Retrograde tissue splitter and method

Claim 1

A device for retrograde hole opening through tissue comprising: a member elongate relative to an axis thereof and being substantially longer than its cross sectional dimensions, the member capable of insertion through tissue in a direction generally along its axis through external tissue of a human or animal body during a placement procedure; a distal end and a proximal end on the member, the distal end for first entering the tissue during placement and the proximal end for control of the distal end of the member while remaining outside the tissue; a tip near the distal end of the member for placement through the external tissue of a human or animal; a deployable means for tissue dividing having tissue parting elements and each with a means for splitting, the tissue parting elements located in a storage position generally carried along and within the cross sectional dimension of the member, each of the tissue parting elements movable relative to the axis for placement in an exposed position relative to the tip when shifted from storage so that the means for splitting thereof splits tissue during retrograde extraction by contacting tissue during retrograde movement of the member along the axis, and linkage between the proximal end and the deployable means for tissue dividing for use in the selective disposition thereof by activating the linkage at the proximal end to position and retain each of the tissue parting elements with means for splitting in the exposed position so that upon withdrawal of the member after placement through the external tissue the tissue parting elements enlarges the initial puncture or incision simply while moving retrograde through the tissue.

Claim 2

A device for retrograde hole opening through tissue comprising: a member elongate relative to an axis thereof and being substantially longer than its cross sectional dimensions, the member capable of insertion through tissue in a direction generally along its axis through external tissue of a human or animal body during a placement procedure; a distal end and a proximal end on the member, the distal end for first entering the tissue during placement and the proximal end for control of the distal end of the member while remaining outside the tissue; a tip near the distal end of the member for placement through the external tissue of a human or animal; a deployable means for tissue dividing having tissue parting elements and each with a means for splitting, the tissue parting elements located in a storage position generally carried along and within the cross sectional dimension of the member, each of the tissue parting elements movable relative to the axis for placement in an exposed position relative to the tip when shifted from storage so that the means for splitting thereof splits tissue during retrograde extraction by contacting tissue during retrograde movement of the member along the axis, and linkage between the proximal end and the deployable means for tissue dividing for use in the selective disposition thereof by activating the linkage at the proximal end to position and retain each of the tissue parting elements with means for splitting in the exposed position so that upon withdrawal of the member after placement through the external tissue the tissue parting elements enlarges the initial puncture or incision simply while moving retrograde through the tissue.

Claim 17

A method of placing a device for retrograde hole opening through the abdominal wall of a human or animal including the following steps: aligning an axis of an elongate member generally normal to the outside abdominal surface skin of the human or animal, the member having a distal end and a proximal end; placing the distal end through the tissue and leaving the proximal end outside of the tissue; deploying a means for tissue dividing having tissue parting elements first located within the cross sectional dimensions in a storage position to an exposed position wherein a means for splitting of each the tissue parting elements is positioned to split tissue by using linkage disposed between the proximal end and the deployable means for tissue dividing to selectively position and retain the tissue parting elements by manipulation at the proximal end of the tissue parting elements into an exposed position; moving each of the tissue parting elements retrograde with the member while fixed in the exposed position relative to the member after having been shifted by the linkage from its storage position; splitting tissue during extraction from the body cavity and through the body wall so that the means for splitting parts tissue by contacting tissue while moving retrograde with the member along the axis so that upon withdrawal of the member after placement through the external tissue the tissue parting elements enlarge the tissue opening.

Claim 18

A method of placing a device for retrograde hole opening through the abdominal wall of a human or animal including the following steps: aligning an axis of an elongate member generally normal to the outside abdominal surface skin of the human or animal, the member having a distal end and a proximal end; placing the distal end through the tissue and leaving the proximal end outside of the tissue; deploying a means for tissue dividing having tissue parting elements first located within the cross sectional dimensions in a storage position to an exposed position wherein a means for splitting of each the tissue parting elements is positioned to split tissue by using linkage disposed between the proximal end and the deployable means for tissue dividing to selectively position and retain the tissue parting elements by manipulation at the proximal end of the tissue parting elements into an exposed position; moving each of the tissue parting elements retrograde with the member while fixed in the exposed position relative to the member after having been shifted by the linkage from its storage position; splitting tissue during extraction from the body cavity and through the body wall so that the means for splitting parts tissue by contacting tissue while moving retrograde with the member along the axis so that upon withdrawal of the member after placement through the external tissue the tissue parting elements enlarge the tissue opening.

Claim 24

A device for retrograde hole opening through tissue comprising: a member elongate relative to an axis thereof and being substantially longer than its cross sectional dimensions, the member shaped for insertion in a direction generally along its axis through external tissue of a human or animal body during a placement procedure and wherein the member includes a passage therethrough located substantially along the axis of the member for fluid communication between the proximal end and distal end and connecting for fluid communication with a source of fluid flow for moving fluid through the member either toward or away from the distal end; a distal end and a proximal end on the member, the distal end for first entering the tissue during placement and the proximal end for control while remaining outside the tissue; a tip associated with the distal end of the member for placement through the external tissue of a human or animal; a deployable tissue divider having one or more tissue parting elements and each with a splitter, the tissue parting elements located within the cross sectional dimensions in a storage position generally carried along and within the cross sectional dimension of the member, each of the tissue parting elements movable relative to the axis of the member for placement in an exposed position relative to the member when shifted from storage so that the splitter thereof splits tissue during retrograde extraction by contacting tissue during retrograde movement of the member along the axis and wherein the deployable tissue divider includes an electrode insulatively associated with the member for transmitting radio frequency energy received from the proximal end to at least each splitter and wherein the member is a non conductive electric insulator and wherein the return path is between each splitter and the energy supply for completing the circuit, and a conductor is positioned on the member slightly proximal of each splitter for providing bipolar splitting therebetween; an energy supply associated with the electrode at the proximal end for supplying radio frequency energy between the proximal end and each splitter; an electrosurgical generator for providing radio frequency energy, the electrosurgical generator including a control to regulate the amplitude and frequency of the energy, and linkage between the proximal end and the deployable tissue divider for use in the selective disposition thereof by manipulation of the linkage at the proximal end to position and retain each of the tissue parting elements with its splitter in the exposed position so that upon withdrawal of the member after placement through the external tissue the tissue parting elements enlarges the initial puncture or incision simply while moving retrograde through the tissue and wherein a handle is associated with the proximal end for control and manipulation of the distal end and a trigger is carried on the handle for operation of the linkage and wherein a resilient load is upon the deployable tissue divider to urge the one or more tissue parting elements from storage to an exposed splitter and a lock is associated with the linkage to retain the tissue parting elements stored so that upon release of the lock movement of the tissue parting elements relative to the axis of the member is allowed by means of axial motion of the linkage initiated by force applied to the linkage at the proximal end.

Claim 25

A device for retrograde hole opening through tissue comprising: a member elongate relative to an axis thereof and being substantially longer than its cross sectional dimensions, the member shaped for insertion in a direction generally along its axis through external tissue of a human or animal body during a placement procedure and wherein the member includes a passage therethrough located substantially along the axis of the member for fluid communication between the proximal end and distal end and connecting for fluid communication with a source of fluid flow for moving fluid through the member either toward or away from the distal end; a distal end and a proximal end on the member, the distal end for first entering the tissue during placement and the proximal end for control while remaining outside the tissue; a tip associated with the distal end of the member for placement through the external tissue of a human or animal; a deployable tissue divider having one or more tissue parting elements and each with a splitter, the tissue parting elements located within the cross sectional dimensions in a storage position generally carried along and within the cross sectional dimension of the member, each of the tissue parting elements movable relative to the axis of the member for placement in an exposed position relative to the member when shifted from storage so that the splitter thereof splits tissue during retrograde extraction by contacting tissue during retrograde movement of the member along the axis and wherein the deployable tissue divider includes an electrode insulatively associated with the member for transmitting radio frequency energy received from the proximal end to at least each splitter and wherein the member is a non conductive electric insulator and wherein the return path is between each splitter and the energy supply for completing the circuit, and a conductor is positioned on the member slightly proximal of each splitter for providing bipolar splitting therebetween; an energy supply associated with the electrode at the proximal end for supplying radio frequency energy between the proximal end and each splitter; an electrosurgical generator for providing radio frequency energy, the electrosurgical generator including a control to regulate the amplitude and frequency of the energy, and linkage between the proximal end and the deployable tissue divider for use in the selective disposition thereof by manipulation of the linkage at the proximal end to position and retain each of the tissue parting elements with its splitter in the exposed position so that upon withdrawal of the member after placement through the external tissue the tissue parting elements enlarges the initial puncture or incision simply while moving retrograde through the tissue and wherein a handle is associated with the proximal end for control and manipulation of the distal end and a trigger is carried on the handle for operation of the linkage and wherein a resilient load is upon the deployable tissue divider to urge the one or more tissue parting elements from storage to an exposed splitter and a lock is associated with the linkage to retain the tissue parting elements stored so that upon release of the lock movement of the tissue parting elements relative to the axis of the member is allowed by means of axial motion of the linkage initiated by force applied to the linkage at the proximal end.