Support for surgical instrument

Claim 2

A support for a surgical instrument, said support comprising: a first sleeve having a through bore to allow passage of an instrument through the first sleeve bore and tissue into a cavity in which a surgical procedure is to be performed and defining a surface to be pressed against tissue with the support in an operative position thereon; means for stabilizing the position of the first sleeve relative to a tissue through which a surgical instrument is directed, said first sleeve being pivotable relative to the stabilizing means; means connecting the stabilizing means to the first sleeve to allow the first sleeve to be placed in a plurality of different positions relative to the stabilizing means; and means cooperating between the first sleeve and stabilizing means for selectively maintaining the first sleeve in each of the plurality of different positions relative to the stabilizing means, said connecting means being made at least partially from a deformable material that flexes to allow universal relative movement between the first sleeve and stabilizing means.

Claim 3

The surgical instrument support according to claim 1 wherein the surface to be pressed against tissue is tapered and the sleeve, stabilizing means, and connecting means are formed as a single piece.

Claim 4

The support for a surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the stabilizing means comprises a plate with a flat surface for facially engaging a tissue with the support in an operative position.

Claim 5

The support for a surgical instrument according to claim 1 in combination with a guide sleeve/cannula extending into the through bore on the first sleeve and defining a passageway to guide an instrument through a tissue into a cavity in which a surgical procedure is to be performed.

Claim 6

The support for a surgical instrument according to claim 4 including means cooperating between the first and guide sleeves for selectively fixing the relative positions of the first sleeve and guide sleeve.

Claim 7

The support for a surgical instrument according to claim 4 including a resilient element on said guide sleeve that is positionable selectively in a) an inflated state and b) a deflated state, said resilient element defining a shoulder to capture a tissue through which said guide sleeve extends against the stabilizing means.

Claim 8

The support for a surgical instrument according to claim 4 further including a plastic sleeve surrounding at least a portion of the guide sleeve/cannula and located between the guide sleeve/cannula and the first sleeve; and further comprising means for fixing the plastic sleeve to at least one of the guide sleeve/cannula and the first sleeve.

Claim 9

A support for a surgical instrument, said support comprising: a first sleeve having a through bore to allow passage of an instrument through the first sleeve bore and tissue into a cavity in which a surgical procedure is to be performed and defining a surface to be pressed against tissue with the support in an operative position thereon; means for stabilizing the position of the first sleeve relative to a tissue through which a surgical instrument is directed; means for connecting the stabilizing means to the first sleeve, wherein the stabilizing means comprises a plate with a flat surface for facially engaging a tissue with the support in an operative position, wherein the connecting means comprises means for allowing relative movement between the sleeve and stabilizing means; and means connected between the stabilizing means and sleeve for maintaining the sleeve and stabilizing means in a desired relationship, wherein the maintaining means connects between the stabilizing means and first sleeve and comprises at least one member that is extensible to alter the effective length of the at least one member between said stabilizing means and first sleeve.

Claim 10

A support for a surgical instrument, said support comprising: a first sleeve having a through bore to allow passage of an instrument through the first sleeve bore and tissue into a cavity in which a surgical procedure is to be performed and defining a surface to be pressed against tissue with the support in an operative position thereon; means for stabilizing the position of the first sleeve relative to a tissue through which a surgical instrument is directed; means for connecting the stabilizing means to the first sleeve, wherein the stabilizing means comprises a plate with a flat surface for facially engaging a tissue with the support in an operative position, wherein the connecting means comprises means for allowing relative movement between the sleeve and stabilizing means; and means connected between the stabilizing means and sleeve for maintaining the sleeve and stabilizing means in a desired relationship, wherein the maintaining means connects between the stabilizing means and first sleeve and comprises at least one member that is extensible to alter the effective length of the at least one member between said stabilizing means and first sleeve.

Claim 11

The support for a surgical instrument according to claim 8 wherein the one extensible member can be placed selectively in a) a first position wherein it has a first effective length and b) a second position wherein it has a second effective length and there are means for normally biasing the one extensible member towards one of its first and second effective lengths.

