SURGICAL IMPLANTATION INSTRUMENT

• US 20130018412A1
• Filed: 01/17/2012
• Published: 01/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MiniPumps, LLC
• Original Assignee: MiniPumps, LLC
• Inventors: Journey, Michelle, Caffey, Sean, Humayun, Mark, Huculak, John
• Granted Patent: US 10,390,856 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/282 Jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/30 Surgical pincettes without pivotal connectionsfor holding suture needles or materials A61B17/0483; wound clamps A61B17/08 ; hand-held gripping tools without pivotal connections in general B25B9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00858 high friction or non-slip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00893 pharmaceutically effective
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00995 having a thin film
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2845 with a spring pushing the handle back
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51071 with anti-static agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0008 Introducing ophthalmic products into the ocular cavity or retaining products therein putting in contact lenses A61F9/0061; introducing or retaining media in cavities of the body in general A61M31/00

Abstract

Surgical introducers aid surgeons in the implantation of medical devices. The introducer provides support and an even distribution of force for ease of insertion and prevention of damage to the medical device while protecting the tissue into which the device is implanted. A representative embodiment includes or consists of a locking device, a pair of forceps, a specially configured and/or angled head with a seat for the device to be implanted, and a gripping area.

Claims

1. An instrument facilitating surgical implantation of an implantable device, the instrument comprising:

first and second of forceps arms each having first and second ends, the arms being joined at the first ends thereof and arranged to oppose but permit resisted compression of the arms toward each other;

a first-arm head member located at the second end of the first arm; and

a second-arm head member located at the second end of the second arm,

wherein the head members are angled away from each other relative to an axis running between and coplanar with the arms, and are shaped to releasably engage the implantable device without damage thereto upon compression of the arms.

2. The instrument of claim 1 further comprising a releasable catch for maintaining the arms in a compressed configuration, the catch being operable by a thumb-engageable slide disposed on the first arm.

3. The instrument of claim 2 wherein the slide is slidable along an angled path relative to the first arm.

4. The instrument of claim 1 further comprising a finger-operable rotation member affixed to a leadscrew along an axial length thereof, the leadscrew passing through threaded openings in the first and second arms such that rotation of the rotation member alters a distance between the arms.

5. The instrument of claim 4 wherein the finger-operable rotation member is disposed between the arms.

6. The instrument of claim 1 further comprising depth markings along the first arm indicating a distance from a terminus of the heads.

7. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the second-arm head has an angled curvature that is complementary to an internal anatomical contour.

8. The instrument of claim 7 wherein the internal anatomical contour is an ocular orbit.

9. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the head members have opposed surfaces for releasably engaging the implantable device upon compression of the arms, the opposed head-member surfaces having a texture.

10. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the implantable device has a surface contour and the head members have opposed surfaces for releasably engaging the implantable device upon compression of the arms, the opposed head-member surfaces having a contour complementary to the contour of the implantable device.

11. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the head members have opposed surfaces for releasably engaging the implantable device upon compression of the arms, the opposed head-member surfaces having a polymeric coating providing stiction with the implantable devices to discourage movement thereof.

12. The instrument of claim 1 wherein at least the head members are coated with a biocompatible polymer.

13. The instrument of claim 11 wherein the biocompatible polymer is infused with a drug.

14. The instrument of claim 11 wherein the biocompatible polymer is parylene.

15. The instrument of claim 1 further comprising means for reducing electrostatic charge.

16. An instrument facilitating surgical implantation of an implantable device, the instrument comprising:

first and second of forceps arms each having first and second ends, the arms being pivotable at the first ends thereof;

a first-arm head member located at the second end of the first arm;

a second-arm head member located at the second end of the second arm; and

a finger-operable rotation member affixed to a leadscrew along an axial length thereof, the leadscrew passing through threaded openings in the first and second arms such that rotation of the rotation member alters a distance between the arms,

wherein the head members are angled away from each other relative to an axis running between and coplanar with the arms, and are shaped to releasably engage the implantable device upon compression of the arms.

17. The instrument of claim 16 wherein the rotation member is aligned with the axis.

18. A combination comprising an implantable device and, retained therein, a instrument facilitating its surgical implantation, the combination comprising:

first and second forceps arms each having first and second ends, the arms being joined at the first ends thereof and arranged to oppose but permit resisted compression of the arms toward each other;

a first-arm head member located at the second end of the first arm;

a second-arm head member located at the second end of the second arm; and

an implantable medical device,

wherein the head members are angled away from each other relative to an axis running between and coplanar with the arms, and releasably engage the implantable device.