Non cannulated dilators

• US 6,916,330 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2001
• Issued: 07/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Spine Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Simonson, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRUONG, KEVIN THAO
• Application Number:
  US10/024,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20030083689A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,351 Days
• Field of Search: 604/161, 604/164.05, 604/264, 604/165.01, 606/184, 606/185, 606/191, 606/198
• US Class Current: 606/191
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0218 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/062 penetration depth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/00 Dilators with or without means for introducing media, e.g. remedies instruments for performing visual medical inspections of cavities or tubes of the body A61B1/00

Abstract

A non-cannulated dilator that is designed with a rigid elongated solid body and with a judiciously configured tip is utilized as the first dilator of a series of dilators which are inserted into the body of a patient for minimally invasive spinal surgery and is made from a solid elongated body, that could be round, ovoid or other cross sectional configuration whose diameter is greater than one and a half (1½) millimeter, and that includes a tool engaging end portion at the proximal end is sufficiently rigid so as not to bend and has a pointed shaped insertion end portion at the distal end with the point of the pointed end being discreetly blunted and utilized in a surgical procedure as a replacement of the typical guide wire and is characterized as providing a “feel” to the surgeon as it penetrates through the tissue and muscle of the patient as it proceeds toward the target.

Claims

1. In combination, a plurality of dilators and a non cannulated dilator, for use in performing minimal invasive surgery, each of said plurality of dilators having a straight through bore and dimensioned to complement the preceding dilator of said plurality of dilators for fitting over the next preceding dilator of said plurality of dilators for insertion into an access hole formed in a patient for parting the tissue adjacent to the access hole so as to enlarge the surgical plane, said non cannulated dilator having an elongated solid body configured to fit into the straight through bore of the dilator of said plurality of dilators with the smallest diameter of the straight through bore, said elongated solid body being rigid and the diameter of said elongated solid body being greater than one and a half millimeters, and said elongated solid body includes indicia indicative of a graduated scale whereby the depth of the insertion is measured.

2. A non cannulated dilator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the diameter of said solid body is substantially equal to five millimeters.

3. A non cannulated dilator as claimed in claim 1 including a tool portion at the proximal end of said elongated solid body.

4. A non cannulated dilator as claimed in claim 3 wherein said elongated solid body is cylindrical in shape.