Tunnelling instrument for subcutaneously placing an article, and method of use of said instrument

• US 9,119,603 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2007
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Plasmed Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Plasmed Ltd.
• Inventors: Bright, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): RODJOM, KATHERINE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US12/297,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20090299377A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,058 Days
• Field of Search: 606/108, 606/190, 606/222, 606/223
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 17/3468 for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320044 Blunt dissectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0136 Handles therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0194 Tunnelling catheters

Abstract

An improved tip and handle for a tunnelling instrument are provided along with an improved tunnelling instrument. The tip is configured for attachment to a tunnelling instrument and includes a first portion configured to form a tunnel, a second portion sized to fit within a tubular component to be placed in the tunnel, and a third portion configured for attachment of the tubular component. The handle is configured to be attached to and detached from a tunneller shaft of a tunnelling instrument, at any point along the length of the tunneller shaft. The tunnelling instrument comprises a pair of tips, a connection means for forming a link between the tips, and a tunneller shaft slidably engagable with the connection means and attachable to either of the tips. Various forms of use of the tunnelling instrument are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A tunnelling instrument for forming a subcutaneous tunnel comprising:

a tunneller shaft having a hollow interior through which passes a flexible connector forming a link between a pair of tips,

each tip having a positive attachment mechanism, and at least one tip having a first portion which is configured to create a subcutaneous tunnel, said first portion proximal to said attachment mechanism and having the greatest diameter of said tip;

a second portion distal to said attachment mechanism and having a portion and said second portion and having a diameter of less than or equal to said second portion; and

the tunneller shaft is slidable along the length of the connector between the tips, the tunneller shaft having a complementary attachment mechanism at each end thereof for selective attachment to the attachment mechanism of the adjacent tips, thereby permitting bi-directional tunneling without the need to detach the tips from the connector.

2. A tunnelling instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said tips have different dimensions.

3. A tunnelling instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said connector includes a lumen.

4. A tunnelling instrument as claimed in claim 3 wherein said lumen extends from the distal end of one of said tips, through said connector, to the distal end of the other of said tips.

5. A tunneling instrument as claimed in claim 3 wherein said lumen is configured for the passage of a device, substance or energy.

6. A tunnelling instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said connector is configured as a catheter.

7. A tunnelling instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said connector is configured as a device for use in medical therapy, diagnostic purposes or surgery.

8. A tunnelling instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said connector is configured as a biologically absorbed device.

9. A tunnelling instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said connector has a length of at least twice the length of said tunneller shaft.

10. A tunnelling instrument as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a handle.

11. A tunnelling instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least a part of said tunneling instrument is provided within a protective sheath.

12. A tunnelling instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least a part of said tunneling instrument is coated with biological or pharmaceutical agents.

13. A tunnelling kit comprising:

a tunneling instrument of claim 1; and

one or more additional tips, each having an attachment mechanism.

14. A tunnelling kit as claimed in claim 13 wherein said tips are provided in a range of different dimensions.