling instrument, at any point along the length of the tunneller shaft. The tunnelling instrument comprises a pair of tips, a connection means for forming a link between the tips, and a tunneller shaft slidably engagable with the connection means and attachable to either of the tips. Various forms of use of the tunnelling instrument are also disclosed.

Claims

1-52. -52. (canceled)

53. A tunnelling instrument comprising:

a pair of tips, each having an attachment means;

a connection means for forming a link between said tips; and

a tunneller shaft slidably engageable with said connection means and having complementary attachment means at either end thereof for selective attachment to the attachment means of each of said tips.

54. A tunnelling instrument as claimed in claim 53 wherein each of said tips have different dimensions.

55. A tunnelling instrument as claimed in claim 53 wherein said connection means is flexible.

56. A tunnelling instrument as claimed in claim 53 wherein said connection means includes a lumen.

57. A tunnelling instrument as claimed in claim 56 wherein said lumen extends from the distal end of one of said tips, through said connection means, to the distal end of the other of said tips.

58. A tunneling instrument as claimed in claim 56 wherein said lumen is configured for the passage of a device, substance or energy.

59. A tunnelling instrument as claimed in claim 53 wherein said connection means is configured as a catheter.

60. A tunnelling instrument as claimed in claim 53 wherein said connection means is configured as a device for use in medical therapy, diagnostic purposes or surgery.

61. A tunnelling instrument as claimed in claim 53 wherein said connection means is configured as a biologically absorbed device.

62. A tunnelling instrument as claimed in claim 53 wherein said connection means has a length of at least twice the length of said tunneller shaft.

63. A tunnelling instrument as claimed in claim 53 further comprising a handle.

64. A tunnelling instrument as claimed in claim 53 wherein at least a part of said tunneling instrument is provided within a protective sheath.

65. A tunnelling instrument as claimed in claim 53 wherein at least a part of said tunneling instrument is coated with biological or pharmaceutical agents.

66. A tunnelling kit comprising:

a tunneling instrument of claim 53; and

one or more additional tips, each having an attachment means.

67. A tunnelling kit as claimed in claim 66 wherein said tips are provided in a range of different dimensions.