Expandable surgical access port
First Claim
1. A method of accessing an internal portion of a patient comprising:
- providing an access assembly including;
an outer frame positionable outside the patient and defining an opening therein, the outer frame including discrete first and second portions and a locking mechanism for locking the discrete first and second portions of the outer frame in one of a plurality of select expanded positions, at least one of the first and second other of the first and second portions to adjust the opening, the opening portions being movable with respect to the dimensioned to receive a surgical instrument therethrough;
the locking mechanism including a first engagement structure on the first portion selectively engageable with a second engagement structure on the second portion, the locking mechanism being repositionable between a locked position, wherein the first and second engagement structures are engaged, and an unlocked position, wherein the first and second engagement structures are disengaged, the locking mechanism being biased toward the unlocked position, and a slidable member movable to reposition the locking mechanism from the unlocked position to the locked position to retain the first and second portions in a selected expanded position;
wherein the second engagement structure comprises a first soft material and a second material on opposing sides of the opening,wherein the first engagement structure includes a first substantially rigid projecting member having a first ramped surface and a first sharp tip embeddable within the first soft material;
wherein the first engagement structure includes a second substantially rigid projecting member having a second ramped surface and a second sharp tip embeddable within the second soft material;
wherein the slidable member comprises a first and a second collars positioned around and slidable relative to the first and second portions of the outer frame, the first collar is capable of contacting the first ramped surface to pivot the first sharp tip into the first soft material, and the second collar is capable of contacting the second ramped surface to pivot the second sharp tip into the second soft material;
an inner member positionable within the patient; and
a flexible member extending between the inner member and the outer frame and operatively associated with the outer frame, the flexible member having a passageway to receive the surgical instrument therethrough, wherein movement of the first and second discrete portions of the outer frame adjusts tension on the flexible member to retract tissue;
inserting the inner member through an opening in tissue into a body of the patient with the flexible member extending proximally through the opening in tissue;
moving one of the first and second portions of the outer frame in relation to the other of the first and second portions into a selected unlocked spread position to enlarge the opening in tissue and the passageway through the flexible member; and
subsequently moving the locking mechanism to move the first and second engagement structures into a locking position to lock the first and second portions in the selected spread position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of accessing an internal portion of a patient including the steps of providing an access assembly including an outer frame, an inner member and a flexible member, inserting the inner member through an opening in tissue into a body of a patient with the flexible member extending proximally through the opening in tissue, moving at least a first portion or second portion of the outer member to a select unlocked spread position to enlarge the opening in tissue and the passageway through the flexible member, and subsequently moving the locking member to move the first and second engagement structures into a locking position to lock the first portion in the select spread position.
178 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of accessing an internal portion of a patient comprising:
- providing an access assembly including;
an outer frame positionable outside the patient and defining an opening therein, the outer frame including discrete first and second portions and a locking mechanism for locking the discrete first and second portions of the outer frame in one of a plurality of select expanded positions, at least one of the first and second other of the first and second portions to adjust the opening, the opening portions being movable with respect to the dimensioned to receive a surgical instrument therethrough;the locking mechanism including a first engagement structure on the first portion selectively engageable with a second engagement structure on the second portion, the locking mechanism being repositionable between a locked position, wherein the first and second engagement structures are engaged, and an unlocked position, wherein the first and second engagement structures are disengaged, the locking mechanism being biased toward the unlocked position, and a slidable member movable to reposition the locking mechanism from the unlocked position to the locked position to retain the first and second portions in a selected expanded position; wherein the second engagement structure comprises a first soft material and a second material on opposing sides of the opening, wherein the first engagement structure includes a first substantially rigid projecting member having a first ramped surface and a first sharp tip embeddable within the first soft material; wherein the first engagement structure includes a second substantially rigid projecting member having a second ramped surface and a second sharp tip embeddable within the second soft material; wherein the slidable member comprises a first and a second collars positioned around and slidable relative to the first and second portions of the outer frame, the first collar is capable of contacting the first ramped surface to pivot the first sharp tip into the first soft material, and the second collar is capable of contacting the second ramped surface to pivot the second sharp tip into the second soft material; an inner member positionable within the patient; and a flexible member extending between the inner member and the outer frame and operatively associated with the outer frame, the flexible member having a passageway to receive the surgical instrument therethrough, wherein movement of the first and second discrete portions of the outer frame adjusts tension on the flexible member to retract tissue; inserting the inner member through an opening in tissue into a body of the patient with the flexible member extending proximally through the opening in tissue; moving one of the first and second portions of the outer frame in relation to the other of the first and second portions into a selected unlocked spread position to enlarge the opening in tissue and the passageway through the flexible member; and subsequently moving the locking mechanism to move the first and second engagement structures into a locking position to lock the first and second portions in the selected spread position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 18)
- providing an access assembly including;
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10. A method of accessing a thoracic cavity of a patient for performing minimally invasive thoracic surgery comprising:
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providing an access assembly including; an outer frame defining an opening therein, the outer frame including discrete first and second portions relatively movable to adjust the opening and a locking mechanism for locking the discrete first and second portions of the outer frame in one of a plurality of select expanded positions, the opening dimensioned to receive a surgical instrument therethrough to access the thoracic cavity, the locking mechanism including a first engagement structure on the first portion selectively engageable with a second engagement structure on the second portion, the locking mechanism being repositionable between a locked position, wherein the first and second engagement structures are engaged, and an unlocked position, wherein the first and second engagement structures are disengaged, the locking mechanism being biased toward the unlocked position, and a slidable member movable to reposition the locking mechanism from the unlocked position to the locked position to retain the first and second portions in a selected expanded position; wherein the second engagement structure comprises a first soft material and a second material on opposing sides of the opening, wherein the first engagement structure includes a first substantially rigid projecting member having a first ramped surface and a first sharp tip embeddable within the first soft material; wherein the first engagement structure includes a second substantially rigid projecting member having a second ramped surface and a second sharp tip embeddable within the second soft material; wherein the slidable member comprises a first and a second collars positioned around and slidable relative to the first and second portions of the outer frame, the first collar is capable of contacting the first ramped surface to pivot the first sharp tip into the first soft material, and the second collar is capable of contacting the second ramped surface to pivot the second sham tip into the second soft material; a flexible member extending distally from the outer frame, the flexible member having a passageway dimensioned to receive the surgical instrument therethrough to access the thoracic cavity; moving at least one of the first and second portions of the outer flame to a selected unlocked spread position to enlarge the opening in tissue and the passageway through the flexible member; and moving the locking member to move the first and second engagement structures into a locking position to lock the first and second portions of the outer flame in the selected spread position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification