Medical device for and a method of endoscopic surgery

Claim 2

A medical device for endoscopic surgery comprising: an elongated member having a tapered first distal end for dilating an entry site of a patient, a first proximal end, and an outside lateral wall extending between said first ends; a first passageway extending longitudinally in said member and opening from said tapered first distal end distally and from said outside lateral wall about said first proximal end; and an end cap positioned at said first proximal end and extending radially beyond said outside lateral wall of said elongated member for imparting force to said elongated member when dilating the entry site.

Claim 3

The medical device of claim 1 further comprising a hydrophilic material coating said tapered first distal end.

Claim 4

The medical device of claim 1 further comprising an outer sheath having a tapered second distal end, a second proximal end, and a second passageway extending longitudinally between said second ends and sized for positioning said elongated member therein.

Claim 5

The medical device of claim 3 wherein said outer sheath includes a fitting attached to said second proximal end, said fitting including a flexible seal having an aperture communicating with said second passageway and sized for sealing against said outside lateral wall of said member when said member is inserted through said aperture.

Claim 6

The medical device of claim 4 wherein said outside lateral wall includes a shoulder positioned about said first proximal end and sized for abutting against said second proximal end of said outer sheath, said first passageway opening laterally from said shoulder.

Claim 7

The medical device of claim 3 wherein said outer sheath includes a material having a slick surface.

Claim 8

The medical device of claim 3 further comprising a inner sheath having a third distal end, a third proximal end, and a third passageway extending longitudinally between said third ends, said inner sheath being sized for positioning within said second passageway of said outer sheath.

Claim 9

The medical device of claim 7 wherein said inner sheath further includes a shoulder positioned about said third proximal end and sized for abutting against said second proximal end of said outer sheath.

Claim 10

The medical device of claim 8 wherein said shoulder includes a side port communicating with said third passageway andextending laterally therefrom.

Claim 11

The medical device of claim 7 wherein said inner sheath includes a flexible seal attached about said third proximal end and having a slit communicating with said third passageway.

Claim 12

The medical device of claim 10 wherein said inner sheath comprises a second flexible seal attached about said third proximal end and having an aperture positioned adjacent said slit.

Claim 13

A medical device for endoscopic surgery comprising: a first elongated member having a tapered first distal end, a first proximal end, an outside lateral wall extending between said first ends, and a first passageway extending longitudinally between said first ends; a second elongated member positioned within said first passageway and having a second passageway opening from said tapered first distal end distally and from said outside lateral wall about said first proximal end; and an end cap attached at and extending from said first proximal end of said first elongated member.

Claim 14

A medical device for endoscopic surgery comprising: a first elongated member having a tapered first distal end, a first proximal end, an outside lateral wall extending between said first ends, and a first passageway extending longitudinally between said first ends; a second elongated member positioned within said first passageway and having a second passageway opening from said tapered first distal end distally and from said outside lateral wall about said first proximal end; and an end cap attached at and extending from said first proximal end of said first elongated member.

Claim 15

The medical device of claim 12 further comprising a sleeve attached about said first proximal end of said first member and to said end cap and having a lateral opening communicating with said second passageway of said second member.

Claim 16

The medical device of claim 12 wherein said first member includes a hydrophilic material coating said first distal end.

Claim 17

The medical device of claim 12 further comprising a wire guide sized for passing through said second passageway of said second elongated member.

Claim 18

A medical device for endoscopic surgery, comprising: an outer sheath having a first distal end, a first proximal end, and a first hollow passageway extending longitudinally between said first ends; and an inner sheath having a second distal end, a second proximal end, a second hollow passageway extending longitudinally between said second ends, and a ,lateral opening positioned about said second proximal end and communicating with said second hollow passageway; said outer sheath including a first seal attached about said first proximal end and having an aperture sized for sealing around said inner sheath when said inner sheath is positioned within said first passageway of said outer sheath.

Claim 19

A medical device for endoscopic surgery, comprising: an outer sheath having a first distal end, a first proximal end, and a first hollow passageway extending longitudinally between said first ends; and an inner sheath having a second distal end, a second proximal end, a second hollow passageway extending longitudinally between said second ends, and a ,lateral opening positioned about said second proximal end and communicating with said second hollow passageway; said outer sheath including a first seal attached about said first proximal end and having an aperture sized for sealing around said inner sheath when said inner sheath is positioned within said first passageway of said outer sheath.

