US7033369B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cannula for receiving surgical instruments
Assignee: Zimmer Spine Inc
•
Filing: 2003-05-16
•
Granted: 2006-04-25
•
Expires: 2023-05-16
Abstract
Abstract A cannula ( 10 ) receives surgical instruments ( 120 ) for performing a surgical procedure on a body ( 130 ). The cannula ( 10 ) comprises a tube structure ( 12 ) defining a passage ( 16 ) through which the surgical instruments ( 120 ) are inserted into the body ( 130 ). The tube structure ( 12 ) has a proximal end ( 20 ) and a distal end ( 62 ). The tube structure ( 12 ) includes an expandable portion ( 40 ) for enabling an increase in the cross-sectional area of the passage ( 16 ) at the distal end ( 62 ). The expandable portion ( 40 ) of the tube structure ( 12 ), when expanded, has a conical configuration.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas W. Davison
- 👤 Timothy E. Taylor
- 👤 Adam Sher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:59
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/34; A61B17/3417; A61B17/3421; A61B17/02; A61B17/0218; A61B17/16; A61B17/17; A61B17/1739; A61B17/1757; A61B17/32; A61B17/320016; A61B17/32002; A61B17/3439; A61B17/0293; A61B17/1735; A61B17/28; A61B17/2812; A61B17/282; A61B17/29; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00261; A61B2017/0046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
A system for providing minimally invasive access to the spine of a patient, said system comprising: an elongate body having a distal end, a proximal end, an outer surface, and an inner surface, said inner surface defining a passage extending through the elongate body through which instruments can be inserted to a surgical location, said elongate body having a first configuration for insertion into the patient, and a second configuration for increasing access to the surgical location, wherein in the second configuration, the inner surface defines a cross-sectional area of the passage at a first location that is greater than a cross-sectional area of said passage at a second location, the first location being distal to the second location; and an expander comprising a first elongate member and a second elongate member pivotably coupled with the first elongate member, and a proximal end, the expander configured to be inserted into the passage and to be actuated from the proximal end such that the first and second elongate members engage the inner surface adjacent the distal end to cause opposing portions of the distal end of the elongate body to be moved transversely to increase access to the surgical location.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
199 words
A system for providing minimally invasive access to the spine of a patient, said system comprising: an elongate body having a distal end, a proximal end, an outer surface, and an inner surface, said inner surface defining a passage extending through the elongate body through which instruments can be inserted to a surgical location, said elongate body having a first configuration for insertion into the patient, and a second configuration for increasing access to the surgical location, wherein in the second configuration, the inner surface defines a cross-sectional area of the passage at a first location that is greater than a cross-sectional area of said passage at a second location, the first location being distal to the second location; and an expander comprising a first elongate member and a second elongate member pivotably coupled with the first elongate member, and a proximal end, the expander configured to be inserted into the passage and to be actuated from the proximal end such that the first and second elongate members engage the inner surface adjacent the distal end to cause opposing portions of the distal end of the elongate body to be moved transversely to increase access to the surgical location.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the elongate body comprises rigid material extending around substantially the entire perimeter of the cross-sectional area between the first and second locations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface defining the passage is made of a smooth metal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the passage is sized to receive at least two instruments simultaneously.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the expander comprises a pair of legs pivotally connected to one another.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the elongate body includes an area overlap between the inner surface and outer surface, and wherein actuating the expander reduces the area of overlap.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the elongate body includes two portions capable of pivoting relative to each other, and wherein actuating the expander causes the two portions to pivot relative to each other.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
160 words
A system for providing minimally invasive access to the spine of a patient, said system comprising: an elongate body having a distal end, a proximal end, an outer surface, and an inner surface, said inner surface defining a passage extending through the elongate body through which instruments can be inserted to a surgical location, said elongate body having a first configuration for insertion into the patient, and a second configuration for increasing access to the surgical location, wherein in the second configuration, the inner surface defines a cross-sectional area of the passage at a first location that is greater than a cross-sectional area of said passage at a second location, the first location being distal to the second location; and an expander comprising a first leg and a second leg pivotably coupled with the first leg, the expander configured to be actuated such that the first and second legs when actuated cause the elongate body to have the second configuration.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
160 words
