1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to surgical cannulas. Specifically, embodiments disclosed herein relate to an adjustable cannula for effectively engaging a tissue and for establishing a repeatable instrument path within a patient's body.
2. Background
Arthroscopic or, more generally, endoscopic surgical procedures enable closed surgery to be performed via portals through which a variety of elongated instruments may be passed to gain access to an internal surgical work site. Very often, a small incision is made in a patient's tissue, and a disposable cannula is inserted into the incision or portal in order to provide a convenient passageway through which various medical instruments may be passed. A surgeon can then access the region of interest by inserting and manipulating various medical instruments through the open passageway created by the cannula. The action of the surgeon manipulating the instruments may cause frictional forces between the instrument and the cannula, which may cause the cannula to move. The potential exists for the cannula to slip out of the patient's body, requiring the surgeon to stop the current procedure, and re-insert and/or re-position the cannula within the patient's body. This movement of the cannula during a surgical procedure may cause tissue trauma in the area of skin surrounding the cannula. The surgeon performing the procedure may be forced to stabilize the top of the cannula with one hand, while using the other hand to insert the instruments into the cannula.
Additionally, the thickness of tissue which must be traversed by the cannula to access a particular region of the body varies from patient to patient. As such, a variety of different length cannulas are available for use in arthroscopic and laparoscopic procedures, requiring the surgeon or doctor to estimate the thickness of the tissue to be traversed for a particular patient and then select a cannula having the proper length. Further, a portion of the cannula that remains on the outside of the patient's body may extend farther than otherwise desired. Furthermore, because various medical instruments of various lengths may be required for a surgical procedure, an instrument may extend farther than desired from the cannula. On the other hand, the cannula may need to extend into deeper regions of a body cavity, e.g., a joint or an abdominal cavity, to access remote areas of the body.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an adjustable cannula for effectively engaging a tissue and for establishing a repeatable instrument path within a patient's body.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable cannula for effectively engaging a tissue and for establishing a repeatable instrument path within a patient's body.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cannula comprising a tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end and a central axis defined therethrough, in which the tubular body has a bore formed therethrough, a first protruding member coupled to a first region of the tubular body near the proximal end of the tubular body, and a second protruding member coupled to a second region of the tubular body near the distal end of the tubular body, in which each of the first protruding member and the second protruding member are coupled to an outer surface of the tubular body, in which a length of the tubular body is adjustable along the central axis.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of inserting a cannula into a tissue, the method comprising providing a tubular body having a central axis defined therethrough and a bore formed therethrough, in which a first protruding member and a second protruding member are coupled to an outer surface of the tubular body, in which a length of the tubular body is adjustable along the central axis, piercing the outer tissue layer of a body, forming an opening in the outer tissue layer of a body, and inserting the tubular body into the opening in the outer tissue layer of a body and into the tissue.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit for inserting a cannula into a tissue, the kit comprising a tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end and a central axis defined therethrough, in which the tubular body has a bore formed therethrough, a first protruding member coupled to a first region of the tubular body near the proximal end of the tubular body, a second protruding member coupled to a second region of the tubular body near the distal end of the tubular body, in which each of the first protruding member and the second protruding member are coupled to an outer surface of the tubular body, in which a length of the tubular body is adjustable along the central axis, a piercing device configured to pierce an outer tissue layer of a body, and an insertion device having a proximal end and a distal end, the insertion device to be received by the bore of the tubular body.
a is perspective view of an adjustable cannula to be received within an opening formed in a shoulder in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein.
b is a side view of an adjustable cannula that is engaged with a layer of tissue of a body in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein.
In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to an adjustable cannula for effectively engaging a tissue and for establishing a repeatable instrument path within a patient's body. Specifically, embodiments disclosed herein relate to an adjustable cannula having a tubular body having a bore formed therethrough, a first protruding member, and a second protruding member, in which the length of the tubular body is adjustable along a central axis defined through the tubular body.
Embodiments of an adjustable cannula having a tubular body, in which the length of the tubular body is adjustable, disclosed herein may provide a surgical cannula that may be adjusted in length inside of a body. Additionally, the adjustable cannula, according to embodiments disclosed herein, may engage an interior tissue surface of a body as well as an exterior tissue surface of a body in order to effectively engage the tissue and provide stability for the tubular body within a body. Furthermore, the adjustable cannula, according to embodiments disclosed herein, may be able to aid in creating a space between the tissue within a joint to improve visualization and for increased working space during surgery.
