Patent ID: 8088138

Claim:
A tunneling device for creating a pathway in subcutaneous tissue of a person's body, said tunneling device comprising: a malleable member having a first end and a second end, each of said first end and said second end of said malleable member including an axial, internal thread; a first collar rotatably fastened to said first end of said malleable member allowing rotation of said first collar about a longitudinal axis of said first end; a cap screw having a head and a shaft, said shaft coupled with said axial, internal thread and a protruding portion of said shaft extending from said axial, internal thread to said head; said first collar having a clearance hole extending through a portion of said first collar and including threads opposite said clearance hole; and a first tip threaded into said threads of said first collar, the protruding portion of said shaft extending through said clearance hole to rotatably fasten said first collar to said first end of said malleable member; and a handle configured to removably connect to said tunneling device, said handle including a grasping surface and an opening, said opening configured to receive said first tip to removably connect said handle to said first tip, said grasping surface configured to allow a user to securely hold the handle with one hand to forcibly move said malleable member through the subcutaneous tissue of the person's body, said first collar allowing the user to draw a cable into a surgical tunnel using said tunneling device with the risk of applying rotational torque to said cable being reduced.