US6746396B1 — Self-seating surgical access device and method of…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 182 words

A surgical device for accessing a body cavity, comprising: (a) first and second opposed side members, each of said side members having first and second ends and carrying a downwardly depending flange wherein each flange is pivotable between an insertion position and at least one retracting position; (b) a first lateral member adjustably connecting the first end of the first side member to the first end of the second side member, at least one of said first ends being moveable along a length of the first lateral member, thereby permitting adjustment of the space between said first ends; (c) a second lateral member adjustably connecting the second end of the first side member to the second end of the second side member, at least one of said second ends being moveable along a length of the second lateral member, thereby permitting adjustment of the space between said second ends; and (d) an actuator adapted to engage a deployment surface of each of the flanges to permit an operator to urge the flanges from their respective insertion positions to their respective retracting positions.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 182 words

A surgical device for accessing a body cavity, comprising: (a) first and second opposed side members, each of said side members having first and second ends and carrying a downwardly depending flange wherein each flange is pivotable between an insertion position and at least one retracting position; (b) a first lateral member adjustably connecting the first end of the first side member to the first end of the second side member, at least one of said first ends being moveable along a length of the first lateral member, thereby permitting adjustment of the space between said first ends; (c) a second lateral member adjustably connecting the second end of the first side member to the second end of the second side member, at least one of said second ends being moveable along a length of the second lateral member, thereby permitting adjustment of the space between said second ends; and (d) an actuator adapted to engage a deployment surface of each of the flanges to permit an operator to urge the flanges from their respective insertion positions to their respective retracting positions.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 34 words

The surgical access device of claim 1 wherein the actuator is divided into a first lateral segment carried by the first side member and a second lateral segment carried by the second side member.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 47 words

The surgical access device of claim 2 wherein the surgical device has an insertion configuration wherein the first and second lateral segments of the actuator are positioned adjacent one another to permit them to be urged downwardly together as a unit for simultaneous deployment of the flanges.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 27 words

The surgical access device of claim 1 wherein each side member carries at least two spaced-apart flanges, the flanges being arranged to define opposed pairs of flanges.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

The surgical access device of claim 4 further comprising at least two of said actuators, each opposed pair of flanges being associated with a separate actuator.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 182 words

A surgical device for accessing a body cavity, comprising: (a) longitudinally extending first and second opposed side members, each of said side members having first and second ends and carrying a downwardly depending flange; (b) a first laterally extending member adjustably connecting the first end of the first side member to the first end of the second side member, at least one of said first ends being moveable along a length of the first lateral member, thereby permitting adjustment of the space between said first ends; and (c) a second laterally extending member adjustably connecting the second end of the first side member to the second end of the second side member, at least one of said second ends being moveable along a length of the second lateral member, thereby permitting adjustment of the space between said second ends; (d) wherein the first end of the first side member is pivotably anchored in a transverse direction to the first lateral member and the second end of the second side member is pivotably anchored in the transverse direction to the second lateral member.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 182 words

A surgical device for accessing a body cavity, comprising: (a) longitudinally extending first and second opposed side members, each of said side members having first and second ends and carrying a downwardly depending flange; (b) a first laterally extending member adjustably connecting the first end of the first side member to the first end of the second side member, at least one of said first ends being moveable along a length of the first lateral member, thereby permitting adjustment of the space between said first ends; and (c) a second laterally extending member adjustably connecting the second end of the first side member to the second end of the second side member, at least one of said second ends being moveable along a length of the second lateral member, thereby permitting adjustment of the space between said second ends; (d) wherein the first end of the first side member is pivotably anchored in a transverse direction to the first lateral member and the second end of the second side member is pivotably anchored in the transverse direction to the second lateral member.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 45 words

The surgical access device of claim 6 wherein the first end of the second side member is moveable along said length of the first lateral member and the second end of the first side member is moveable along said length of the second lateral member.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 190 words

A surgical device for accessing a body cavity, comprising: (a) longitudinally extending first and second opposed side members, each of said side members having first and second ends and carrying a downwardly depending flange; (b) a first laterally extending member adjustably connecting the first end of the first side member to the first end of the second side member, at least one of said first ends being moveable along a length of the first lateral member, thereby permitting adjustment of the space between said first ends; and (c) a second laterally extending member adjustably connecting the second end of the first side member to the second end of the second side member, at least one of said second ends being moveable along a length of the second lateral member, thereby permitting adjustment of the space between said second ends; (d) wherein the first ends of each of the first and second side members are pivotably connected in a transverse direction to the first lateral member and the second ends of each of the first and second side members are pivotably connected in the transverse direction to the second lateral member.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 190 words

A surgical device for accessing a body cavity, comprising: (a) longitudinally extending first and second opposed side members, each of said side members having first and second ends and carrying a downwardly depending flange; (b) a first laterally extending member adjustably connecting the first end of the first side member to the first end of the second side member, at least one of said first ends being moveable along a length of the first lateral member, thereby permitting adjustment of the space between said first ends; and (c) a second laterally extending member adjustably connecting the second end of the first side member to the second end of the second side member, at least one of said second ends being moveable along a length of the second lateral member, thereby permitting adjustment of the space between said second ends; (d) wherein the first ends of each of the first and second side members are pivotably connected in a transverse direction to the first lateral member and the second ends of each of the first and second side members are pivotably connected in the transverse direction to the second lateral member.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 57 words

The surgical access device of claim 8 wherein the first end of the first side member is pivotably anchored to the first lateral member such that it may not slide laterally therealong and the second end of the second side member is pivotably anchored to the second lateral member such that it may not slide laterally therealong.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 214 words

A surgical device for accessing a body cavity, comprising: a) a frame comprising separable first and second side members, the frame having an insertion configuration and at least one retracting configuration; b) at least one flange carried by the first side member, said flange being moveable between an insertion position and at least one retracting position; c) at least one flange carried by the second side member, said flange being moveable between an insertion position and at least one retracting position; d) at least one actuator having first and second lateral segments, the first lateral segment being carried by the first side member and having a control surface adapted to engage a deployment surface of the flange of the first side member, the second lateral segment being carried by the second side member and having a control surface adapted to engage a deployment surface of the flange of the second side member, the first and second lateral segments of the actuator being positioned adjacent one another when the frame is in its insertion configuration, permitting the lateral segments to be urged downwardly together as a unit for simultaneous deployment of the flanges, the first and second lateral segments of the actuator being spaced from one another when the frame is in its retracting configuration.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 214 words

A surgical device for accessing a body cavity, comprising: a) a frame comprising separable first and second side members, the frame having an insertion configuration and at least one retracting configuration; b) at least one flange carried by the first side member, said flange being moveable between an insertion position and at least one retracting position; c) at least one flange carried by the second side member, said flange being moveable between an insertion position and at least one retracting position; d) at least one actuator having first and second lateral segments, the first lateral segment being carried by the first side member and having a control surface adapted to engage a deployment surface of the flange of the first side member, the second lateral segment being carried by the second side member and having a control surface adapted to engage a deployment surface of the flange of the second side member, the first and second lateral segments of the actuator being positioned adjacent one another when the frame is in its insertion configuration, permitting the lateral segments to be urged downwardly together as a unit for simultaneous deployment of the flanges, the first and second lateral segments of the actuator being spaced from one another when the frame is in its retracting configuration.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 55 words

The surgical access device of claim 10 wherein the actuator has an insertion position and at least one retracting position, the flanges being moveable into their respective insertion positions when the actuator is in its insertion position, but the actuator in said at least one retracting position biasing each flange into a respective retracting position.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 53 words

The surgical access device of claim 11 wherein a locking face of the first lateral segment and a mating locking face of the first side member engage one another to limit movement of the flange carried by the first side member toward its insertion position when an operator lets go of the actuator.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 53 words

The surgical access device of claim 12 wherein a locking face of the second lateral segment of a mating locking face of the second side member engage one another to limit movement of the flange carried by the second side member toward its insertion position when an operator lets go of the actuator.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 245 words

A method of gaining surgical access to a body cavity, comprising: (a) providing a surgical implant comprising a frame having first and second opposed side members, each of said side members having first and second ends and carrying a downwardly depending flange; a first lateral member adjustably connecting the first end of the first side member to the first end of the second side member; and a second lateral member adjustably connecting the second end of the first side member to the second end of the second side member; (b) making an incision through the patient's tissue to define an opening therethrough; (c) simultaneously inserting the flanges of the first and second side members through the incision; (d) thereafter, urging the first and second flanges laterally away from one another, thereby simultaneously expanding the opening through the patient's tissue and centering the access port laterally within the opening; (e) moving at least one of the first end of the first side member and the first end of the second side member along a length of the first lateral member to move said first ends away from one another; and (f) moving at least one of the second ends of the first and second side members along a length of the second lateral member to move said second ends away from one another; (g) wherein the first ends are moved away from one another independently of the movement of the second ends away from one another.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 245 words

