Soft cannula and methods for use

• US 6,171,282 B1
• Filed: 07/23/1999
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edgar K. Ragsdale
• Original Assignee: Edgar K. Ragsdale
• Inventors: Ragsdale, Edgar K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kennedy, Sharon
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hayes, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/361,018
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 604/171, 604/174, 604/175, 604/159, 604/161, 604/164, 604/528, 604/506, 604/95, 604/264, 604/165
• US Class Current: 604/171
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3423 Access ports, e.g. toroid shape introducers for instruments or hands access sites for liquids A61M39/0247
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3431 being collapsible, e.g. made of thin flexible material A61B17/3423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3484 Anchoring means, e.g. spreading-out umbrella-like structure

Abstract

A soft cannula including a flexible exosheath having a flexible, shape retainable annular member attached at one end. In one preferred embodiment the soft cannula includes a retrieval suture attached to the annular member. One end of the soft cannula is positioned within the patient'"'"'s body cavity so that medical instruments may be inserted into the other and giving access to the patient'"'"'s body cavity. The present invention also includes at least two preferred methods for inserting the soft cannula.

Claims

1. A method of using a soft cannula, said method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a soft cannula having a flexible, shape retainable annular member annularly attached to a body insertion end of a flexible exosheath;

b) providing an inserter having a guide point at a first end, a second end, and a protruding attachment member relative to a surface between said first and second ends;

c) attaching said annular member to said attachment member by stretching said annular member around said attachment members;

d) inserting said inserter and said attached annular member into a patient'"'"'s body cavity;

e) removing said annular member from said attachment member;

f) withdrawing said inserter from said patient'"'"'s body cavity while leaving said annular member and said body insertion end of said flexible exosheath within said patient'"'"'s body cavity; and

g) positioning said annular member substantially perpendicular to and forming a seal with interior body tissue of said patient'"'"'s body cavity.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of removing said annular member from said attachment member further includes the step of rotating said inserter and attachment member so as to dislodge said annular member from said attachment member.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of positioning said annular member further includes the steps of allowing said annular member to substantially regain its natural shape and lightly pulling said soft cannula to correctly position said annular member.

4. The method of claim 1 further including the step of removing said soft cannula by pulling a retrieval suture attached to said annular member.

5. A method of using a soft cannula, said method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a soft cannula having a flexible, shape retainable annular member annularly attached to a body insertion end of a flexible exosheath;

b) providing an inserter having a guide point at a first end, a second end, and a protruding attachment member relatives to a surface between said first and second ends;

c) attaching said annular member to said attachment member;

d) inserting said inserter and said attached annular member into a patient'"'"'s body cavity;

e) removing said annular member from said attachment member by rotating said inserter and attachment member so as to dislodge said annular member from said attachment members;

f) withdrawing said inserter from said patient'"'"'s body cavity while leaving said annular member and said body insertion end of said flexible exosheath within said patient'"'"'s body cavity; and

g) positioning said annular member substantially perpendicular to and forming a seal with interior body tissue of said patient'"'"'s body cavity.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of positioning said annular member further includes the steps of allowing said annular member to substantially regain its natural shape and lightly pulling said soft cannula to correctly position said annular member.

7. The method of claim 5 further including the step of removing said soft cannula by pulling a retrieval suture attached to said annular member.

8. A method of using a soft cannula, said method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a soft cannula having a flexible, shape retainable annular member annularly attached to a body insertion end of a flexible exosheath;

b) providing an inserter having a guide point at a first end, a second end, and an attachment member between said first and second ends;

c) attaching said annular member to said attachment member;

d) inserting said inserter and said attached annular member into a patient'"'"'s body cavity;

e) removing said annular member from said attachment member;

f) withdrawing said inserter from said patient'"'"'s body cavity while leaving said annular member and said body insertion end of said flexible exosheath within said patient'"'"'s body cavity;

g) positioning said annular member substantially perpendicular to and forming a seal with interior body tissue of said patient'"'"'s body cavity; and

h) removing said soft cannula by pulling a retrieval suture attached to said annular member.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said step of positioning said annular member further includes the steps of allowing said annular member to substantially regain its natural shape and lightly pulling said soft cannula to correctly position said annular member.

10. A method of using a soft cannula, said method comprising the steps of:

a) inserting a small rigid cannula into a patient'"'"'s body cavity;

b) providing a soft cannula having a flexible, shape retainable annular member annularly attached to a body insertion end of a flexible exosheath, said annular member having a retrieval suture attached thereto;

c) providing an inserter having a suture attachment member at a first end and a second end distal from said first end;

d) attaching said inserter to said soft cannula by attaching said retrieval suture to said suture attachment member;

e) compressing said annular member;

f) inserting said compressed annular member and said attached inserter into said small rigid cannula using said inserter to guide said compressed annular member through said small rigid cannula and into said patient'"'"'s body cavity;

g) removing said suture attachment member from said retrieval suture and withdrawing said inserter from said patient'"'"'s body cavity while leaving said annular member and said body insertion end of said flexible exosheath within said patient'"'"'s body cavity; and

h) positioning said annular member substantially perpendicular to and forming a seal within said patient'"'"'s body cavity.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of positioning said annular member substantially perpendicular to and forming a seal within said patient'"'"'s body cavity further includes the steps of allowing said annular member to substantially regain its natural shape and lightly pulling said soft cannula to correctly position said annular member.

12. The method of claim 10 further including the step of removing said soft cannula by pulling a retrieval suture attached to said annular member.