Claim 12

The support for a surgical instrument according to claim 8 wherein there are means for releasably fixing the one member to hold the one member at a predetermined effective length.

Claim 13

A support for a surgical instrument, said support comprising: a first sleeve having a through bore to allow passage of an instrument through the first sleeve bore and tissue into a cavity in which a surgical procedure is to be performed and defining a surface to be pressed against tissue with the support in an operative position thereon; means for stabilizing the position of the first sleeve relative to a tissue through which a surgical instrument is directed; means for connecting the stabilizing means to the first sleeve, wherein the stabilizing means comprises a plate with a flat surface for facially engaging a tissue with the support in an operative position, wherein the connecting means comprises means for allowing relative movement between the sleeve and stabilizing means; and means connected between the stabilizing means and sleeve for maintaining the sleeve and stabilizing means in a desired relationship, wherein the maintaining means comprises a plurality of elongate between the stabilizing means and first sleeve such that one of the first and second ends on each elongate member connects to the stabilizing means and the other of the first and second ends on each elongate member connects to the first sleeve.

Claim 14

A support for a surgical instrument, said support comprising: a first sleeve having a through bore to allow passage of an instrument through the first sleeve bore and tissue into a cavity in which a surgical procedure is to be performed and defining a surface to be pressed against tissue with the support in an operative position thereon; means for stabilizing the position of the first sleeve relative to a tissue through which a surgical instrument is directed; means for connecting the stabilizing means to the first sleeve, wherein the stabilizing means comprises a plate with a flat surface for facially engaging a tissue with the support in an operative position, wherein the connecting means comprises means for allowing relative movement between the sleeve and stabilizing means; and means connected between the stabilizing means and sleeve for maintaining the sleeve and stabilizing means in a desired relationship, wherein the maintaining means comprises a plurality of elongate between the stabilizing means and first sleeve such that one of the first and second ends on each elongate member connects to the stabilizing means and the other of the first and second ends on each elongate member connects to the first sleeve.

Claim 15

A support for a surgical instrument, said support comprising: a first sleeve having a through bore to allow passage of an instrument through the first sleeve bore and tissue into a cavity in which a surgical procedure is to be performed and defining a surface to be pressed against tissue with the support in an operative position thereon; means for stabilizing the position of the first sleeve relative to a tissue through which a surgical instrument is directed; means for connecting the stabilizing means to the first sleeve, wherein the stabilizing means comprises a plate with a flat surface for facially engaging a tissue with the support in an operative position, wherein the connecting means comprises means for allowing universal relative movement between the first sleeve and stabilizing means; and means acting between the stabilizing means and first sleeve for maintaining the sleeve and stabilizing means in a desired relationship, wherein there are first means at a first location on the stabilizing means for connecting the maintaining means to the stabilizing means and there are cooperating means on the first connecting means and stabilizing means for selectively changing the position of the first connecting means from said first location to a second location.

Claim 16

A support for a surgical instrument, said support comprising: a first sleeve having a through bore to allow passage of an instrument through the first sleeve bore and tissue into a cavity in which a surgical procedure is to be performed and defining a surface to be pressed against tissue with the support in an operative position thereon; means for stabilizing the position of the first sleeve relative to a tissue through which a surgical instrument is directed; means for connecting the stabilizing means to the first sleeve, wherein the stabilizing means comprises a plate with a flat surface for facially engaging a tissue with the support in an operative position, wherein the connecting means comprises means for allowing universal relative movement between the first sleeve and stabilizing means; and means acting between the stabilizing means and first sleeve for maintaining the sleeve and stabilizing means in a desired relationship, wherein there are first means at a first location on the stabilizing means for connecting the maintaining means to the stabilizing means and there are cooperating means on the first connecting means and stabilizing means for selectively changing the position of the first connecting means from said first location to a second location.

