Method and apparatus for placing and maintaining a percutaneous tube into a body cavity

• US 6,402,770 B1
• Filed: 06/01/1999
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avatar Design and Development Incorporated, Thoracar Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Avatar Design and Development Incorporated
• Inventors: Jessen, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Priddy, Michael B.
• Application Number:
  US09/324,091
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 606/167, 606/170, 606/171, 606/174, 606/185, 606/108, 604/264, 604/96, 604/101, 604/103, 604/171, 604/280, 128/200.26, 128/207.29, 301/62
• US Class Current: 606/170
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32093 for skin incisions
• 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 2017/32004 having a laterally movable cutting member at its most distal end which remains within the contours of said end
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0472 Devices for performing a tracheostomy

Abstract

Innovative disposable thoracostomy and cricothyrotomy trocar systems and new and improved methods for emergency management of upper airway obstructions and chest injuries are disclosed.

Claims

1. A surgical cutting tool comprising a cam action retractable blade assembly having two blades, each with a blade edge and an angled blade point, wherein the blades of the blade assembly are two substantially identical blades each having an edge face with a single bevel cutting edge disposed at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the blade, each edge ending in a blade point at a distal end of the blade, the two blades pivotally mounted edge face to edge face upon a pivot pin, the blade points overlapped in an extended blade configuration.

2. The tool of claim 1 wherein the overlapped blade points form a safe zone at a tip of the extended blade configuration.

3. A retractable trocar comprising a cam action retractable blade assembly having two blades, each with a blade edge and an angled blade point, and further comprising a spring and a pushrod engaging the blades to extend the blade assembly against spring tension into a releasably locked position when fully extended.

4. The tool of claim 3 wherein the pushrod is a flexible push-pull linkage.

5. The tool of claim 4 wherein the flexible push-pull linkage is a wire.

6. A retractable trocar comprising a cam action retractable blade assembly having two blades, each with a blade edge and an angled blade point and further comprising a handle enclosing at least a portion of a spring and a pushrod engaging the blades to extend the blade assembly against spring tension into a locked position when fully extended, and a releasable lock mechanism.