Cannula assembly having conductive cannula

• US 5,618,309 A
• Filed: 11/10/1994
• Issued: 04/08/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Heartport, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Heartport, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Bolanos, Henry, Smith, Robert C., Tovey, H. Jonathan, Green, David T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Clarke, Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US08/337,679
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 606/167, 606/170, 606/174, 606/205-260, 604/167, 128/908
• US Class Current: 606/207
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/34 Trocars; Puncturing needles pointed biopsy instruments A61B10/0233; devices for piercing the ear-lobes A44C7/001; seals or hemostasis valves A61M39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1485 having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3484 Anchoring means, e.g. spreading-out umbrella-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00077 high, i.e. electrically conducting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/908 Patient protection from electric shock

Abstract

A conductive cannula assembly is disclosed to dissipate possible, accumulated electrical charges through body tissue. The cannula assembly includes cannula housing means and cannula means formed of a material having an electrical conductivity value which is at least fifty percent the conductivity value of silver. The invention also includes cannula assembly accessories formed of a material having an electrical conductivity value which is at least fifty percent the conductivity value of silver. The invention further provides a method for guiding endoscopic instruments into body tissue utilizing the cannula assembly and the cannula assembly accessories of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cannula assembly, which comprises:

a) a cannula housing having a first opening formed at a distal end thereof and a second opening formed at a proximal end thereof, said first and second openings being in aligned communication to permit endoscopic instruments to pass therethrough;

b) a cannula sleeve connected to said cannula housing, said cannula sleeve having proximal and distal end portions and a longitudinal bore therebetween configured to receive the endoscopic instruments;

c) a tubular sleeve having proximal and distal end portions and a longitudinal bore configured to receive said cannula sleeve to coaxially align said cannula sleeve with said tubular sleeve, at least a portion of said tubular sleeve being formed of a material having a conductivity value which is at least fifty percent the conductivity value of silver to define an electrically conductive medium between said proximal and distal end portions, such that when said tubular sleeve contacts body tissue, said electrically conductive medium permits electrical energy to dissipate through the body tissue;

d) at least one tissue gripping member attached to said tubular sleeve and extending outwardly beyond an exterior wall of said tubular sleeve to maintain said tubular sleeve in a fixed position relative to the body tissue; and

e) at least one cannula engaging member configured to maintain said cannula in a fixed position relative to said tubular sleeve.

2. The cannula assembly according to claim 1, wherein said cannula sleeve is formed of a material having a conductivity value which is at least fifty percent the conductivity value of silver to define an electrically conductive medium between said proximal and distal end portions of said cannula sleeve, such that when said cannula sleeve contacts said tubular sleeve, said electrically conductive mediums permit electrical energy to dissipate through the body tissue.

3. The cannula assembly according to claim 2, wherein said cannula sleeve and said tubular sleeve are formed of aluminum.

4. Apparatus engageable with body tissue and configured to maintain an elongated object in fixed locations relative to the body tissue, which comprises:

a tubular sleeve having an exterior wall formed of an electrically conductive material and defining an opening for reception of at least a portion of the elongated object, wherein said electrically conductive material has a conductivity value which is at least fifty percent the conductivity value of silver, such that when said exterior wall of said tubular sleeve contacts body tissue, electrical energy is permitted to dissipate through the body tissue;

at least one tissue engaging member attached to said tubular sleeve and extending outwardly from said exterior wall of said tubular sleeve, said tissue engaging member being configured to maintain said tubular sleeve at a fixed position within the body tissue; and

at least one object engaging member operatively associated with said tubular sleeve and configured to maintain the elongated object in a fixed position relative to said tubular sleeve.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said electrically conductive material is aluminum.

6. A surgical apparatus, which comprises:

a) a cannula including a cannula housing dimensioned to be grasped by the hands of a user and a cannula sleeve connected to said cannula housing, said cannula sleeve defining a longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal bore;

b) a tissue gripping member for engaging body tissue to retain said cannula at a fixed longitudinal position within the body tissue, said tissue gripping member including;

i) a tubular sleeve having proximal and distal end portions and a longitudinal bore configured to receive the cannula sleeve to coaxially align said cannula sleeve with said tubular sleeve, said tubular sleeve being formed of a material having a conductivity value which is at least fifty percent the conductivity value of silver to define an electrically conductive medium between said proximal and distal end portions, such that when said tubular sleeve contacts body tissue, said electrically conductive medium permits electrical energy to dissipate through the body tissue;

ii) at least one tissue gripping member attached to said tubular sleeve and extending outwardly from an exterior wall of said tubular sleeve to maintain said tubular sleeve in a fixed position relative to the body tissue; and

iii) at least one cannula engaging member configured to maintain said cannula in a fixed longitudinal position relative to said tubular sleeve.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said electrically conductive medium is aluminum.

8. Apparatus engageable with body tissue and configured to maintain an elongated object in fixed locations relative to the body tissue, which comprises:

a tubular sleeve having a longitudinal axis and defining an opening for reception of at least a portion of the elongated object, said tubular sleeve having an exterior wall formed of an electrically conductive material, wherein said electrically conductive material has a conductivity value which is at least fifty percent the conductivity value of silver, such that when said exterior wall of said tubular sleeve contacts body tissue, electrical energy is permitted to dissipate through the body tissue;

at least one tissue engaging member attached to said tubular sleeve and extending outwardly from said exterior wall of said tubular sleeve, said tissue engaging member configured to maintain said tubular sleeve at a fixed position within body tissue; and

at least one object engaging member operatively associated with said tubular sleeve and configured to maintain the elongated object in a fixed longitudinal position relative to said longitudinal axis of said tubular sleeve.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said electrically conductive material is aluminum.