US7033369B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cannula for receiving surgical instruments
Assignee: Zimmer Spine Inc
•
Filing: 2003-05-16
•
Granted: 2006-04-25
•
Expires: 2023-05-16
Abstract
Abstract A cannula ( 10 ) receives surgical instruments ( 120 ) for performing a surgical procedure on a body ( 130 ). The cannula ( 10 ) comprises a tube structure ( 12 ) defining a passage ( 16 ) through which the surgical instruments ( 120 ) are inserted into the body ( 130 ). The tube structure ( 12 ) has a proximal end ( 20 ) and a distal end ( 62 ). The tube structure ( 12 ) includes an expandable portion ( 40 ) for enabling an increase in the cross-sectional area of the passage ( 16 ) at the distal end ( 62 ). The expandable portion ( 40 ) of the tube structure ( 12 ), when expanded, has a conical configuration.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas W. Davison
- 👤 Timothy E. Taylor
- 👤 Adam Sher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:00
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/34; A61B17/3417; A61B17/3421; A61B17/02; A61B17/0218; A61B17/16; A61B17/17; A61B17/1739; A61B17/1757; A61B17/32; A61B17/320016; A61B17/32002; A61B17/3439; A61B17/0293; A61B17/1735; A61B17/28; A61B17/2812; A61B17/282; A61B17/29; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00261; A61B2017/0046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
A system for providing minimally invasive access to the spine of a patient, said system comprising: an elongate body having a distal end, a proximal end, an outer surface, and an inner surface, said inner surface defining a passage extending through the elongate body through which instruments can be inserted to a surgical location, said elongate body having a first configuration for insertion into the patient, and a second configuration for increasing access to the surgical location, wherein in the second configuration, the inner surface defines a cross-sectional area of the passage at a first location that is greater than a cross-sectional area of said passage at a second location, the first location being distal to the second location; and an expander comprising a first elongate member and a second elongate member pivotably coupled with the first elongate member, and a proximal end, the expander configured to be inserted into the passage and to be actuated from the proximal end such that the first and second elongate members engage the inner surface adjacent the distal end to cause opposing portions of the distal end of the elongate body to be moved transversely to increase access to the surgical location.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
199 words
A system for providing minimally invasive access to the spine of a patient, said system comprising: an elongate body having a distal end, a proximal end, an outer surface, and an inner surface, said inner surface defining a passage extending through the elongate body through which instruments can be inserted to a surgical location, said elongate body having a first configuration for insertion into the patient, and a second configuration for increasing access to the surgical location, wherein in the second configuration, the inner surface defines a cross-sectional area of the passage at a first location that is greater than a cross-sectional area of said passage at a second location, the first location being distal to the second location; and an expander comprising a first elongate member and a second elongate member pivotably coupled with the first elongate member, and a proximal end, the expander configured to be inserted into the passage and to be actuated from the proximal end such that the first and second elongate members engage the inner surface adjacent the distal end to cause opposing portions of the distal end of the elongate body to be moved transversely to increase access to the surgical location.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the elongate body comprises rigid material extending around substantially the entire perimeter of the cross-sectional area between the first and second locations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface defining the passage is made of a smooth metal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the passage is sized to receive at least two instruments simultaneously.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the expander comprises a pair of legs pivotally connected to one another.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the elongate body includes an area overlap between the inner surface and outer surface, and wherein actuating the expander reduces the area of overlap.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the elongate body includes two portions capable of pivoting relative to each other, and wherein actuating the expander causes the two portions to pivot relative to each other.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
160 words
A system for providing minimally invasive access to the spine of a patient, said system comprising: an elongate body having a distal end, a proximal end, an outer surface, and an inner surface, said inner surface defining a passage extending through the elongate body through which instruments can be inserted to a surgical location, said elongate body having a first configuration for insertion into the patient, and a second configuration for increasing access to the surgical location, wherein in the second configuration, the inner surface defines a cross-sectional area of the passage at a first location that is greater than a cross-sectional area of said passage at a second location, the first location being distal to the second location; and an expander comprising a first leg and a second leg pivotably coupled with the first leg, the expander configured to be actuated such that the first and second legs when actuated cause the elongate body to have the second configuration.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
160 words
A system for providing minimally invasive access to the spine of a patient, said system comprising: an elongate body having a distal end, a proximal end, an outer surface, and an inner surface, said inner surface defining a passage extending through the elongate body through which instruments can be inserted to a surgical location, said elongate body having a first configuration for insertion into the patient, and a second configuration for increasing access to the surgical location, wherein in the second configuration, the inner surface defines a cross-sectional area of the passage at a first location that is greater than a cross-sectional area of said passage at a second location, the first location being distal to the second location; and an expander comprising a first leg and a second leg pivotably coupled with the first leg, the expander configured to be actuated such that the first and second legs when actuated cause the elongate body to have the second configuration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the elongate body comprises rigid material extending around substantially the entire perimeter of the cross-sectional area between the first and second locations.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the inner surface defining the passage is made of a smooth metal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the passage is sized to receive at least two instruments simultaneously.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the elongate body includes an area overlap between the inner surface and outer surface, and wherein actuating the expander reduces the area of overlap.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the elongate body includes two portions capable of pivoting relative to each other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 13 , wherein the two portion of the elongate body are configured to be pivoted by actuating the expander.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the expander is configured to be inserted into the passage and to engage the inner surface of the elongate body when actuated.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
179 words
A system for providing minimally invasive access to the spine of a patient, said system comprising: an elongate body having a distal end, a proximal end, an outer surface and an inner surface, said inner surface defining a passage extending through the elongate body through which instruments can be inserted to a surgical location, said elongate body having a first configuration for insertion into the patient, and a second configuration for providing access to the surgical location, wherein in the second configuration, the inner surface defines a cross-sectional area of the passage at a first location that is greater than a cross-sectional area of said passage at a second location, the first location being distal to the second location; and an expander comprising a first leg and a second leg pivotably coupled with the first leg, the expander configured to be actuated to cause the elongate body to have the second configuration, the expander further configured to be engagable and disengageble from the elongate body; wherein the elongate body maintains the second configuration when the expander is disengaged therefrom.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
179 words
A system for providing minimally invasive access to the spine of a patient, said system comprising: an elongate body having a distal end, a proximal end, an outer surface and an inner surface, said inner surface defining a passage extending through the elongate body through which instruments can be inserted to a surgical location, said elongate body having a first configuration for insertion into the patient, and a second configuration for providing access to the surgical location, wherein in the second configuration, the inner surface defines a cross-sectional area of the passage at a first location that is greater than a cross-sectional area of said passage at a second location, the first location being distal to the second location; and an expander comprising a first leg and a second leg pivotably coupled with the first leg, the expander configured to be actuated to cause the elongate body to have the second configuration, the expander further configured to be engagable and disengageble from the elongate body; wherein the elongate body maintains the second configuration when the expander is disengaged therefrom.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the passage is sized to receive at least two instruments simultaneously.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the elongate body includes an area overlap between the inner surface and outer surface, and wherein actuating the expander reduces the area of overlap.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the elongate body includes two portions capable of pivoting relative to each other.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 19 , wherein the two portion of the elongate body are configured to be pivoted by actuating the expander.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the expander is configured to be inserted into the passage and to engage the inner surface of the elongate body when actuated.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2009-04-24 | 2009-10-24 | 2010-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-04-24 | 2013-10-24 | 2014-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-04-24 | 2017-10-24 | 2018-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |