US 11,903,610 B2
Surgical cannula and methods of use
Kyle Craig Pilgeram, San Jose, CA (US); and Ross Callison, Denver, CO (US)
Assigned to Stryker Corporation, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Filed by Stryker Corporation, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Filed on Nov. 4, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/519,131.
Application 17/519,131 is a continuation of application No. 16/270,353, filed on Feb. 7, 2019, granted, now 11,172,957, issued on Nov. 16, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/627,475, filed on Feb. 7, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0054165 A1, Feb. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 17/34 (2006.01); A61B 17/02 (2006.01); A61B 1/317 (2006.01); A61B 17/32 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/3421 (2013.01) [A61B 17/02 (2013.01); A61B 17/3423 (2013.01); A61B 17/3431 (2013.01); A61B 1/317 (2013.01); A61B 17/320016 (2013.01); A61B 2017/3429 (2013.01); A61B 2017/3484 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for positioning a cannula comprising:
engaging an inserter with the cannula, the cannula having a flexible body including a central passageway bounded by a first flange and a second flange, the second flange having an irregular shape, the inserter directly engaged with the second flange to reconfigure the second flange from a first position having a first radial dimension to a second position having a second radial dimension less than the first radial dimension;
passing at least the second flange of the cannula and the inserter into a surgical opening formed in a patient through at least one layer of tissue;
moving the second flange and the inserter through the at least one layer of tissue such that at least a portion of the second flange is located under the layer of tissue;
releasing the inserter from the second flange; and
removing the inserter from the surgical opening.