Patent ID: 8460331
Filing Date: 2013-06-11
Classification: A61B,A61F,A61M

Abstract:
1. A dilating element for manipulating tissue, comprising: a tapered tip having a length longer than a width at a proximal end of the tapered tip, the tapered tip converging to a blunt distal end adapted for dissecting tissue, wherein the tapered tip is transparent allowing a user to view a surgical site through the tapered tip; a rigid dilator member adjacent to the tapered tip, wherein the rigid dilator member has a configuration adapted for facilitating atraumatic tissue expansion, wherein a maximum cross-sectional dimension of the rigid dilator member transverse to a longitudinal axis of the dilating element is larger than the largest cross-sectional dimension of the tapered tip transverse to a longitudinal axis of the dilating element, and wherein at least one cross section of the rigid dilator member transverse to the longitudinal axis at a proximal section and at a distal section of the rigid dilator member is smaller than an intermediate cross section of a portion of the rigid dilator member located therebetween and transverse to the longitudinal axis; and a cavity formed in and located at a proximal end of the dilating element for operatively associating the dilating element with a surgical instrument for viewing the surgical site.