A method of gaining surgical access to a body cavity, comprising: (a) providing a surgical implant comprising a frame having first and second opposed side members, each of said side members having first and second ends and carrying a downwardly depending flange; a first lateral member adjustably connecting the first end of the first side member to the first end of the second side member; and a second lateral member adjustably connecting the second end of the first side member to the second end of the second side member; (b) making an incision through the patient's tissue to define an opening therethrough; (c) simultaneously inserting the flanges of the first and second side members through the incision; (d) thereafter, urging the first and second flanges laterally away from one another, thereby simultaneously expanding the opening through the patient's tissue and centering the access port laterally within the opening; (e) moving at least one of the first end of the first side member and the first end of the second side member along a length of the first lateral member to move said first ends away from one another; and (f) moving at least one of the second ends of the first and second side members along a length of the second lateral member to move said second ends away from one another; (g) wherein the first ends are moved away from one another independently of the movement of the second ends away from one another.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 56 words

The method of claim 14 wherein during insertion of the flanges through the incision the first ends are positioned adjacent one another and the second ends positioned adjacent one another, but movement of the first ends away from one another spaces the first ends from one another without moving the second ends away from one another.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 58 words

The method of claim 14 wherein during insertion of the flanges through the incision the first and second side members have a first orientation with respect to one another, movement of the first ends away from one another changing the orientation of the first and second side members with respect to one another to a second, different orientation.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 64 words

The method of claim 16 wherein the first and second side members are generally parallel to one another in the first orientation, but the first ends are moved with respect to one another without a corresponding movement of the second ends with respect to one another such that the first and second side members are not parallel to one another in the second orientation.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 116 words

A surgical access device, comprising: (a) a frame defining an access port having opposed first and second sides; (b) a first flange carried on the frame, which extends along the first side of the access port and is pivotable between a rest position and at least one retracting position; (c) a second flange carried on the frame which extends along the second side of the access port and is pivotable between a rest position and at least one retracting position; and (d) at least one actuator configured and arranged for simultaneously urging both the first flange and the second flange from the rest position to the at least one retracting position upon actuation of the actuator.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 116 words

A surgical access device, comprising: (a) a frame defining an access port having opposed first and second sides; (b) a first flange carried on the frame, which extends along the first side of the access port and is pivotable between a rest position and at least one retracting position; (c) a second flange carried on the frame which extends along the second side of the access port and is pivotable between a rest position and at least one retracting position; and (d) at least one actuator configured and arranged for simultaneously urging both the first flange and the second flange from the rest position to the at least one retracting position upon actuation of the actuator.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 19 words

The surgical access device of claim 18 wherein the access device is supportively connected to a second surgical device.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 144 words

A surgical access device, comprising: (a) a frame; (b) a pair of transversely spaced flanges carried on the frame, including at least: (i) a first flange having a longitudinally elongate leading edge which is pivotable between a rest position and at least one retracting position, and (ii) a second flange having a longitudinally elongate leading edges which is pivotable between a rest position and at least one retracting position, and (c) at least one actuator configured and arranged for simultaneously urging both the first flange and the second flange from the rest position to the at least one retracting position upon actuation of the actuator; (d) wherein pivoting of the first and second flanges from the rest position to the retraction position upon actuation of the actuator causes the leading edges of the first and second flanges to transversely move away from one another.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 144 words

A surgical access device, comprising: (a) a frame; (b) a pair of transversely spaced flanges carried on the frame, including at least: (i) a first flange having a longitudinally elongate leading edge which is pivotable between a rest position and at least one retracting position, and (ii) a second flange having a longitudinally elongate leading edges which is pivotable between a rest position and at least one retracting position, and (c) at least one actuator configured and arranged for simultaneously urging both the first flange and the second flange from the rest position to the at least one retracting position upon actuation of the actuator; (d) wherein pivoting of the first and second flanges from the rest position to the retraction position upon actuation of the actuator causes the leading edges of the first and second flanges to transversely move away from one another.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 19 words

The surgical access device of claim 20 wherein the access device is supportively connected to a second surgical device.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2007-06-08	2007-12-08	2008-06-08	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2011-06-08	2011-12-08	2012-06-08	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2015-06-08	2015-12-08	2016-06-08	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Self-seating surgical access device and method of use

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