Claim 17

A support for a surgical instrument, said support comprising: a first sleeve having a through bore to allow passage therethrough of an instrument to be directed through a tissue into a cavity in which a surgical procedure is to be performed; means for stabilizing the position of the first sleeve relative to a tissue through which a surgical instrument is directed and having a surface to facially abut a tissue; means for connecting the stabilizing means to the first sleeve to allow the first sleeve to be pivoted relative to the stabilizing means and thereby placed in a plurality of different positions relative to the stabilizing means; and means for maintaining the first sleeve in a plurality of different positions relative to the stabilizing means, wherein at least a portion of each of the first sleeve, the stabilizing means and connecting means is formed as one piece.

Claim 18

A support for a surgical instrument, said support comprising: a first sleeve having a through bore to allow passage therethrough of an instrument to be directed through a tissue into a cavity in which a surgical procedure is to be performed; means for stabilizing the position of the first sleeve relative to a tissue through which a surgical instrument is directed and having a surface to facially abut a tissue; means for connecting the stabilizing means to the first sleeve to allow the first sleeve to be pivoted relative to the stabilizing means and thereby placed in a plurality of different positions relative to the stabilizing means; and means for maintaining the first sleeve in a plurality of different positions relative to the stabilizing means, wherein at least a portion of each of the first sleeve, the stabilizing means and connecting means is formed as one piece.

Claim 19

The support for a surgical instrument according to claim 13 wherein the stabilizing means comprises an annular plate with an annular surface for facially engaging a tissue with the support in an operative position.

Claim 20

The support for a surgical instrument according to claim 13 including second means connecting between the stabilizing means and first sleeve for maintaining the first sleeve and stabilizing means in a desired relationship.

Claim 21

The support for a surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the connecting means comprises a deformable part on one of the first sleeve and stabilizing means that acts as a hinge to allow the first sleeve to move relative to the stabilizing means, said first sleeve having a thickened portion that is less flexible than the deformable part on the first sleeve and stabilizing means.

Claim 22

A support for a surgical instrument, said support comprising: a first sleeve having a through bore to allow passage therethrough of an instrument to be directed through a tissue into a cavity in which a surgical procedure is to be performed; means for stabilizing the position of the sleeve relative to a tissue through which a surgical instrument is directed; means for connecting the stabilizing means to the sleeve, wherein the stabilizing means comprises an annular plate with an annular surface for facially engaging a tissue with the support in an operative position, wherein the connecting means comprises means for allowing relative movement between the sleeve and stabilizing means; and means connecting between the stabilizing means and sleeve for maintaining the sleeve and stabilizing means in a desired relationship, wherein the maintaining means comprises at least one member that is extensible to alter the effective length of the at least one member between said stabilizing means and the first sleeve.

Claim 23

A support for a surgical instrument, said support comprising: a first sleeve having a through bore to allow passage therethrough of an instrument to be directed through a tissue into a cavity in which a surgical procedure is to be performed; means for stabilizing the position of the sleeve relative to a tissue through which a surgical instrument is directed; means for connecting the stabilizing means to the sleeve, wherein the stabilizing means comprises an annular plate with an annular surface for facially engaging a tissue with the support in an operative position, wherein the connecting means comprises means for allowing relative movement between the sleeve and stabilizing means; and means connecting between the stabilizing means and sleeve for maintaining the sleeve and stabilizing means in a desired relationship, wherein the maintaining means comprises at least one member that is extensible to alter the effective length of the at least one member between said stabilizing means and the first sleeve.

Claim 24

The support for a surgical instrument according to claim 17 wherein the extensible member has spaced ends connected one each to the stabilizing means and first sleeve and there are means cooperating between one spaced end of the extensible member and one of the first sleeve and stabilizing means to allow universal relative movement between the one extensible member end and the one of the first sleeve and stabilizing means.

Claim 25

The support for a surgical instrument according to claim 17 including means for releasably fixing the one member to hold the one member at a predetermined effective length.