Patent ID: 8118736
Filing Date: 2012-02-21
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A bladder access apparatus, comprising a dilator, a cannula and an obturator in combination, for insertion into and expansion of and access through a surgical opening between an exterior abdominal wall and a bladder; said dilator comprising: an annular body having opposite first and second ends with a through passage extending between the ends, the annular body having a pair of slots opposite one another and extending lengthwise inbetween the first and second ends; an elongated stylet connectable to the first end of the annular body, the stylet having a rod extending longitudinally through the through passage to a rod end located beyond the second end of the annular body when the stylet is connected to the first end of the annular body, the stylet disconnectable from the annular body to remove and withdraw the rod from within the through passage; a pair of elongated arms connected to the second end of the annular body and extending longitudinally on opposite sides of the through passage and on opposite sides of and along the rod when the stylet is connected to the annular body, each arm extending from the second end of the annular body to a free end which is longitudinally spaced from the second end of the annular body at a location adjacent to the rod end, each arm comprising a tubular member having a hollow channel aligned with a separate one of the slots in the annular body, each tubular member having a window extending from the channel through the tubular member at a position adjacent to each free end, each window facing away from the rod in the tubular member in which the window is located; an elongated resilient strip slidably received in each channel, a first end of each strip having a gripping member attached thereto which extends outward through the aligned slot in the annular body and which moves along the slot between locked and unlocked positions, a second opposite end of each strip located in the channel at the window, an extension portion of the second end of each strip extending outward from the window beyond the tubular member upon moving the gripping member to the locked position, and the extension portion retracting into the window and the channel upon moving the gripping member to the unlocked position; and an arm connector which connects the free end of each arm to the rod end when the stylet is connected to the annular body, the arm connector releasing the free ends of each arm from the rod end upon disconnection of the stylet from the annular body and removal of the rod from the through passage; said cannula comprising: a rigid elongated hollow tubular body adapted to be inserted within the through passage of the annular body and to extend between the arms after disconnection of the stylet from the annular body and removal of the rod from within the through passage, the hollow tubular body defining an interior passage extending between opposite ends of the tubular body; and said obturator comprising: a rigid cylindrical member sized for receipt within the interior passage of the tubular body and moveable with the tubular body upon insertion of the cylindrical member and tubular body within the through passage of the annular body after disconnection of the stylet from the annular body and withdrawal of the rod from within the through passage, the cylindrical member removeable from the interior passage of the tubular body after movement of the tubular body and the cylindrical member through the through passage of the annular body, the cylindrical member having a tapered free end which extends beyond the tubular body upon receipt within the interior passage of the tubular body; and wherein: the free ends of the arms are positioned relatively close together when connected by the arm connector to the rod end; the insertion of the cylindrical member within the tubular body through the through passage after disconnection and removal of the stylet causing the tapered free end of the cylindrical member to contact the arms and deflect the arms outward and expand the surgical opening with the arms are positioned relatively farther apart; the removal of the cylindrical member from within the interior passage of the tubular body after expansion of the surgical opening by insertion of the cylindrical member within the tubular body through the through passage of the annular body and between the arms permitting access to the bladder through the interior passage of the tubular body; and the extension portion of each strip is extendable outward from the window while the arms are positioned relatively close together and when the arms have been deflected outward to hold the dilator within the surgical opening.