Surgical access sheath

Claim 2

A surgical access sheath comprising: a first elongated member having a slick outer surface, a first distal end, a first proximal end, a first passageway extending longitudinally between said first ends, and a retention mechanism positioned about said first distal end and having a predetermined state; a second elongated member positioned within said first passageway and having a second distal end attached about said first distal end, a second proximal end, and a second passageway extending longitudinally between said second ends, said retention mechanism assuming said predetermined state when said first and second proximal ends are urged longitudinally apart; a proximal hub attached about said second proximal end of said second elongated member and having a longitudinal slot therein; and a distal hub separate from said proximal hub, attached about said first proximal end of said first member, and having a projection extending therefrom and into said longitudinal slot of said proximal hub; and spring means positioned between and contacting said proximal hub and said distal hub for urging said distal and proximal hubs longitudinally apart.

Claim 3

The access sheath of claim 1 wherein said retention mechanism includes a plurality of strips longitudinally positioned about said first distal end of said first elongated member.

Claim 4

The access sheath of claim 1 wherein said first member includes a tube and said retention mechanism includes a plurality of strips formed longitudinally in said tube about said first distal end.

Claim 5

The access sheath claim 1 wherein said first elongated member comprises a polytetrafluoroethylene material tube and said retention mechanism includes a plurality of strips formed longitudinally in said tube about said first distal end.

Claim 6

The access sheath of claim 1 further comprising a retention plate extending laterally from said first member and slidably engaging said first member.

Claim 7

The access sheath of claim 1 wherein said proximal hub includes a chamber and a side port extending laterally therefrom and communicating with said chamber.

Claim 8

The access sheath of claim 6 further comprising a seal positioned about a proximal end of said proximal hub and having an aperture therein communicating with said chamber.

Claim 9

The access sheath of claim 1 wherein said proximal hub includes a neck extending distally and wherein said distal hub has a chamber longitudinally positioned therein, said neck communicating with said chamber.

Claim 10

The access sheath of claim 8 wherein said spring is positioned within said chamber and engages said neck and said distal hub.

Claim 11

The access sheath of claim 9 wherein said neck includes said slot longitudinally positioned therein and wherein said projection extends into said chamber and said slot.

Claim 12

The access sheath of claim 1 further comprising a rod sized for extending through said second passageway of said second elongated member.

Claim 13

The access sheath of claim 11 wherein said rod includes a predetermined distal end shaped for puncturing a cavity wall of a patient.

Claim 14

The access sheath of claim 12 wherein said rod includes an end cap positioned about a proximal end thereof for pushing said access sheath through said cavity wall of said patient.

Claim 15

The access sheath of claim 1 further comprising a retainer cap attached to said first and second members about said distal ends thereof.

Claim 16

The access sheath of claim 14 wherein said retainer cap includes a beveled distal end.

Claim 17

A surgical access sheath comprising a pliable material tube having a slick outer surface, a first distal end, a first proximal end, and a first passageway extending longitudinally between said first ends, said tube having a plurality of strips formed longitudinally therein about said first distal end and laterally expandable to an expanded state; a rigid cannula positioned within said first passageway of said tube and having a second distal end attached about said first distal end of said first tube, a second proximal end, and a second passageway extending longitudinally between said second ends, said strips assuming said expanded state when said first and second proximal ends are urged longitudinally apart from each other; a proximal hub attached about said second proximal end of said cannula and having a longitudinal slot therein; a distal hub separate from said proximal hub, attached about said first proximal end of said tube, and having a projection extending therefrom and into said longitudinal slot of said proximal hub; and spring means positioned between and contacting said proximal hub and said distal hub for urging said distal and proximal hubs longitudinally apart.

Claim 18

A surgical access sheath comprising a pliable material tube having a slick outer surface, a first distal end, a first proximal end, and a first passageway extending longitudinally between said first ends, said tube having a plurality of strips formed longitudinally therein about said first distal end and laterally expandable to an expanded state; a rigid cannula positioned within said first passageway of said tube and having a second distal end attached about said first distal end of said first tube, a second proximal end, and a second passageway extending longitudinally between said second ends, said strips assuming said expanded state when said first and second proximal ends are urged longitudinally apart from each other; a proximal hub attached about said second proximal end of said cannula and having a longitudinal slot therein; a distal hub separate from said proximal hub, attached about said first proximal end of said tube, and having a projection extending therefrom and into said longitudinal slot of said proximal hub; and spring means positioned between and contacting said proximal hub and said distal hub for urging said distal and proximal hubs longitudinally apart.

