Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
Surgical access apparatus (10) comprising a first elongated member (13) with a retention arrangement (17) adjacent to the distal end thereof, the arrangement being expandable after the member has been used to penetrate a cavity wall of a patient, in order to retain the distal end of the member within the patient, a second elongated member (19) extending through a passageway (16) of the first member and connected to the first member adjacent to the distal ends of both members, and control means (23,26,32) for providing relative movement of the two members to cause the retention arrangement to expand or contract, characterised in that the control means comprises a first control member (30) fixed adjacent to the proximal end of the first elongated member, a second control member (23) fixed adjacent to the proximal end of the second elongated member, and spring means (32) for causing relative movement of the first and second control members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the first elongated member comprises an expandable section (18) forming part of the retention arrangement (17), said expandable section being formed by slits (18) in the first elongated member, the slits being located on the proximal side of the connection of the first and second elongated members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the spring means is positioned between the first and second control members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, characterised in that the spring means is a compression spring (32) located between the first and second control members tending to urge them apart,and to cause the said section (18) to be normally in an expanded condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that the second elongated member is longer than the first elongated member, in that the first control member is in the form of a hub (30) distal to the second control member, and in that the latter is in the form of a second hub (23) mounted to be reciprocateable relative to the first mentioned hub, with the spring tending to urge the hubs apart, and thus expand the said section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, characterised in that part (27) of the second hub is reciprocateably mounted within a passageway (31) of the first hub, with the spring mounted within the passageway and exerting a force on the two hubs, whereby a compressive force exerted by a surgeon on at least one of the two hubs causes the said section to be contracted to permit penetration of the distal ends of the two elongated members within a patient, and whereby removal of the said compressive force permits expansion of the said section in order to retain within the patient the penetrated part of the apparatus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, further characterised by a retention disk (33) moveably mounted along the outer elongated member and serving to be pressed against the outside of the patient at the place of said penetration, to clamp the said part of the apparatus in position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 5,6 or 7, characterised in that the second hub is provided with a side port in communication with the interior of the elongated members, and/or a seal (24) positioned at the proximal end of the second hub.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 5,6,7 or 8, characterised in that a slot (28) and rod (29) are provided in the arrangement of the hubs to prevent relative rotational movement of the hubs and to limit relative axial movement thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to any one preceding claim, characterised in that the inner rod is capable of receiving a rod with an end designed to puncture a cavity wall of a patient.