Retractable safety penetrating instrument with laterally extendable spring strip

• US 5,713,870 A
• Filed: 04/19/1995
• Issued: 02/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inbae Yoon
• Original Assignee: Inbae Yoon
• Inventors: Yoon, InBae
• Primary Examiner(s): Rimell, Sam
• Assistant Examiner(s): Racunas, Robert V.
• Application Number:
  US08/424,784
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 604/105, 604/107, 604/108, 604/109, 604/164, 604/165, 604/174, 606/1, 606/185, 606/198
• US Class Current: 604/174
• 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 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3458 threaded
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3484 Anchoring means, e.g. spreading-out umbrella-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 of the patient or his organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0811 for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3614 using optical fibre

Abstract

A safety penetrating instrument for penetrating an anatomical cavity wall to gain access to an anatomical cavity includes a cannula, a penetrating member disposed in the cannula and movable relative to the cannula between a penetrating position where the tissue penetrating distal end of the penetrating member protrudes distally from the distal end of the cannula and a protected position where the penetrating member distal end is proximally spaced from the distal end of the cannula, a retracting mechanism for moving the penetrating member proximally from the penetrating position to the protected position and for permitting the penetrating member to move distally to the penetrating position, a locking mechanism for locking the penetrating member in the penetrating position, a spring strip mounted by the penetrating member and having an extendable portion movable inwardly in a lateral direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the penetrating member from an extended position to a retracted position during penetration of the anatomical cavity wall and outwardly in the lateral direction from the retracted position to the extended position upon introduction of the extendable portion in the anatomical cavity, and a releasing mechanism responsive to movement of the extendable portion from the retracted position to the extended position for triggering release of the locking mechanism to permit the retracting mechanism to move the penetrating member to the protected position.

Claims

1. A safety penetrating instrument for penetrating an anatomical cavity wall to gain access to an anatomical cavity comprising

a cannula having a distal end for being disposed in the anatomical cavity and a proximal end for being disposed externally of the anatomical cavity;

a penetrating member disposed in said cannula and having a longitudinal axis, said penetrating member being movable relative to said cannula between a penetrating position where a tissue penetrating distal end of said penetrating member protrudes distally from said distal end of said cannula and a protected position where said penetrating member distal end is proximally spaced from said distal end of said cannula;

retracting means for moving said penetrating member proximally from said penetrating position to said protected position and for permitting said penetrating member to move distally to said penetrating position;

a locking mechanism for locking said penetrating member in said penetrating position;

a spring strip mounted by said penetrating member, said spring strip carrying an operating member and having an extendable portion movable inwardly in a lateral direction transverse to said longitudinal axis of said penetrating member from an extended position to a retracted position during penetration of the anatomical cavity wall and outwardly in the lateral direction from said retracted position to said extended position upon introduction of said extendable portion in the anatomical cavity, said extendable portion of said spring strip being disposed outwardly of said cannula in said extended position; and

a releasing mechanism including a mechanical trigger member operatively associated with said locking mechanism for triggering release of said locking mechanism in response to mechanical engagement of said operating member with said trigger member caused by lateral movement of said extendable portion from said retracted position to said extended position.

2. A safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 1 wherein said extendable portion of said spring strip is adjacent said distal end of said cannula when said penetrating member is in said penetrating position.

3. A safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 2 wherein said distal end of said cannula is slotted to receive said extendable portion of said spring strip when said penetrating member is in said penetrating position and said extendable portion is in said extended position.

4. A safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 1 wherein said penetrating member is hollow and said extendable portion extends through an opening formed in said penetrating member adjacent said distal end of said penetrating member.

5. A safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 4 wherein said spring strip is slidably disposed in said penetrating member and secured at one end to an inside surface of said penetrating member distal end.

6. A safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 5 wherein said operating member is carried at a proximal end of said spring strip.

7. A safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 6 wherein said locking mechanism includes a latch engaging said penetrating member and said trigger member includes a hook portion formed integrally with said latch in a manner to be axially aligned with said operating member of said spring strip.

8. A safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 7 wherein said trigger member and latch are formed by a spring disposed in said penetrating member and wherein said latch extends through an opening in said penetrating member to engage structure within the penetrating instrument.

9. A safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 8 and further comprising a hub mounting a proximal end of said penetrating member, wherein said latch extends through an opening in said penetrating member to engage structure within said hub.

10. A safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 8 and further comprising a protective sheath disposed between said penetrating member and said cannula and a hub mounting a proximal end of said protective sheath, wherein said latch extends through an opening in said penetrating member to engage an opening in said protective sheath.

11. A safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 9 and further comprising a guide tube disposed within said hub around said penetrating member, wherein said structure engaged by said latch includes an opening in said guide tube.

12. A safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 7 wherein said operating member is a hook.

13. A safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 7 and further comprising a hub mounting a proximal end of said penetrating member, wherein said locking mechanism includes a locking spring mounted in said hub externally of said penetrating member, said locking spring having a contracted position to fit within said penetrating member when said penetrating member is in said protected position and an expanded position to lock said penetrating member in said penetrating position.

14. A safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 13 wherein said locking spring includes a pair of arms angled outwardly from opposite ends of a base portion, each arm carrying a latch at a distal end for engaging said penetrating member in said penetrating position.

15. A safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 14 wherein said trigger member is formed by hook portions depending from each latch and said operating member includes a tapered portion axially aligned with said hook portions.