Claim 20

The medical device of claim 16 wherein said inner sheath includes a shoulder positioned about said second proximal end and sized for abutting against said first proximal end of said outer sheath.

Claim 21

The medical device of claim 17 wherein said inner sheath further includes a second seal positioned about said second proximal end and having a slit communicating with said second passageway.

Claim 22

The medical device of claim 18 wherein said inner sheath also includes a third seal positioned about said second proximal end and having an aperture communicating with said slit and sized for positioning surgical instruments therethrough.

Claim 23

The medical device of claim 16 further comprising a dilator having a conically-shaped third distal end, a third proximal end, an end cap attached to said third proximal end, and a third hollow passageway extending between said third ends and opening from said third distal end distally and from about said third proximal end laterally.

Claim 24

The medical device of claim 20 further comprising a wire guide sized for extending through said third passageway of said dilator.

Claim 25

A medical device for endoscopic surgery, comprising: a dilator including a first elongated member having a conically-shaped first distal end having a hydrophilic material coating, a first proximal end, an outside lateral wall extending between said first end, and a first passageway extending longitudinally therein; a second elongated member positioned within said first passageway and having a second distal end attached about said first distal end, a second proximal end attached to said lateral wall, and a second passageway opening from said distal ends distally and from said outside lateral wallabout said first proximal end; an end cap and a sleeve interconnecting said first proximal end and said end cap, said second passageway also opening through said sleeve; an outer sheath having a tapered third distal end, a third proximal end, and a third passageway extending longitudinally between said third ends and sized for positioning said dilator therein, said outer sheath also having a slick outer surface and a fitting attached about said third proximal end, said third passageway extending through said fitting, said fitting including a flexible seal having an aperture sized for sealing against said outside lateral wall when said dilator is inserted in said third passageway, said sleeve being sized for abutting against said third proximal end of said outer sheath; an inner sheath sized for positioning within said third passageway of said outer sheath and having a tapered fourth distal end, a fourth proximal end, a fourth passageway extending longitudinally between said fourth ends, and a shoulder positioned about said fourth proximal end and sized for abutting against said third proximal end of said outer sheath, said shoulder including an opening communicating with said fourth passageway and extending laterally therefrom, said inner sheath further including first and second flexible seals attached about said fourth proximal end, said first seal having a slit communicating with said fourth passageway, said second seal having an aperture therein positioned adjacent said slit; and a wire guide sized for extending through said second passageway of said dilator.

Claim 26

A medical device for endoscopic surgery, comprising: a dilator including a first elongated member having a conically-shaped first distal end having a hydrophilic material coating, a first proximal end, an outside lateral wall extending between said first end, and a first passageway extending longitudinally therein; a second elongated member positioned within said first passageway and having a second distal end attached about said first distal end, a second proximal end attached to said lateral wall, and a second passageway opening from said distal ends distally and from said outside lateral wallabout said first proximal end; an end cap and a sleeve interconnecting said first proximal end and said end cap, said second passageway also opening through said sleeve; an outer sheath having a tapered third distal end, a third proximal end, and a third passageway extending longitudinally between said third ends and sized for positioning said dilator therein, said outer sheath also having a slick outer surface and a fitting attached about said third proximal end, said third passageway extending through said fitting, said fitting including a flexible seal having an aperture sized for sealing against said outside lateral wall when said dilator is inserted in said third passageway, said sleeve being sized for abutting against said third proximal end of said outer sheath; an inner sheath sized for positioning within said third passageway of said outer sheath and having a tapered fourth distal end, a fourth proximal end, a fourth passageway extending longitudinally between said fourth ends, and a shoulder positioned about said fourth proximal end and sized for abutting against said third proximal end of said outer sheath, said shoulder including an opening communicating with said fourth passageway and extending laterally therefrom, said inner sheath further including first and second flexible seals attached about said fourth proximal end, said first seal having a slit communicating with said fourth passageway, said second seal having an aperture therein positioned adjacent said slit; and a wire guide sized for extending through said second passageway of said dilator.

Claim 29

The method of claim 23 wherein the step of dilating said puncture site includes wetting a hydrophilic material coating the conically-shaped distal end of said dilator and pushing an end cap at the proximal end of said dilator to introduce the conically-shaped distal end of said dilator into said puncture site.

Claim 30

The method of claim 24 further comprising insufflating said body cavity through a side port of said inner access sheath.