A system for providing minimally invasive access to the spine of a patient, said system comprising: an elongate body having a distal end, a proximal end, an outer surface, and an inner surface, said inner surface defining a passage extending through the elongate body through which instruments can be inserted to a surgical location, said elongate body having a first configuration for insertion into the patient, and a second configuration for increasing access to the surgical location, wherein in the second configuration, the inner surface defines a cross-sectional area of the passage at a first location that is greater than a cross-sectional area of said passage at a second location, the first location being distal to the second location; and an expander comprising a first leg and a second leg pivotably coupled with the first leg, the expander configured to be actuated such that the first and second legs when actuated cause the elongate body to have the second configuration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the elongate body comprises rigid material extending around substantially the entire perimeter of the cross-sectional area between the first and second locations.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the inner surface defining the passage is made of a smooth metal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the passage is sized to receive at least two instruments simultaneously.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the elongate body includes an area overlap between the inner surface and outer surface, and wherein actuating the expander reduces the area of overlap.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the elongate body includes two portions capable of pivoting relative to each other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 13 , wherein the two portion of the elongate body are configured to be pivoted by actuating the expander.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the expander is configured to be inserted into the passage and to engage the inner surface of the elongate body when actuated.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
179 words
A system for providing minimally invasive access to the spine of a patient, said system comprising: an elongate body having a distal end, a proximal end, an outer surface and an inner surface, said inner surface defining a passage extending through the elongate body through which instruments can be inserted to a surgical location, said elongate body having a first configuration for insertion into the patient, and a second configuration for providing access to the surgical location, wherein in the second configuration, the inner surface defines a cross-sectional area of the passage at a first location that is greater than a cross-sectional area of said passage at a second location, the first location being distal to the second location; and an expander comprising a first leg and a second leg pivotably coupled with the first leg, the expander configured to be actuated to cause the elongate body to have the second configuration, the expander further configured to be engagable and disengageble from the elongate body; wherein the elongate body maintains the second configuration when the expander is disengaged therefrom.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
179 words
A system for providing minimally invasive access to the spine of a patient, said system comprising: an elongate body having a distal end, a proximal end, an outer surface and an inner surface, said inner surface defining a passage extending through the elongate body through which instruments can be inserted to a surgical location, said elongate body having a first configuration for insertion into the patient, and a second configuration for providing access to the surgical location, wherein in the second configuration, the inner surface defines a cross-sectional area of the passage at a first location that is greater than a cross-sectional area of said passage at a second location, the first location being distal to the second location; and an expander comprising a first leg and a second leg pivotably coupled with the first leg, the expander configured to be actuated to cause the elongate body to have the second configuration, the expander further configured to be engagable and disengageble from the elongate body; wherein the elongate body maintains the second configuration when the expander is disengaged therefrom.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the passage is sized to receive at least two instruments simultaneously.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the elongate body includes an area overlap between the inner surface and outer surface, and wherein actuating the expander reduces the area of overlap.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the elongate body includes two portions capable of pivoting relative to each other.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 19 , wherein the two portion of the elongate body are configured to be pivoted by actuating the expander.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the expander is configured to be inserted into the passage and to engage the inner surface of the elongate body when actuated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1170324A
Cited
US3044461A
Cited
US3503398A
Cited
US3789852A
Cited
US4449532A
Cited
US4451256A
Cited
US4545374A
Cited
US4573448A
Cited
US4611594A
Cited
US4716901A
Cited
US4899729A
Cited
US4601713A
Cited
US4863133A
Cited
US4921478A
Cited
US6120437A
Cited
US5556376A
Cited
US4984564A
Cited
US5196023A
Cited
US5139511A
Cited
US5197971A
Cited
US5163949A
Cited
US6171299B1
Cited
US6358266B1
Cited
US5667520A
Cited
US5454365A
Cited
US5190561A
Cited
US5370647A
Cited
US5490819A
Cited
US5313962A
Cited
US5762629A
Cited
US5395317A
Cited
US5295994A
Cited
US5370659A
Cited
US5417203A
Cited
US5312417A
Cited
US5354302A
Cited
US5601590A
Cited
US5961499A
Cited
US6338730B1
Cited
US20030014068A1
Cited
US6494893B2
Cited
US5439464A
Cited
US5443479A
Cited
WO1995022285A1
Cited
US5690606A
Cited
US6162236A
Cited
US5643282A
Cited
US5851214A
Cited
US5529571A
Cited
US5782919A
Cited
US5707359A
Cited
US5902231A
Cited
US5954635A
Cited
US5792044A
Cited
US6152871A
Cited
US5997508A
Cited
EP0807415A2
Cited
US6371968B1
Cited
US5827319A
Cited
US6126671A
Cited
US6175758B1
Cited
US5795289A
Cited
US5976161A
Cited
US6383195B1
Cited
US20020002360A1
Cited
US6652553B2
Cited
US6187000B1
Cited
US6312443B1
Cited
US6361488B1
Cited
WO2001054560A2
Cited
US20030073998A1
Cited
US6530926B1
Cited
US6530880B2
Cited
US6524320B2
Cited
US20030153927A1
Cited
US20030009130A1
Cited
US20030040656A1
Cited
US20030153911A1
Cited
US20030167058A1
Cited
US20030236529A1
Cited
US6648888B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2009-04-24 | 2009-10-24 | 2010-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-04-24 | 2013-10-24 | 2014-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-04-24 | 2017-10-24 | 2018-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |