EXPANDABLE THORACIC ACCESS PORT

• US 20110201893A1
• Filed: 01/13/2011
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Scott, Valerie Anne, Clark, Charlotte Adele, O'Prey, Cormac, Grover, Simon Roderick
• Granted Patent: US 8,540,628 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/208
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3423 Access ports, e.g. toroid shape introducers for instruments or hands access sites for liquids A61M39/0247
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3431 being collapsible, e.g. made of thin flexible material A61B17/3423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3439 with means for changing the inner diameter of the cannula, e.g. expandable A61B17/3423, A61B17/3431 take precedence; catheters A61M25/0662
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3427 for intercostal space

Abstract

A surgical access assembly includes a body having first and second side panels opposing one another and first and second end panels interconnecting the side panels. The first and second end panels are moveable between a folded position and an expanded position to correspondingly move the first and second side panels with respect to one another between an approximated position and a spaced apart position. In the spaced apart position, the first and second side panels are flexed outwardly and apart from one another to define a passageway therebetween. A flexible membrane is coupled to the first and second side panels and extends proximally therefrom.

Claims

1. A surgical access assembly for positioning within an opening in tissue, the surgical access assembly comprising:

a body including first and second side panels opposing one another and first and second end panels interconnecting the side panels, the first and second end panels moveable between a folded position and an expanded position to correspondingly move the first and second side panels with respect to one another between an approximated position and a spaced apart position, wherein the first and second side panels are flexed outwardly and apart from one another to define a passageway therebetween; and

a flexible membrane coupled to the first and second side panels and extending proximally therefrom.

2. The access assembly according to claim 1, wherein in the approximated position, the first and second side panels define a concave inner surface, and in the spaced apart position the first and second side panels define a convex inner surface.

3. The access assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a ring, wherein the flexible membrane is coupled to the ring at a proximal end thereof, the ring configured to maintain the flexible membrane in an open configuration.

4. The access assembly according to claim 3, wherein the ring is configured to rotate about a circumference thereof to roll the flexible membrane therearound for selectively tensioning the flexible membrane.

5. The access assembly according to claim 1, further comprising at least one ribbon coupled to at least one of the first and second end panels, the at least one ribbon configured for manipulating the position of the end panels.

6. The access assembly according to claim 1, wherein cushioning is disposed on outer surfaces of the side panels to protect surrounding tissue.

7. The access assembly according to claim 1, wherein the side panels are stable in each of the concave approximated position and the spaced apart position.

8. The access assembly according to claim 1, wherein the flexible membrane defines a funnel shaped configuration.

9. The access assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the side panels includes a reinforcement strip disposed therein.

10. The access assembly according to claim 1, wherein the end panels are biased toward the expanded position.

11. A surgical access assembly for positioning within an opening in tissue, the surgical access assembly comprising:

a body composed of substantially rigid material and having an opening dimensioned and configured to receive surgical instruments therethrough;

a plurality of flexible members extending distally to the body in a first direction;

an elastic membrane extending proximally to the body in a second different direction; and

an outer tensioning member connected to the elastic membrane, the tensioning member movable to tension the elastic membrane to retract soft tissue adjacent the opening in tissue.

12. The access assembly according to claim 11, wherein the membrane is coupled to the tensioning member at a proximal end thereof.

13. The access assembly according to claim 11, wherein the tensioning member comprises a ring, the ring configured to rotate about a circumference thereof to roll the membrane therearound for selectively tensioning the membrane.

14. The access assembly according to claim 11, wherein the access assembly further comprises at least one ribbon for retracting the flexible members for removal.

15. The access assembly according to claim 11, wherein the flexible members are biased toward the expanded position.

16. A method of accessing an internal cavity of a patient comprising the steps of:

forming an opening in the patient'"'"'s tissue;

providing an access assembly including;

a body including first and second side panels opposing one another and first and second end panels interconnecting the side panels, the first and second end panels moveable between a folded position and an expanded position to correspondingly move the first and second side panels with respect to one another between an approximated position and a spaced apart position, wherein the first and second side panels are flexed outwardly and apart from one another to a passageway therebetween; and

a flexible membrane coupled to the first and second side panels and extending proximally therefrom;

inserting the access assembly through the opening in tissue with the end panels in the folded position and the side panels in the approximated position such that the side panels and the end panels are positioned within an intercostal space defined between adjacent ribs of the patient and such that the flexible membrane extends proximally from the opening; and

moving the end panels to the expanded position such that the side panels are moved to the spaced apart position to expand the intercostal space and define the passageway therebetween.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of introducing at least one of surgical instrumentation and tissue specimen through the access assembly.

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of moving the first and second end panels to the folded position to move the first and second side panels to the approximated position.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein in the approximated position, the first and second side panels define a concave inner surface, and in the spaced apart position define a convex inner surface.