Claim 19

The surgical access sheath of claim 16 wherein said proximal hub includes a neck extending distally about said second proximal end of said cannula and wherein said distal hub has a chamber, said neck communicating with said chamber.

Claim 20

The access sheath of claim 17 wherein said spring means is positioned within said chamber and about said cannula and engages said neck and said second hub.

Claim 21

The access sheath of claim 18 wherein said neck includes a slot longitudinally positioned therein and wherein said distal hub further comprises a projection extending therefrom into said chamber and said slot.

Claim 22

A surgical access sheath comprising: a flexible polytetrafluoroethylene material tube having a slick outer surface, a first distal end, a first proximal end, and a first passageway extending longitudinally between said first ends, said tube also having a plurality of strips formed longitudinally therein about said first distal end and laterally expandable to an expanded state; a rigid stainless steel cannula positioned in said first passageway of said flexible tube and having a second distal end, a second proximal end, and a second passageway extending longitudinally between said second ends; a retainer cap having a beveled distal end and attached to said distal ends of said tube and said cannula; a first hub attached about said second proximal end of said cannula and having a first chamber communicating with said second passageway of said cannula, said hub including an access port extending laterally therefrom and communicating with said first chamber, said hub also including a flexible seal attached about a proximal end of said first chamber and having an aperture therein communicating with said first chamber, said first hub further having a neck extending distally about said second proximal end of said cannula, said neck having a slot longitudinally positioned therein; a second hub attached about said first proximal end of said tube and positioned about said cannula, said second hub including a second chamber sized for receiving said neck of said first hub; spring means positioned within said second chamber and around said cannula and contacting said neck and said second hub for urging said first and second hubs longitudinally apart and actuating said plurality of strips to said expanded state, said second hub further including a projection extending into said second chamber and said slot; a trocar rod having a three-sided pointed distal end and an end cap positioned about a proximal end thereof, said rod extending through said aperture in said seal, said first chamber, and said second passageway of said cannula, said cap engaging said flexible seal and said hub for pushing said access sheath through a body cavity wall of a patient; and a retention disk positioned around and extending laterally from said tube and slidably moveable along said tube for fixedly positioning said tube and said cannula with respect to said body cavity wall when said plurality of strips in said expanded state internally engage said body cavity wall.

Claim 23

A surgical access sheath comprising: a flexible polytetrafluoroethylene material tube having a slick outer surface, a first distal end, a first proximal end, and a first passageway extending longitudinally between said first ends, said tube also having a plurality of strips formed longitudinally therein about said first distal end and laterally expandable to an expanded state; a rigid stainless steel cannula positioned in said first passageway of said flexible tube and having a second distal end, a second proximal end, and a second passageway extending longitudinally between said second ends; a retainer cap having a beveled distal end and attached to said distal ends of said tube and said cannula; a first hub attached about said second proximal end of said cannula and having a first chamber communicating with said second passageway of said cannula, said hub including an access port extending laterally therefrom and communicating with said first chamber, said hub also including a flexible seal attached about a proximal end of said first chamber and having an aperture therein communicating with said first chamber, said first hub further having a neck extending distally about said second proximal end of said cannula, said neck having a slot longitudinally positioned therein; a second hub attached about said first proximal end of said tube and positioned about said cannula, said second hub including a second chamber sized for receiving said neck of said first hub; spring means positioned within said second chamber and around said cannula and contacting said neck and said second hub for urging said first and second hubs longitudinally apart and actuating said plurality of strips to said expanded state, said second hub further including a projection extending into said second chamber and said slot; a trocar rod having a three-sided pointed distal end and an end cap positioned about a proximal end thereof, said rod extending through said aperture in said seal, said first chamber, and said second passageway of said cannula, said cap engaging said flexible seal and said hub for pushing said access sheath through a body cavity wall of a patient; and a retention disk positioned around and extending laterally from said tube and slidably moveable along said tube for fixedly positioning said tube and said cannula with respect to said body cavity wall when said plurality of strips in said expanded state internally engage said body cavity wall.