ORIFICE INTRODUCER DEVICE

• US 20110082342A1
• Filed: 12/13/2010
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Whitman, Michael P., Dorros, Gerald, Hill, Jeremy
• Granted Patent: US 8,814,785 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3439 with means for changing the inner diameter of the cannula, e.g. expandable A61B17/3423, A61B17/3431 take precedence; catheters A61M25/0662
• 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 2090/08021 of the patient or his organs

Abstract

An orifice introducer device for introducing, e.g., a surgical device, into, e.g., an orifice of a body, includes a tubular member having a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end is adjustable between a first position for insertion into an orifice and a second position once inserted into the orifice. Alternatively, the orifice introducer device includes a distal portion having a proximal end configured to be detachably secured to the distal end of the tubular member. The distal portion is selectively detachable when the orifice introducer device is positioned in the orifice.

Claims

1. An orifice introducer, comprising:

a tubular sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, a diameter of the distal end of the sheath being expandable from a first diameter to a second diameter to allow passage of a surgical instrument having a diameter that is larger than the first diameter, wherein the distal end of the sheath includes at least one of a slit, a seam, a perforation and a weakened area, which allows the expansion of the distal end.

2. The orifice introducer of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the sheath is conically shaped at least when the diameter of the sheath is the first diameter.

3. The orifice introducer of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the sheath is tapered at least when the diameter of the sheath is the first diameter.

4. The orifice introducer of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the sheath is formed of a stretchable material so that the distal end of the sheath stretches to expand from the first diameter to the second diameter.

5. An orifice introducer device, comprising:

a tubular member having a distal end and a proximal end;

the distal end being adjustable between a first position for insertion into an orifice and a second position once inserted into the orifice, wherein, in the first position, the distal end has a smaller diameter than the proximal end, and wherein the diameter of the distal end is greater in the second position relative to the first position.

6. The orifice introducer device of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the distal end is stretchable, and wherein the diameter of the distal end is adjusted to the second position relative to the first position by stretching.

7. The orifice introducer device of claim 5, wherein the distal end includes a slit, and wherein the diameter of the distal end is adjusted to the second position relative to the first position by opening of the slit.

8. The orifice introducer device of claim 7, wherein the distal end includes a plurality of holes adjacent to the slit and a string threaded through the holes, and wherein the opening of the slit is controlled by a movement of the string.

9. The orifice introducer device of claim 8, wherein at least one end of the string is attached to an actuation device for controlling a movement of the string.

10. The orifice introducer device of claim 9, wherein the actuation device includes a ring attached to the string.

11. A method for using an orifice introducer device comprising the steps of:

providing a tubular member having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being in a first position in which the distal end has a smaller diameter than the proximal end;

inserting the distal end of the tubular member into a body orifice; and

adjusting the distal end of the tubular member into a second position.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

inserting a surgical device through the tubular member.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the adjusting step includes adjusting a diameter of the distal end of the tubular member so as to have a greater diameter in the second position relative to the diameter in the first position.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the adjusting step includes stretching at least a portion of the distal end of the tubular member.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the adjusting step includes opening a slit in the distal end of the tubular member.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the opening of the slit includes the step of moving, via an actuation device, a string attached to the slit.