Inverted conical expandable retractor
First Claim
1. An adjustable access device, comprising:
- a housing having a cannula extending distally therefrom, the housing and the cannula defining a working channel extending therethrough for receiving instruments; and
at least one seal element disposed within the working channel and configured to form at least one of a seal around an instrument disposed through the working channel and a seal across the working channel when no instrument is disposed therethrough;
wherein the cannula is movable between an insertion configuration in which the cannula has a substantially constant outer diameter and an opening defining a distal end of the working channel has a first diameter, and an expanded configuration in which the outer diameter of the cannula increases from a proximal end of the cannula to a distal end of the cannula and the opening has a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter, the cannula being folded in the expanded configuration and unfolded in the insertion configuration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Access devices and related methods are disclosed that generally involve flexible or adjustable cannulas that have a substantially cylindrical insertion configuration and a substantially conical expanded configuration. Various methods and features are provided for transitioning the cannula from the insertion configuration to the expanded configuration while the access device is inserted through tissue to form a conical opening through the tissue. Examples include cables, biasing elements, retaining elements, bimodal rings, and coil springs. The devices and methods disclosed herein can allow for improved retention of the access device, improved angulation of instruments passed through the access device, and can increase the integrity of a seal formed between the access device and surrounding tissue.
130 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An adjustable access device, comprising:
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a housing having a cannula extending distally therefrom, the housing and the cannula defining a working channel extending therethrough for receiving instruments; and at least one seal element disposed within the working channel and configured to form at least one of a seal around an instrument disposed through the working channel and a seal across the working channel when no instrument is disposed therethrough; wherein the cannula is movable between an insertion configuration in which the cannula has a substantially constant outer diameter and an opening defining a distal end of the working channel has a first diameter, and an expanded configuration in which the outer diameter of the cannula increases from a proximal end of the cannula to a distal end of the cannula and the opening has a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter, the cannula being folded in the expanded configuration and unfolded in the insertion configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An adjustable access device, comprising:
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a housing having a cannula extending distally therefrom, the housing and the cannula defining a working channel extending therethrough for receiving instruments; and at least one seal element disposed within the working channel and configured to form at least one of a seal around an instrument disposed through the working channel and a seal across the working channel when no instrument is disposed therethrough; wherein the cannula has an insertion configuration with a substantially constant outer diameter between a proximal end and a distal end, and an expanded configuration wherein the diameter increases from the proximal end of the cannula to the distal end of the cannula, the cannula being folded in the expanded configuration and unfolded in the insertion configuration; wherein the cannula comprises a flexible outer sheath having a plurality of folding walls disposed therein, each folding wall comprising a plurality of segments defined by a plurality of living hinges that alternate between being formed in an interior surface of the folding wall and being formed in an exterior surface of the folding wall; and wherein the plurality of segments comprise a plurality of long segments separated from each other by at least one short segment, the plurality of long segments having progressively increasing lengths from a proximal end of the folding walls to a distal end of the folding walls. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification