Apparatus and a method for automatically introducing implants into soft tissue with adjustable spacing
First Claim
1. An apparatus for depositing implants having an implant length Ls in soft tissue, said apparatus comprising:
- an introducer comprising an elongated tube having a distal end insertable into the soft tissue and a passage extending from a proximal end to said distal end in which a plurality of implants are adapted to be retained;
an obturator slidable within said passage in said introducer from said proximal end and bearing against said implants;
a sleeve through which said introducer slidably extends; and
an operating mechanism comprising means repetitively, incrementally withdrawing said introducer reward relative to said sleeve a distance L and means automatically coupling said obturator to said introducer after said introducer has been withdrawn a distance Ls equal to the length of the implant to withdraw said obturator with said introducer for the remainder of said distance L equal to Lp, whereby implants are deposited in said soft tissue with a spacing equal to Lp.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and a method for depositing multiple implants carrying radioactive isotopes, pharmalogical agents or transgenes, in soft tissue including tumors and organs with precise, selectable spacing between implants includes an introducer in the form of a tube which is inserted into the soft tissue and an obturator for pushing implants out of the introducer one at a time. An operating mechanism incrementally withdraws the introducer while the obturator remains stationary thereby depositing a single implant. The obturator is then coupled to the introducer for the remainder of the stroke to provide the spacing. In a preferred embodiment, the introducer is resequenced to lay down parallel rows of implants. An indicator records the total number of implants deposited. The distal end of the introducer is configured to retain the implants and allow them to be discharged into the soft tissue singly. The invention is particularly suited, but not limited, to depositing the implants using laporascopic or thorascopic techniques.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1. An apparatus for depositing implants having an implant length Ls in soft tissue, said apparatus comprising:
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an introducer comprising an elongated tube having a distal end insertable into the soft tissue and a passage extending from a proximal end to said distal end in which a plurality of implants are adapted to be retained;
an obturator slidable within said passage in said introducer from said proximal end and bearing against said implants;
a sleeve through which said introducer slidably extends; and
an operating mechanism comprising means repetitively, incrementally withdrawing said introducer reward relative to said sleeve a distance L and means automatically coupling said obturator to said introducer after said introducer has been withdrawn a distance Ls equal to the length of the implant to withdraw said obturator with said introducer for the remainder of said distance L equal to Lp, whereby implants are deposited in said soft tissue with a spacing equal to Lp. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. Apparatus for depositing implants in soft tissue comprising:
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a tubular member;
an introducer comprising an elongated tube adapted to contain a plurality of implants, said introducer having a distal end insertable into said soft tissue and a proximal end engaging said tubular member;
an obturator slidable within the introducer from said proximal end of said introducer; and
an operating mechanism comprising a shuttle slidable within said tubular member, a trigger mechanism which reciprocally advances said shuttle forward within the tubular member upon each actuation of said trigger mechanism and retracts said shuttle rearward upon each release of said trigger mechanism, and a clutch coupling said obturator to said shuttle as said shuttle advances forward to eject an implant from said distal end of said introducer and decoupling said obturator from said shuttle as said shuttle retracts rearward. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56)
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Specification