Patent ID: 6814715
Filing Date: 2004-11-09
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
An expandable cannula which is movable into a patient's body tissue, said cannula comprising a tubular sheath having a passage which extends between axially opposite end portions of said sheath, said sheath being resiliently expandable from a contracted condition in which the passage through said sheath has a relatively small cross sectional size in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal central axis of said sheath to an expanded condition in which the passage through said sheath has a relatively large cross sectional size in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis of said sheath, said sheath having an oval cross section in a plane extending perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis of said sheath when said sheath is in the contracted condition; and an array of filaments which is enclosed by said sheath and extends axially substantially from one end portion to the other end portion of said sheath, wherein said sheath is biased in the contracted condition.