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Furthermore, although not shown, a seal may be coupled to a region of the tubular body 101 near the proximal end 110 of the tubular body 101. Because many arthroscopic and some laparoscopic procedures require the use of pressurized fluid to distend and irrigate a joint being operated upon, it may be necessary to provide a sealed passageway in order to enable instruments to be passed into and out of the adjustable cannula 100 while maintaining a fluid seal whether or not an instrument (not shown) is in the bore (not shown) of the tubular body 101. As such, in one or more embodiments, the seal may be configured to substantially provide a fluid seal between an interior of the tubular body 101 and an exterior of the tubular body 101. For example, one or more elastomeric membranes may be attached to the proximal end 110 of the tubular body 101. For example, and without limitation, another exemplary seal is shown in U.S. Patent. Publication No. 2008/0294123, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
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As shown, the first protruding member 211 includes a top surface 215 and a bottom surface 216. Likewise, the second protruding member 221 includes a top surface 225 and a bottom surface 226. Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the adjustable cannula 200 may be rotated 180 degrees, in which a top surface may be known as a bottom surface, and vice versa. In one or more embodiments, once the adjustable cannula 200 is disposed within a body (not shown), e.g., within a joint, the bottom surface 216 of the first protruding member 211 may be used to engage an exterior tissue surface (not shown) of a body. Further, the top surface 225 of the second protruding member 221 may be used to engage an interior tissue surface (not shown) of a body. Once the top surface 225 of the second protruding member 221 is engaged with the inner tissue surface of a body, a surgeon can pull on the tubular body 201 and/or the first protruding member 211 in a direction away from the body in order to enhance joint distension. In other words, once the second protruding member 221 is engaged with the interior tissue surface of a body, the adjustable cannula 200 may be used, e.g., pulled, to manipulate the interior tissue of a body, e.g., a joint, which may promote increased visibility and work space within the body.
The adjustable cannula 200 may be manufactured using a variety of methods and processes. For example, the adjustable cannula 200 may be manufactured using an injection-mold process, in which the tubular body 201 as well as the first protruding member 211 and the second protruding member 221 may be molded using molds filled with a material to form the adjustable cannula 200. Further, the adjustable cannula 200 may be manufactured using a two-step injection-mold process, in which the tubular body 201 of the adjustable cannula 200 may be made of a different material when compared to the first protruding member 211 and the second protruding member 221. For example, in one or more embodiments, the first protruding member 211 and the second protruding member 221 of the adjustable cannula 200 may be made of a hard plastic, in which the tubular body 201 of the adjustable cannula 200 may be made of a more pliable, flexible, elastomeric plastic. Conversely, in one or more embodiments, the tubular body 201 of the adjustable cannula 200 may be made of a hard plastic, in which the first protruding member 211 and the second protruding member 221 of the adjustable cannula 200 may be made of a more pliable, flexible, elastomeric plastic. Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the adjustable cannula 200 may be composed of a hard or rigid material, a flexible material, or a combination of the two. For example, the adjustable cannula 200 may be composed of a hard plastic or rubber, an elastomeric plastic or rubber, or a combination of the two. In a two-step injection-mold process, a first material that may be used to form the first protruding member 211 and the second protruding member 221 may be first injected into a mold, followed by an injection of a second material that may be used to form the tubular body 201 of the adjustable cannula. Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the adjustable cannula 200 may be manufactured using other methods commonly known in the art, and that the manufacturing process of the adjustable cannula 200 is not limited to an injection-mold process. For example, the adjustable cannula 200 may be manufactured using a casting process.
A method of inserting a cannula into a tissue, in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein, may include providing a tubular body having a central axis defined therethrough and a bore formed therethrough, providing a piercing device configured to pierce an outer tissue layer of a body, providing an insertion device having a proximal end and a distal end, the insertion device to be received by the bore of the tubular body, piercing the outer tissue layer of a body with the piercing device, forming an opening in the outer tissue layer of a body, disposing the insertion device within the bore of the tubular body, and inserting the tubular body into the opening in the outer tissue layer of a body and into the tissue. A first protruding member and a second protruding member may be coupled to an outer surface of the tubular body. A length of the tubular body may be adjustable along the central axis. The insertion device may be a rod-like member, in which the distal end is a pointed end. Instead, the insertion device may be a rod-like member, in which the distal end is a blunt end. Further, the insertion device may be a device or apparatus configured to fold or angle the second protruding member of the adjustable cannula for insertion into a body. Alternatively, the insertion device may be an obturator. For example, and without limitation, an exemplary obturator is shown in U.S. Patent. Publication No. 2008/0058816, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The method may also include adjusting the length of the tubular body between a first position and a second position based on a thickness of the tissue, in which, in the first position, the tubular body is in a fully compressed state and the length of the tubular body is at a minimum, and, in which, in the second position, the tubular body is in a fully extended state and the length of the tubular body is at a maximum. Further, a top surface of the second protruding member may be engaged with an interior tissue surface of a body. Furthermore, a bottom surface of the first protruding member may be engaged with an exterior tissue surface of a body. The method may also include removing the insertion device from within the bore of the tubular body, in which the tubular body remains in the tissue. The method may also include removing the tubular body from the tissue.
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A kit for inserting a cannula into a tissue, in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein, may include a tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end and a central axis defined therethrough, a first protruding member coupled to a first region of the tubular body, a second protruding member coupled to a second region of the tubular body, a piercing device configured to pierce an outer tissue layer of a body, and an insertion device having a proximal end and a distal end, the insertion device to be received by the bore of the tubular body. The tubular body may have a bore formed therethrough. Each of the first protruding member and the second protruding member may be coupled to an outer surface of the tubular body. A length of the tubular body may be adjustable along the central axis.
Advantageously, embodiments disclosed herein may provide an adjustable cannula for effectively engaging a tissue and for establishing a repeatable instrument path within a patient's body. For example, once the adjustable cannula is disposed and effectively engaged within a tissue, as described above, various medical instruments may be inserted and removed from a patient's body while minimizing tissue trauma in the area of skin surrounding the adjustable cannula. Additionally, adjustable cannula, according to embodiments disclosed herein, may provide a fluid seal between the body and the instrument path as well as between the inside and the outside of the body. For example, a first protruding member and a second protruding member, as described above, may form a seal between an exterior tissue surface and an interior tissue surface, respectively. Specifically, the seal formed by the first protruding member and the second protruding member may prevent fluid from escaping from the body during a surgical procedure. Likewise, the seal formed by the first protruding member and the second protruding member may prevent fluid from entering the body during a surgical procedure.
The adjustable cannula, according to embodiments disclosed herein, may also allow a surgeon to adjust the length of the tubular body of the adjustable cannula to accommodate for the tissue thickness of a particular patient. The adjustability of the length of the adjustable cannula may allow surgeons to use the cannula with a variety of patients, varying in size. Further, the adjustability of the length of the adjustable cannula may allow surgeons to use the cannula to access a variety of areas of interest within the body, e.g., various joints as well as various regions of the pelvic area. For example, the adjustable cannula may allow surgeons to use the cannula to access joints, such as a hip or shoulder joint, as well as a variety of sealed organs, such as a kidney or liver. Furthermore, as discussed above, engaging the second protruding member of the tubular body of the adjustable cannula may secure the adjustable cannula to the interior tissue surface and prevent undesired removal of the adjustable cannula during a surgical procedure. Additionally, the first protruding member and the second protruding member of the adjustable cannula may also provide a surface for tissue, e.g., subcutaneous tissue, to compress against. Compressing tissue with the first protruding member and the second protruding member of the adjustable cannula may shorten the pathway that medical instruments may have to travel in order to access areas of interest within the body. Finally, according to embodiments disclosed herein, once the second protruding member is engaged with the interior tissue surface of a body, the adjustable cannula may be used, e.g., pulled, to manipulate the interior tissue of a body, e.g., a joint, which may promote increased visibility, sightline, instrument workability, and work space within the body.
While embodiments have been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of embodiments disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of embodiments disclosed herein should be limited only by the attached claims.