Trocar and device for measuring a tracheoesophageal puncture
A trocar device and measurement assembly, includes a trocar having a sharply pointed shaft and a handle. An elongated sheath receives the shaft of the trocar therein, wherein the elongated sheath includes a plurality of measuring indicia thereon for measuring a length of a tracheoesophageal puncture formed by the trocar. A method of measuring the tracheoesophageal puncture is provided by inserting the elongated sheath into the puncture while observing the measuring indicia on the sheath to determine a length of the puncture.
1. A method of measuring a tracheoesophageal puncture of a patient, comprising the steps of:
creating a puncture in a tracheoesophageal wall of a patient using a trocar having a handle with gripping features and a sharp pointed curved solid shaft having an elongated flexible sheath on said shaft, said elongated flexible sheath includes a plurality of measuring indicia thereon;
measuring a length of said puncture by drawing a portion of said elongated flexible sheath having measuring indicia into said puncture and observing a length thereof.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said elongated flexible sheath has a length that is shorter than said curved solid shaft of said trocar, with an aperture extending from said first end to a second end.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said measuring indicia includes a plurality of colored rings.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said measuring indicia are self-illuminating.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said measuring indicia includes a plurality of lines and/or a numbered scale.