Ivs obturator instrument and procedure

• US 7,094,199 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2003
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc), Sherwood Services AG
• Original Assignee: Sherwood Services AG
• Inventors: Morton, Stuart, Petros, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Application Number:
  US10/522,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20050261718A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,126 Days
• Field of Search: 600 29- 30, 600/37, 606/72, 606/75, 606/232, 606/185, 606/222, 606/139, 606/144, 606/148, 606/119, 227/175.1, 128/DIG.25
• US Class Current: 600/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06004 Means for attaching suture to needle tipping A61B17/06195; connecting wire to other metallic objects B21F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06066 Needles, e.g. needle tip configurations making needles B21G1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06109 Big needles, either gripped by hand or connectable to a handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3401 Puncturing needles for the peridural or subarachnoid space or the plexus, e.g. for anaesthesia local anaesthesia A61M19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00805 Treatment of female stress urinary incontinence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0608 J-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/061 hollow or tubular suture extending inside a hollow needle A61B2017/06052; hollow sutures A61B2017/06185
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320044 Blunt dissectors blunt suture needles A61B2017/06085
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0045 Support slings

Abstract

There is disclosed a surgical instrument for inserting material into the body. The surgical instrument generally includes an outer tubular member. The instrument has a longitudinal section and an arcuate section having at least two different radii of curvature. An inner member is movably positioned within the outer tubular member and includes structure for engaging a length of material to draw the material through the outer tubular member and into the body. Methods of using the surgical instrument to position a length of tape beneath the urethra to form a support are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument (10) for passing a material into a body in a minimally invasive procedure comprising:

a first member (12) having a longitudinal section (16) defining a longitudinal axis and an arcuate section (18) extending distally from the longitudinal section, the first member comprising a hollow outer tubular member; and

a stylet (14) at least partially movable within the outer tubular member and engageable with a material to pass the material within the body;

wherein a proximal portion (36) of the arcuate section curves away from the longitudinal axis in a first direction and defines a first radius of curvature (R1),

wherein a portion (38, 40) of the arcuate section distal of the proximal portion (36) curves toward the longitudinal axis in a second direction and defines a second radius of curvature (R2, R3).

2. The surgical instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein a distal portion (40) of the arcuate section has a third radius of curvature (R3), different from the second radius of curvature (R2).

3. The surgical instrument as recited in claim 2, wherein the portion of the arcuate section distal of the proximal portion (36) has a central section (38) and a distalmost section (40), the central section having the second radius (R2) and the distalmost section having the third radius (R3), the second radius (R2) being larger than the third radius (R3).

4. The surgical instrument as recited in claim 2, wherein the portion of the arcuate section distal of the proximal portion (36) has a central section (38) and a distalmost section (40), the central section having the second radius (R2) and the distalmost section having the third radius (R3), the second radius (R2) being smaller than the third radius (R3).

5. The surgical instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein a portion of the distal section extends across the longitudinal axis in the second direction.

6. The surgical instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein the stylet (14) is flexible.

7. The surgical instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein the stylet (14) includes a slot (28) at a first end (26) for receipt of an end of the material.

8. The surgical instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein the stylet (14) includes a conical tip (24) at a second end.

9. The surgical instrument as recited in claim 8, wherein a diameter (d3) of the conical tip (24) is greater than an inner diameter of the outer tubular member.

10. The surgical instrument as receipt in claim 1, wherein the outer tubular member (12) has a handle (20) at a proximal end (22) thereof.

11. The surgical instrument as recited in claim 10, wherein the handle has a laterally extending portion (44).

12. The surgical instrument as recited in claim 11, wherein the arcuate section (18) defines a first plane and the laterally extending portion defines a second plane substantially perpendicular to the first plane.

13. The surgical instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein the material comprises a generally flat tape (50).

14. The surgical instrument as recited in claim 13, wherein at least one end (54) of the tape (50) is cut at an angle for ease of threading the tape into the stylet.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein the tape (50) includes multifilament strands.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein the tape (50) includes polypropylene strands.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the material includes a generally flat tape (5) and the stylet (14) has a proximal end (26) adapted to receive an end (54) of the tape.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein the stylet is positioned in the tubular member (12) so that the proximal end (26) of the stylet is located adjacent a proximal end (22) of the tubular member.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the stylet (14) has a distal end that is blunt.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 19, wherein the distal end comprises a blunt conical tip (24).

21. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the stylet has a distal end that is sharp.

22. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein the tape includes an absorbable material.