Soft tissue graft introducer

• US 5,669,925 A
• Filed: 02/06/1996
• Issued: 09/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael R. Saunders
• Original Assignee: Michael R. Saunders
• Inventors: Saunders, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): YU, JUSTINE ROMANG
• Application Number:
  US08/597,176
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 606/108, 606/132, 606/194, 606/195, 606/198, 606/127, 606/191, 604/280, 604/281, 604/93, 604/160, 604/164, 604/174, 128/657, 128/772
• US Class Current: 606/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• 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 2017/00349 Needle-like instruments having hook or barb-like gripping means, e.g. for grasping suture or tissue A61B17/06066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00969 used for transplantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2937 with flexible part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2944 Translation of jaw members

Abstract

A soft tissue graft introducer for use in endoscopic surgeries, which comprises a tubular sheath with a guide wire slidably disposed therein. The guide wire includes a retractable tip at its distal end, and a transverse bend adjacent the retractable tip. A fixed tip adjacent the distal end of the tubular sheath includes a base with an angled surface. When the retractable tip of guide wire is slidably extended or retracted from the tubular sheath, the retractable tip also moves laterally relative to the fixed tip due to the transverse bend in the guide wire and the angled face on the base of the fixed tip.

Claims

1. A soft tissue graft introducer, comprising:

(a) a tubular sheath having proximal and distal ends;

(b) a guide wire having proximal and distal ends, said guide wire slidably disposed in said sheath;

(c) said guide wire including a retractable tip at said distal end of said guide wire, said retractable tip of said guide wire extending through a first opening in said sheath positioned adjacent said distal end of said sheath;

(d) said guide wire including a transverse bend adjacent said distal end of said guide wire, said transverse bend of said guide wire extending through a second opening in said sheath positioned adjacent said distal end of said sheath, said second opening positioned longitudinally between said first opening and said proximal end of said sheath;

(e) said sheath having a fixed tip at said distal end of said sheath; and

(f) guide means positioned adjacent said fixed tip for guiding said retractable tip laterally relative to said fixed tip upon extension or retraction of said guide wire, said guide means positioned between said first and second openings in said sheath.

2. A soft tissue graft introducer as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for retracting and extending said guide wire within said sheath.

3. A soft tissue graft introducer as recited in claim 1, further comprising a handle associated with said proximal end of said sheath.

4. A soft tissue graft introducer according to claim 1, wherein said guide means comprises an angled base associated with said fixed tip.

5. A soft tissue graft introducer as recited in claim 1, wherein said fixed tip is positioned off-center relative a longitudinal axis extending between said proximal and distal ends of said sheath.

6. A soft tissue graft introducer, comprising:

(a) a tubular sheath having proximal and distal ends, said sheath including first and second openings adjacent said distal end, said second opening positioned longitudinally between said first opening and said proximal end of said sheath;

(b) a guide wire having proximal and distal ends, said guide wire slidably disposed within said sheath;

(c) said guide wire having a retractable tip at said distal end of said guide wire, said retractable tip extending through said first opening in said sheath;

(d) said guide wire including a transverse bend adjacent said distal end of said guide wire, said second opening accommodating said transverse bend;

(e) said sheath having a fixed tip at said distal end of said sheath; and

(f) said fixed tip including an angled base positioned between said first and second openings in said sheath.

7. A soft tissue graft introducer as recited in claim 6, further comprising means for retracting and extending said guide wire within said sheath, said retracting and extending means associated with said proximal end of said guide wire.

8. A soft tissue graft introducer as recited in claim 6, further comprising a handle associated with the proximal end of said sheath.

9. A soft tissue graft introducer according to claim 6, wherein said base includes an angled surface, said angled surface adjacent said guide wire, said angled surface facing said guide wire.

10. A soft tissue graft introducer as recited in claim 6, wherein said fixed tip is positioned off-center relative to a longitudinal axis extending between said distal and proximal ends of said sheath.

11. A soft tissue graft introducer, comprising:

(a) an elongated tubular sheath, said sheath having a longitudinal bore, said sheath including proximal and distal ends, said sheath including first and second openings adjacent said distal end of said sheath, said first opening positioned opposite said second opening, said second opening positioned longitudinally between said first opening and said proximal end of said sheath;

(b) a guide wire, said guide wire slidably disposed within said sheath, said guide wire having proximal and distal ends;

(c) said guide wire including a retractable tip at said distal end of said guide wire, said retractable tip extending through said first opening in said sheath;

(d) said guide wire including a transverse bend adjacent said distal end of said guide wire, said second opening in said sheath accommodating said transverse bend;

(e) said sheath having a fixed tip at said distal end of said sheath;

(f) said fixed tip including an angled base, said base positioned to laterally guide said guide wire, said base including an angled surface, said angled surface adjacent said guide wire, said angled surface facing said guide wire, said angled surface positioned between said first and second openings in said sheath; and

(g) means for retracting and extending said guide wire in said sheath, said retracting and extending means associated with said proximal end of said guide wire.

12. A soft tissue graft introducer as recited in claim 11, wherein said sheath includes a housing portion adjacent its proximal end.

13. A soft tissue graft introducer as recited in claim 12, further comprising a handle, said handle threadably engaging said housing on said sheath.

14. A soft tissue graft introducer as recited in claim 13, wherein said retracting and extending means is manually operated.

15. A soft tissue graft introducer as recited in claim 13, wherein said retracting and extending means is associated with said handle.

16. A soft tissue graft introducer as recited in claim 11, wherein said fixed tip is positioned off-center relative to a longitudinal axis extending between said proximal and distal ends of said sheath.