Thoracic cannula, obturator, and assembly thereof

A surgical assembly is disclosed. The assembly has a cannula. The cannula has an oblong opening on a proximal end, one or more textured features on an outside, and a stabilizer at the proximal end. The assembly also has an obturator sized to fit within the cannula from the proximal end of the cannula. The obturator has a tapered end configured to extend from the distal end of the cannula and a protrusion on a proximal end of the obturator configured to engage a portion of the cannula.

FIELD

The claimed invention relates to surgical devices, and more specifically to cannulas and obturators.

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic, endoscopic, and other types of minimally invasive surgical procedures often rely on percutaneous introduction of surgical instruments into an internal region of a patient where the surgical procedure is to be performed. It would be desirable to have an improved cannula and obturator device for providing percutaneous access.

SUMMARY

A surgical assembly is disclosed. The assembly has a cannula. The cannula has an oblong opening on a proximal end, one or more textured features on an outside, and a stabilizer at the proximal end. The assembly also has an obturator sized to fit within the cannula from the proximal end of the cannula. The obturator has a tapered end configured to extend from the distal end of the cannula and a protrusion on a proximal end of the obturator configured to engage a portion of the cannula.

Another surgical assembly, is disclosed. The assembly has a cannula. The cannula has an oblong opening on a proximal end and an angled opening on a distal end. The cannula also has one or more textured features on an outside and a stabilizer at the proximal end. The stabilizer defines one or more holes configured to receive suture. The assembly also has an obturator sized to fit within the cannula from the proximal end of the cannula. The obturator has a tapered end configured to extend from the distal end of the cannula and a protrusion on a proximal end of the obturator configured to engage the stabilizer so that the protrusion does not press on the cannula opening. The cannula further has a pair of short sides and a pair of long sides. The one or more textured features on the outside of the cannula are located on at least one of the short sides of the cannula.

It will be appreciated that for purposes of clarity and where deemed appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated in the figures to indicate corresponding features, and that the various elements in the drawings have not necessarily been drawn to scale in order to better show the features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1Ais a perspective view of an assembly20, from a distal perspective, which includes an obturator22and a cannula24.FIG. 1Bis a perspective view of the assembly20, from a proximal perspective. The assembly20is intended to be inserted in an intercostal space in an incision made between a patient's ribs to provide thoracic access. The cannula24has one or more textured features26on one or more sides of the cannula24. The textured features26allow easy insertion of the cannula24into an incision as well as reasonably easy repositioning while precluding inadvertent slip out of the cannula24from the incision site.

The cannula24has a rounded rectangular cross-sectional shape which may be seen inFIG. 4A. This rounded rectangular cross-sectional shape has two pairs of opposite sides separated by rounded corners. One pair of opposite sides is longer than the other. Referring back toFIG. 1A, the textured features26are preferably located along the sides of the cannula corresponding to the shorter sides in the rounded rectangular cross-sectional shape. These shorter sides27are oriented such that they will not face the ribs through which the cannula24may be placed. Therefore, the textured features26will not be facing the blood vessels and nerves which follow the edges of the ribs and therefore will tend not to contact such fragile structures. Instead, the textured features26can grab into the less sensitive muscle tissue between the ribs. By contrast, the longer sides29of the cannula24, which are preferably smooth, will face and may come into contact with the blood vessels and nerves which follow the edges of the ribs. These smooth surfaces may help to minimize the opportunity for damage to such nerves and/or blood vessels.

The cannula24also has a stabilizer28which defines one or more suturing holes31which are configured to receive suture that can be anchored to surrounding tissue or other objects to help stabilize the cannula24. In this embodiment, the stabilizer28is located on the proximal end24P of the cannula24, and in particular for this embodiment, the stabilizer28is also located on one of the shorter sides27at the proximal end24P.

The distal end of the cannula24D is angled to allow for a larger opening at the distal end24D than at the proximal end24P of the cannula. This larger opening can be used to provide a wider field of view for any endoscope which might be inserted into the cannula, it can also help to provide a wider range of motion for surgical devices placed into the cannula24.

The obturator22has a chiseled or tapered or otherwise angled or wedge-like or pointed end30which facilitates introduction of the cannula-obturator assembly20into an incision. The distal end30of the obturator, however, is preferably not sharp so that damage to tissue is minimized or otherwise avoided. The obturator22also has a protrusion32on the proximal end of the obturator22which is configured to engage the cannula24such that when a force is applied to the obturator22from the proximal end, the obturator22will push the cannula24into the incision. The protrusion32also prevents the obturator22from falling through the cannula24and into the patient. The protrusion32may also be shaped to engage the stabilizer28of the cannula24so that the edges of the proximal end24P of the cannula24do not have an opportunity to be bent by contact with the protrusion32.

FIG. 2is an exploded perspective view of the obturator-cannula assembly20fromFIG. 1B. As can be seen in this view, the cannula24in this embodiment has a rounded rectangular or oblong opening34on its proximal end24P. Such an opening can help accommodate minimally invasive surgical instruments which have a bend in them while still fitting between a patient's ribs. Furthermore, as discussed previously, the cannula24has an angled opening36on its distal end to enable a wider field of motion for surgical instruments placed through the cannula24.

Various advantages of a thoracic cannula, obturator, and assembly thereof have been discussed above. Embodiments discussed herein have been described by way of example in this specification. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing detailed disclosure is intended to be presented by way of example only, and is not limiting. Various alterations, improvements, and modifications will occur and are intended to those skilled in the art, though not expressly stated herein. These alterations, improvements, and modifications are intended to be suggested hereby, and are within the spirit and the scope of the claimed invention. The drawings included herein are not necessarily drawn to scale. Additionally, the recited order of processing elements or sequences, or the use of numbers, letters, or other designations therefore, is not intended to limit the claims to any order, except as may be specified in the claims. Accordingly, the invention is limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereto.