Apparatus having release mechanism for introducing bone portals and related methods

1. Apparatus for introducing a bone portal into a bone, the apparatus comprising: a handle, a carrier assembly comprising a driving member, the carrier assembly slidably received within the handle, a tubular shield telescopic within the handle and surrounding the driving member, and a base detachably mounted to a proximal end of the shield; and a release mechanism comprising: a deformable member arranged to block the carrier assembly from moving toward a distal end of the handle, the deformable member deformable to permit the carrier assembly to move toward the distal end of the handle; a bone probe movable relative to the deformable member, wherein the bone probe is biased in a proximal direction away from the distal end of the handle; and another member coupled to the bone probe and engaged with the deformable member, the another member when so engaged preventing the deformable member from deforming such that the deformable member blocks the carrier assembly from moving toward the distal end of the handle; wherein movement of the bone probe disengages the another member from the deformable member sufficiently to permit the deformable member to deform thereby permitting the carrier assembly to move toward the distal end of the handle, wherein the deformable member comprises a split ring captured between the carrier assembly and an opposed abutting surface of the handle, the split ring having a gap between two ends thereof, the another member extends into the gap between the two ends of the split ring, and the bone probe is movable to move the another member out of the gap, wherein the another member comprises a sliding block that is movable out of the gap in a direction toward the distal end of the handle.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the split ring projects radially out of a circumferential groove in the carrier assembly.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the abutting surface is angled to compress the split ring inwardly.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein a distal face of the split ring has a beveled outward edge.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a spring biasing the bone probe in the proximal direction.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the split ring comprises a resilient material.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a ratchet mechanism connected between the carrier assembly and the handle wherein the ratchet mechanism is configured to permit the carrier assembly to move toward the distal end of the handle and to prevent subsequent motion of the carrier assembly away from the distal end of the handle.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of bone probes coupled to the another member.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the bone probes are arranged symmetrically around the driving member.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the driving member comprises a stylet projecting in a proximal direction substantially parallel to the bone probe.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 comprising an infusion tube assembly on the stylet, the infusion tube assembly comprising a tube having a bone portal at one end thereof and a fitting at another end thereof.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 comprising a strain relief member connected to the infusion tube assembly.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 comprising a base coupled to the handle, the base comprising a coupling on the base adapted to releasably retain the strain relief member.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a base release mechanism detachably coupling the base to the shield, wherein the base release mechanism comprises an actuating member movable between a coupled configuration wherein the base is coupled to the shield and an uncoupled configuration wherein the base is not coupled to the shield and wherein the actuating member is arranged so that motion of the handle toward the base moves the actuating member from the coupled configuration to the uncoupled configuration.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the shield comprises a deformable tab having a barb, the barb engaged with a corresponding recess of the base when the actuating member is in the coupled configuration, and wherein the actuating member is configured to deform the tab such that the barb is not engaged with the corresponding recess of the base when the actuating member is in the uncoupled configuration.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the driving member and the bone probe are coupled to the carrier assembly and the shield and carrier assembly are mutually coupled to inhibit relative rotational motion between the shield and the carrier assembly.

17. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the base comprises an annular wall projecting from the base toward the handle and the base comprises one or more apertures within the annular wall to permit passage of the driving member and bone probe through the base.

18. Apparatus for introducing a bone portal into a bone, the apparatus comprising: a handle, and a carrier assembly comprising a driving member, the carrier assembly slidably received within a longitudinal bore in the handle, and a tubular shield telescopic within the handle and surrounding the driving member, and a base detachably mounted to a proximal end of the shield, wherein the carrier assembly is prevented from moving toward a distal end of the handle by a release mechanism, wherein the release mechanism comprises: a split ring projecting radially out of a circumferential groove in the carrier assembly to engage an abutting surface in the bore of the handle, the split ring having a gap between two ends thereof; a sliding block at least partly within the gap of the split ring, the sliding block slidably movable out of the gap against a first bias force; and a bone probe coupled to the sliding block.