Insertion system for deploying a ventilation device
Inventors
Loushin, Michael K. H. • Leland, Keith J. • Goudreau, Paul M. • Smith, Andrew N.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9370448-B2
Publication Date
2016-06-21
Expiration Date
Abstract
An insertion system includes a handle assembly and a nose assembly removably attached to the handle assembly and including an insertion end. The handle assembly includes a main body, a nose interface and an actuating element. The nose assembly includes a nose, a positioning rod extending from the nose to a distal end, a cutting sheath surrounding a distal end of the positioning rod and including a cutting edge, an actuation member having a proximal end coupled to the actuating element when the nose assembly is attached to the handle assembly and a distal end attached to the cutting sheath, a ventilation tube positioned distal to the distal end of the positioning rod and proximal to the insertion end. The cutting sheath retracts from around the ventilation tube and along the positioning rod when the actuating element on the handle assembly is moved.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an insertion system for deploying a ventilation device, where a handle assembly includes a main body, a nose interface at an end of the main body, and a user operated actuating element movable between a first position and a second position. A nose assembly is removably attached to the nose interface and includes an insertion end, a nose having a nose piece and a pull that mates with the nose piece and couples to the actuating element when attached. The nose piece is rotatably adjustable in a plurality of lockable positions relative to the nose interface after the nose piece is attached, so the positioning rod provides a line of sight for a user by being rotatably adjusted with the nose piece.
The system includes a positioning rod fixed to and extending from the nose piece to a distal end, and a cutting sheath surrounding a distal end of the positioning rod with a cutting edge. An actuation member has a proximal end attached to the pull, extends through the nose piece and inside the positioning rod, and has a distal end attached to the cutting sheath. A ventilation tube is positioned distal to the distal end of the positioning rod and proximal to the insertion end of the nose assembly.
Moving the actuating element from the first position to the second position causes the pull to axially move the actuation member, retracting the cutting sheath from around the ventilation tube and along the outside of the positioning rod. In one described insertion end configuration, the positioning rod includes a slot extending entirely through a wall thickness and along a length, and the cutting sheath has a cutting edge and surrounds a portion of the positioning rod including the distal portion and at least a portion of the slot, while a flexible actuation member is routed through the positioning rod slot such that when transitioned outward its distal end is located internal to the cutting sheath.
In another described system configuration, the insertion end is advanced into a body so that the cutting edge pierces a membrane and the ventilation tube is located across the membrane, and the handle assembly includes an actuating element coupled to the pull to retract the cutting sheath from around the ventilation tube and along the positioning rod. The nose assembly is rotatably adjustable relative to the handle assembly for user adjusted visualization to the insertion end, and the insertion end is configured to be removed from the body.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes three independent claims: clm-00001, clm-00014, and clm-00019. Across these claims, the coverage centers on a handle and removably attached nose assembly with rotatable, lockable positioning for visualization, coupled pull/actuation mechanics for retracting a cutting sheath away from a ventilation tube, and a defined insertion-end structure using a through-thickness slot and a flexible actuation member routed so its distal end is internal to the cutting sheath.
Rotatably adjustable removable nose assembly providing line of sight
A handle assembly with a nose interface and a user operated actuating element movable between first and second positions; a nose assembly removably attached to the nose interface, including a nose piece with a pull coupled to the actuating element when attached, where the nose piece is rotatably adjustable in a plurality of lockable positions relative to the nose interface after attachment to rotatably adjust a positioning rod relative to the nose interface to provide a line of sight for a user.
Axial pull-to-actuation-member translation retracting a cutting sheath from around the ventilation tube
A positioning rod fixed to and extending to a distal end, a cutting sheath surrounding the distal end and including a cutting edge, and an actuation member coupled to the pull and extending through the nose piece and inside the positioning rod to a distal end attached to the cutting sheath, where moving the actuating element from the first position to the second position causes the pull to axially move the actuation member so that the cutting sheath is retracted from around the ventilation tube and along the outside of the positioning rod.
Through-thickness slot routing for flexible actuation member internal to the cutting sheath
An insertion end having a positioning rod with a distal portion including a slot extending entirely through a thickness of a wall of the positioning rod and along the positioning rod; a cutting sheath surrounding a portion of the positioning rod including the distal portion and at least a portion of the slot and having a cutting edge; and a flexible actuation member extending inside the positioning rod, through the slot, and having a distal end attached to the cutting sheath so that when the flexible actuation member transitions from inside the positioning rod to outside the positioning rod the distal end is located internal to the cutting sheath.
Insertion end configured to pierce a membrane with ventilation tube across the membrane and removable insertion end
An insertion system where an insertion end of the nose assembly is configured to be advanced into a body so that the cutting edge pierces a membrane and the ventilation tube is located across the membrane; a handle assembly includes an actuating element coupled to the pull configured to be moved from a first position to a second position to retract the cutting sheath from around the ventilation tube and along the positioning rod; and the insertion end is configured to be removed from the body.
The independent claims collectively cover an insertion system with a removably attached, rotatably adjustable nose assembly with lockable positions for visualization, a pull/actuation-member linkage that retracts a cutting sheath away from a ventilation tube by moving a user actuating element, an insertion end structure using a positioning-rod slot and a flexible actuation member routed such that its distal end is internal to the cutting sheath, and an insertion configuration where the cutting edge pierces a membrane with the ventilation tube across the membrane and the insertion end is removable.
Stated Advantages
Provides a line of sight for a user via rotatable, lockable adjustment of the nose piece and positioning rod.
Retracts the cutting sheath from around the ventilation tube and along the outside of the positioning rod when the actuating element moves from the first position to the second position.
Documented Applications
Deployment and placement of a ventilation tube across a membrane by advancing an insertion end so the cutting edge pierces the membrane.
Insertion of an insertion end configured to be advanced into a body and then removed from the body.
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