EXPANDABLE THORACIC ACCESS PORT
First Claim
1. A surgical access assembly for positioning within an opening in tissue, the surgical access assembly comprising:
- a body including first and second side panels opposing one another and first and second end panels interconnecting the side panels, the first and second end panels moveable between a folded position and an expanded position to correspondingly move the first and second side panels with respect to one another between an approximated position and a spaced apart position, wherein the first and second side panels are flexed outwardly and apart from one another to define a passageway therebetween; and
a flexible membrane coupled to the first and second side panels and extending proximally therefrom.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical access assembly includes a body having first and second side panels opposing one another and first and second end panels interconnecting the side panels. The first and second end panels are moveable between a folded position and an expanded position to correspondingly move the first and second side panels with respect to one another between an approximated position and a spaced apart position. In the spaced apart position, the first and second side panels are flexed outwardly and apart from one another to define a passageway therebetween. A flexible membrane is coupled to the first and second side panels and extends proximally therefrom.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A surgical access assembly for positioning within an opening in tissue, the surgical access assembly comprising:
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a body including first and second side panels opposing one another and first and second end panels interconnecting the side panels, the first and second end panels moveable between a folded position and an expanded position to correspondingly move the first and second side panels with respect to one another between an approximated position and a spaced apart position, wherein the first and second side panels are flexed outwardly and apart from one another to define a passageway therebetween; and a flexible membrane coupled to the first and second side panels and extending proximally therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A surgical access assembly for positioning within an opening in tissue, the surgical access assembly comprising:
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a body composed of substantially rigid material and having an opening dimensioned and configured to receive surgical instruments therethrough; a plurality of flexible members extending distally to the body in a first direction; an elastic membrane extending proximally to the body in a second different direction; and an outer tensioning member connected to the elastic membrane, the tensioning member movable to tension the elastic membrane to retract soft tissue adjacent the opening in tissue. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of accessing an internal cavity of a patient comprising the steps of:
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forming an opening in the patient'"'"'s tissue; providing an access assembly including; a body including first and second side panels opposing one another and first and second end panels interconnecting the side panels, the first and second end panels moveable between a folded position and an expanded position to correspondingly move the first and second side panels with respect to one another between an approximated position and a spaced apart position, wherein the first and second side panels are flexed outwardly and apart from one another to a passageway therebetween; and a flexible membrane coupled to the first and second side panels and extending proximally therefrom; inserting the access assembly through the opening in tissue with the end panels in the folded position and the side panels in the approximated position such that the side panels and the end panels are positioned within an intercostal space defined between adjacent ribs of the patient and such that the flexible membrane extends proximally from the opening; and moving the end panels to the expanded position such that the side panels are moved to the spaced apart position to expand the intercostal space and define the passageway therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification