Surgical instrument support and method of using the same

Claim 2

A surgical instrument support comprising: a base having a flat surface facing in a first direction for placement against a tissue, said base defining a seat with a concave surface, there being one piece defining at least a portion of each of the flat and concave base surfaces; connector having a convex surface to abut to and move universally relative to the concave base surface; sleeve defining a passage through which a surgical instrument can be directed; means for connecting the connector to the sleeve so that the sleeve follows universal movement of the connector relative to the base; and first means cooperating between the connector and base for maintaining the connector and base in an operative position in which the convex surface on the connector resides adjacent to a plane within which the flat base surface resides and does not project significantly in the first direction beyond the flat base surface, said flat base surface defining the furthestmost extension of the support in the first direction, whereby the flat base surface can be pressed sealingly against a tissue through which an incision is to be made to allow a surgical instrument to be directed through the sleeve passage into an incision around which the flat base surface seals, wherein the first cooperating means comprises means for snap fitting the connector and sleeve into the operative position.

Claim 3

A surgical instrument support comprising: a base having a flat surface facing in a first direction for placement against a tissue, said base defining a seat with a concave surface, there being one piece defining at least a portion of each of the flat and concave base surfaces; a connector having a convex surface to abut to and move universally relative to the concave base surface; a sleeve defining a passage through which a surgical instrument can be directed; means for connecting the connector to the sleeve so that the sleeve follows universal movement of the connector relative to the base; and first means cooperating between the connector and base for maintaining the connector and base in an operative position in which the convex surface on the connector resides adjacent to a plane within which the flat base surface resides and does not project significantly in the first direction beyond the flat base surface, said flat base surface defining the furthestmost extension of the support in the first direction, whereby the flat base surface can be pressed sealingly against a tissue through which an incision is to be made to allow a surgical instrument to be directed through the sleeve passage into an incision around which the flat base surface seals, wherein the sleeve has an axial extent and an outer surface, there being second means on the sleeve selectively positionable between a) a first position wherein the second means defines an axially facing shoulder that projects radially beyond the outer surface of the sleeve and b) a second position wherein the second means does not project significantly radially beyond the outer surface of the sleeve, and third means cooperating between the sleeve and at least one of the connector and base for selectively mounting the sleeve and base in first and second different relative positions, with the shoulder of the second means being spaced axially from the flat base surface a first distance with the base and sleeve in said first relative position and the connector and sleeve in an operative relationship and the second means being spaced axially from the flat base surface a second distance with the base and sleeve in said second relative position and the connector and sleeve in an operative relationship.

Claim 4

A surgical instrument support comprising: a base having a flat surface facing in a first direction for placement against a tissue, said base defining a seat with a concave surface, there being one piece defining at least a portion of each of the flat and concave base surfaces; a connector having a convex surface to abut to and move universally relative to the concave base surface; a sleeve defining a passage through which a surgical instrument can be directed; means for connecting the connector to the sleeve so that the sleeve follows universal movement of the connector relative to the base; and first means cooperating between the connector and base for maintaining the connector and base in an operative position in which the convex surface on the connector resides adjacent to a plane within which the flat base surface resides and does not project significantly in the first direction beyond the flat base surface, said flat base surface defining the furthestmost extension of the support in the first direction, whereby the flat base surface can be pressed sealingly against a tissue through which an incision is to be made to allow a surgical instrument to be directed through the sleeve passage into an incision around which the flat base surface seals, wherein the sleeve has an axial extent and an outer surface, there being second means on the sleeve selectively positionable between a) a first position wherein the second means defines an axially facing shoulder that projects radially beyond the outer surface of the sleeve and b) a second position wherein the second means does not project significantly radially beyond the outer surface of the sleeve, and third means cooperating between the sleeve and at least one of the connector and base for selectively mounting the sleeve and base in first and second different relative positions, with the shoulder of the second means being spaced axially from the flat base surface a first distance with the base and sleeve in said first relative position and the connector and sleeve in an operative relationship and the second means being spaced axially from the flat base surface a second distance with the base and sleeve in said second relative position and the connector and sleeve in an operative relationship.

Claim 5

The surgical instrument support according to claim 2 wherein the third means includes fourth means for releasably fixing the relative position of the connector and sleeve and fifth means for releasably fixing the relative positions of the connector and base.

Claim 6

The surgical instrument support according to claim 3 wherein at least one of the fourth and fifth means comprises a set screw that is extendable in a line transversely to a line perpendicular to the plane of the flat base surface.

Claim 7

The surgical instrument support according to claim 2 wherein the second means comprises a bladder that is selectively inflatable and deflatable to be placed in its first and second positions, respectively.

Claim 8

A surgical instrument support comprising: base having a flat surface facing in a first direction for placement against a tissue, said base defining a seat with a concave surface, there being one piece defining at least a portion of each of the flat and concave base surfaces; a connector having a convex surface to abut to and move universally relative to the concave base surface; a sleeve defining a passage through which a surgical instrument can be directed; means for connecting the connector to the sleeve so that the sleeve follows universal movement of the connector relative to the base; and first means cooperating between the connector and base for maintaining the connector and base in an operative position in which the convex surface on the connector resides adjacent to a plane within which the flat base surface resides and does not project significantly in the first direction beyond the flat base surface, said flat base surface defining the furthestmost extension of the support in the first direction, whereby the flat base surface can be pressed sealingly against a tissue through which an incision is to be made to allow a surgical instrument to be directed through the sleeve passage into an incision around which the flat base surface seals, wherein said convex surface is part of a spherical outer surface on the connector and a line tangent to said spherical outer surface at a right angle to the plane within which the flat base surface resides intercepts the flat base surface wherein each of the connector and flat base surface has a diameter and the diameter of the flat base surface is at least two times the diameter of the connector.

Claim 9

A surgical instrument support comprising: base having a flat surface facing in a first direction for placement against a tissue, said base defining a seat with a concave surface, there being one piece defining at least a portion of each of the flat and concave base surfaces; a connector having a convex surface to abut to and move universally relative to the concave base surface; a sleeve defining a passage through which a surgical instrument can be directed; means for connecting the connector to the sleeve so that the sleeve follows universal movement of the connector relative to the base; and first means cooperating between the connector and base for maintaining the connector and base in an operative position in which the convex surface on the connector resides adjacent to a plane within which the flat base surface resides and does not project significantly in the first direction beyond the flat base surface, said flat base surface defining the furthestmost extension of the support in the first direction, whereby the flat base surface can be pressed sealingly against a tissue through which an incision is to be made to allow a surgical instrument to be directed through the sleeve passage into an incision around which the flat base surface seals, wherein said convex surface is part of a spherical outer surface on the connector and a line tangent to said spherical outer surface at a right angle to the plane within which the flat base surface resides intercepts the flat base surface wherein each of the connector and flat base surface has a diameter and the diameter of the flat base surface is at least two times the diameter of the connector.

Claim 10

A support for a surgical instrument, said support comprising: a base having a substantially flat surface facing in a first direction for placement against a tissue; a connector having a spherical outer surface and a through bore; and first means cooperating between the base and connector for snap fitting the base and connector together in an operative position in which the connector is universally movable relative to the base and the spherical outer surface of the connector resides adjacent to a plane within which the flat base surface resides and does not project significantly in the first direction beyond the flat base surface.

Claim 11

A support for a surgical instrument, said support comprising: a base having a substantially flat surface facing in a first direction for placement against a tissue; a connector having a spherical outer surface and a through bore; and first means cooperating between the base and connector for snap fitting the base and connector together in an operative position in which the connector is universally movable relative to the base and the spherical outer surface of the connector resides adjacent to a plane within which the flat base surface resides and does not project significantly in the first direction beyond the flat base surface.

Claim 12

A support for a surgical instrument, said support comprising: a base having a substantially flat surface facing in a first direction for placement against a tissue; a connector having a spherical outer surface and a through bore; first means cooperating between the base and connector for snap fitting the base and connector together in an operative position in which the connector is universally movable relative to the base and the spherical outer surface of the connector resides adjacent to the plane of the flat base surface and does not project significantly in the first direction beyond the flat base surface; and second means cooperating between the base and connector for fixing the base and connector selectively in a plurality of different positions.

Claim 13

A support for a surgical instrument, said support comprising: a base having a substantially flat surface facing in a first direction for placement against a tissue; a connector having a spherical outer surface and a through bore; first means cooperating between the base and connector for snap fitting the base and connector together in an operative position in which the connector is universally movable relative to the base and the spherical outer surface of the connector resides adjacent to the plane of the flat base surface and does not project significantly in the first direction beyond the flat base surface; and second means cooperating between the base and connector for fixing the base and connector selectively in a plurality of different positions.

Claim 14

The surgical instrument support according to claim 8 wherein the second means comprises a set screw.

Claim 15

A support for a surgical instrument, said support comprising: a base having a substantially flat surface facing in a first direction for placement against a tissue; a connector having a spherical outer surface and a through bore; first means cooperating between the base and connector for snap fitting the base and connector together in an operative position in which the connector is universally movable relative to the base and the spherical outer surface of the connector resides adjacent to a plane within which the flat base surface resides and does not project significantly in the first direction beyond the flat base surface; and second means mounted to at least one of the base and connector for defining a first shoulder facing the flat base surface to captively hold a tissue between the first shoulder and the flat base surface.

Claim 16

A support for a surgical instrument, said support comprising: a base having a substantially flat surface facing in a first direction for placement against a tissue; a connector having a spherical outer surface and a through bore; first means cooperating between the base and connector for snap fitting the base and connector together in an operative position in which the connector is universally movable relative to the base and the spherical outer surface of the connector resides adjacent to a plane within which the flat base surface resides and does not project significantly in the first direction beyond the flat base surface; and second means mounted to at least one of the base and connector for defining a first shoulder facing the flat base surface to captively hold a tissue between the first shoulder and the flat base surface.

Claim 17

The surgical instrument support according to claim 10 wherein the second means comprises a sleeve with a flexible bladder thereon that defines said first shoulder.

Claim 18

A support for a surgical instrument, said support comprising: a base having a substantially flat surface fitting in a first direction for placement against a tissue; a connector having a spherical outer surface and a through bore: first means cooperating between the base and connector for snap fitting the base and connector together in an operative position in which the connector is universally movable relative to the base and the spherical outer surface of the connector resides adjacent to a plane within which the flat base surface resides and does not project significantly in the first direction beyond the flat base surface, wherein the flat base surface has one of a square and rectangular shape as viewed at a right angle to the plane of the flat base surface.

Claim 19

A support for a surgical instrument, said support comprising: a base having a substantially flat surface fitting in a first direction for placement against a tissue; a connector having a spherical outer surface and a through bore: first means cooperating between the base and connector for snap fitting the base and connector together in an operative position in which the connector is universally movable relative to the base and the spherical outer surface of the connector resides adjacent to a plane within which the flat base surface resides and does not project significantly in the first direction beyond the flat base surface, wherein the flat base surface has one of a square and rectangular shape as viewed at a right angle to the plane of the flat base surface.

Claim 22

The method of defining a passageway through a tissue according to claim 13 including the step of fixing at least one of the connector and sleeve to the base.

Claim 25

The method of defining a passageway through a tissue according to claim 15 including the step of fixing the connector, sleeve, and base, each relative to the other.

Claim 26

A support for a surgical instrument, said support comprising: a base having a flat surface facing in a first direction for placement against a tissue, said base defining a seat with a concave surface; a connector having a convex surface to abut to and move universally relative to the concave base surface; a sleeve defining a passage through which a surgical instrument can be directed; means for connecting the connector to the sleeve so that the sleeve follows universal movement of the connector relative to the base; and first means cooperating between the connector and base for maintaining the connector and base in an operative position in which the convex surface on the connector resides adjacent to a plane within which the flat base surface resides and does not project significantly in the first direction beyond the flat base surface, said first cooperating means comprising means for snap fitting the connector and sleeve into the operative position.

Claim 27

A support for a surgical instrument, said support comprising: a base having a flat surface facing in a first direction for placement against a tissue, said base defining a seat with a concave surface; a connector having a convex surface to abut to and move universally relative to the concave base surface; a sleeve defining a passage through which a surgical instrument can be directed; means for connecting the connector to the sleeve so that the sleeve follows universal movement of the connector relative to the base; and first means cooperating between the connector and base for maintaining the connector and base in an operative position in which the convex surface on the connector resides adjacent to a plane within which the flat base surface resides and does not project significantly in the first direction beyond the flat base surface, said first cooperating means comprising means for snap fitting the connector and sleeve into the operative position.

Claim 28

A support for a surgical instrument, said support comprising: a base having a flat surface facing in a first direction for placement against a tissue, said base defining a seat with a concave surface; a connector having a convex surface to abut to and move universally relative to the concave base surface; a sleeve defining a passage through which a surgical instrument can be directed; means for connecting the connector to the sleeve so that the sleeve follows universal movement of the connector relative to the base; and first means cooperating between the connector and base for releasably fixedly maintaining the connector and base in an operative position in which the convex surface on the connector resides adjacent to a plane within which the flat base surface resides and does not project significantly in the first direction beyond the flat base surface, said first cooperating means comprising means for snap fitting the connector and sleeve into the operative position.

Claim 29

A support for a surgical instrument, said support comprising: a base having a flat surface facing in a first direction for placement against a tissue, said base defining a seat with a concave surface; a connector having a convex surface to abut to and move universally relative to the concave base surface; a sleeve defining a passage through which a surgical instrument can be directed; means for connecting the connector to the sleeve so that the sleeve follows universal movement of the connector relative to the base; and first means cooperating between the connector and base for releasably fixedly maintaining the connector and base in an operative position in which the convex surface on the connector resides adjacent to a plane within which the flat base surface resides and does not project significantly in the first direction beyond the flat base surface, said first cooperating means comprising means for snap fitting the connector and sleeve into the operative position.