US 12,290,282 B2
Expandable access systems and methods
Peter M. Bonutti, Manalapan, FL (US); and Matthew M. Cremens, Effingham, IL (US)
Assigned to P TECH, LLC, Manalapan, FL (US)
Filed by P Tech, LLC, Manalapan, FL (US)
Filed on Aug. 18, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/452,063.
Application 18/452,063 is a continuation of application No. 16/929,038, filed on Jul. 14, 2020, granted, now 11,832,846.
Application 16/929,038 is a continuation of application No. 15/297,227, filed on Oct. 19, 2016, granted, now 10,709,474, issued on Jul. 14, 2020.
Application 15/297,227 is a continuation of application No. 13/683,847, filed on Nov. 21, 2012, granted, now 9,498,249, issued on Nov. 22, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2024/0058035 A1, Feb. 22, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/34 (2006.01); A61M 25/00 (2006.01); A61M 25/06 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/3439 (2013.01) [A61B 17/3498 (2013.01); A61M 25/0662 (2013.01); A61B 2017/3441 (2013.01); A61B 17/3462 (2013.01); A61M 2025/0024 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An expandable access system comprising:
a needle end trocar having a sharp leading end;
a cannula defining an access passage, the cannula configured to be positioned a contracted configuration around the needle end trocar;
a retaining component configured to resist radial expansion of the cannula,
wherein the needle end trocar is configured to directly penetrate through skin and into a body part,
wherein the needle end trocar is configured to be detached from the cannula and removed from the body part and the skin, and
wherein the cannula is configured to expand radially into an expanded configuration against the skin and body part to distract tissues when at least a portion of the retaining component is removed, such that the access passage created by the cannula in the expanded configuration is larger than the access passage defined by the cannula in the contracted configuration.