Trocar penetration depth indicator and guide tube positioning device

• US 5,336,206 A
• Filed: 04/12/1993
• Issued: 08/09/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Shichman, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCDERMOTT, CORRINE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US08/046,328
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 604/161, 604/164-166, 604/170-171, 604/264-265, 604/272, 604/274, 604/283, 606/167, 606/172, 606/181, 606/184, 606/185
• US Class Current: 604/534
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3403 Needle locating or guiding means guides for suture needles A61B17/0482; guiding or tracking by nuclear magnetic resonance G01R33/285
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3417 Details of tips or shafts, e.g. grooves, expandable, bendable; Multiple coaxial sliding cannulas, e.g. for dilating syringe needles A61M5/32; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3496 Protecting sleeves or inner probes; Retractable tips for protecting body piercing guide needles A61M25/0612
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3492 against the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/036 abutting on tissue or skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/062 penetration depth

Abstract

A trocar penetration depth indicator has a first, inner housing including a first threaded section and longitudinally extending gripping fingers, and a second, outer housing including a camming surface and a second threaded section to engage the first threaded section. The first and second housings slidably mount onto a trocar tube and can be secured relative to the guide tube by rotatably tightening the housings to cause the gripping fingers to firmly grip the trocar tube. Depth penetration indicia is provided on the guide tube surface and sufficient guide tube grasping force is obtained to prevent the depth indicator from being dislodged during trocar insertion. A guide tube positioning device is provided to engage the penetration depth indicator and to secure the guide tube relative to the surrounding skin of the patient in order to prevent inadvertent withdrawal or further insertion of the trocar.

Claims

1. A stabilizing device for use with a trocar sleeve, comprising:

a member having an axial aperture therethrough, said aperture configured and dimensioned to receive a trocar sleeve, said member being slidably repositionable along the trocar sleeve, said member including a distally extending sleeve portion, said aperture extending through said sleeve portion;

a releasable locking mechanism associated with said member for constricting a portion of said aperture to releasably fix said member with respect to the trocar sleeve; and

at least one outwardly directed rib along said distally extending sleeve portion configured and dimensioned to engage body tissue and stabilize said member with respect to the body tissue.

2. A stabilizing device according to claim 1, wherein said locking mechanism is manually operable.

3. A stabilizing device according to claim 2 wherein said locking mechanism is manually operable through rotational motion of said locking mechanism about the axis of said aperture.

4. A stabilizing device according to claim 2 wherein said rib is a thread.

5. A stabilizing device according to claim 4 wherein said rib is a helical thread.