Medical device for the placement of solid materials

• US 5,984,890 A
• Filed: 09/22/1997
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wyeth (Pfizer Inc.)
• Original Assignee: American Home Products Corporation (Pfizer Inc.)
• Inventors: Patton, John M., Miller, Neil W., Gast, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): McDermott, Corrine
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRING, NOELLE K
• Application Number:
  US08/937,318
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 606/117, 604/116, 604/59-64, 604/57
• US Class Current: 604/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0069 Devices for implanting pellets, e.g. markers or solid medicaments for introducing of radioactive sources for interstitial radiation therapy, i.e. brachytherapy A61N5/1027

Abstract

The present invention provides improved devices for inserting solid materials under a tissue, the devices particularly containing a penetration guide means designed to facilitate the implantation by limiting the insertion of the implants to positions under and substantially parallel to the plane of the tissue.

Claims

1. A device for subcutaneously depositing a solid material, the device comprising:

a) a housing;

b) a trocar having a sharpened distal end, a proximal end and a length sufficient to subcutaneously deposit the solid material, the trocar being secured via its proximal end to the housing;

c) a tubular channel running coaxially through the housing and the trocar, the tubular channel having internal dimensions to accommodate the storage and passage of the solid material;

d) an obturator having a length and dimensions to pass through the tubular channel through the housing and trocar to facilitate passage of the solid material therethrough;

e) one or more grooves in or associated with the length of the obturator;

f) one or more biased members coupled to the housing, with each biased member having a biased arm and a protrusion, the biased arm reversibly extending the protrusion into the tubular channel to interact with the one or more grooves in or associated with the length of the obturator to facilitate a uni-directional movement of the obturator through the tubular channel; and

g) a tissue penetration guide, the penetration guide extending a length from the housing as a linear extension of material maintained parallel to and separated by a distance from the trocar, the length of the trocar, length of the penetration guide and the distance between the trocar and the penetration guide being sufficient to;

i) allow the tissue to pass between the trocar and the penetration guide; and

ii) allow the trocar to be fully inserted into or under the tissue; and

iii) to limit the angle and depth of insertion of the trocar into or under the tissue.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the penetration guide is separated from the hollow tubular member by a distance of between about 0.05 inches and about 0.10 inches.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the tissue penetration guide is separated from the trocar by a distance of between about 0.075 inches and about 0.095 inches.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the tissue penetration guide is separated from the trocar by a distance of between about 0.080 inches and about 0.090 inches.

5. The device of claim 1 in which the tissue penetration guide extends from the housing substantially parallel to the trocar and terminates at a point substantially corresponding to the distal end of the trocar.

6. The device of claim 1 in which the trocar projects from the housing beyond the distal end of the tissue penetration guide.

7. The device of claim 1 in which the tissue penetration guide projects from the housing beyond the distal end of the trocar.