Patent ID: 7938842
Filing Date: 2011-05-10
Classification: A61B,A61F,A61M

Abstract:
1. A tissue dissector, comprising: an elongated cannula having a proximal end and a distal end and a central axis extending therebetween; a distal tip having tapered outer walls converging to a blunt end for dissecting tissue, the tip being disposed on the distal end of the cannula to dissect tissue and facilitate passage of the cannula through tissue; a length of screw threads positioned on an outer surface of the cannula proximal to the distal tip; and a dilating element disposed on the cannula proximal to the distal tip, the dilating element having a smooth oval shaped exterior contour symmetrically disposed about the central axis to facilitate atraumatic expansion of tissue following dissection by the tapered distal tip advancing through tissue, the dilating element having a cross-sectional dimension of the oval shape that is greater than a cross-sectional dimension of the distal end of the cannula and greater than a cross-sectional dimension of the distal tip, the dilating element further comprising a threaded bore hole formed in the dilating element for engaging the length of screw threads on the cannula for removably positioning the dilating element on the cannula.