Patent ID: 8906056

Claim:
An apparatus for accessing a subject's anatomical space having a surface, the apparatus comprising: a first elongated member comprising a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end comprising a sharp end; a second elongated member comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a first middle portion adjacent to said distal end, and a second middle portion adjacent to said proximal end, said second middle portion of said second elongated member including a helical groove, and said distal end comprising a helical tine; a third elongated member comprising a longitudinal aperture, a distal end, a middle portion, and a proximal end, wherein said third elongated member at least substantially encloses said first elongated member and said second elongated member; and a driving mechanism including: a driver tab, said driver tab adapted to pass through said longitudinal aperture of said third elongated member and engage said helical groove of said second elongated member, wherein: if said driver tab is moved distally then said tab drives said second elongated member in a distal direction; if said driver tab is moved proximally then said tab drives said second elongated member in a proximal direction, wherein said helical tine is adapted to: engage and penetrate said surface, and wherein when said second elongated member is turned, said helical tine lifts said surface in a proximal direction.