IP Library Granted Patent US 12,343,041
Granted Patent B2
US 12,343,041 · App. 17/277,561 · Granted Jul 1, 2025

Cannulated t-handle driver and double latch cannula obturator

Inventor: Sharon Anderson (St. Petersburg, FL)
Assignee: Conmed Corporation
A61B17/3496A61B17/3423A61B2017/00424A61B2017/0046A61B17/8875
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,343,041
App. No.
17/277,561
Filed
Mar 18, 2021
Granted
Jul 1, 2025
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3771
USPC
606/108
Abstract

An obturator assembly with a rotatable and cannulated obturator shaft for inserting a cannula into a human joint space. The obturator assemblies includes an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end with a channel extending along an inner surface of the elongated body. The obturator assembly also includes a locking mechanism connected within the elongated body. The locking mechanism is rotatable between a first configuration and a second configuration. A cannulated obturator shaft is attached to the locking mechanism and is rotatable between the first configuration and the second configuration via the locking mechanism. The obturator assembly has a latch assembly connected to the cannulated obturator shaft which is rotatable between the first configuration and second configuration via the locking mechanism. The latch assembly securely and removably attaches to a cannula.

Claims (29)

1. An obturator assembly, comprising:

an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end;

a channel extending along an inner surface within the elongated body;

a locking mechanism connected within the elongated body, the locking mechanism rotatable between a first configuration and a second configuration; and

a cannulated obturator shaft removably attached or fixed to the locking mechanism and rotatable between the first configuration and the second configuration via the locking mechanism, wherein the second configuration is orthogonal to the first configuration; and

a latch assembly comprising a latch connected to the cannulated obturator shaft and a latch sheath with an open end and a latch sheath channel extending therethrough, the latch sheath channel configured to receive the cannulated obturator shaft, and wherein the latch assembly is configured to removably couple and lock a cannula around the cannulated obturator and move with the cannulated obturator shaft from the first configuration to the second configuration.

2. The obturator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the elongated body has a first piece connected to a second piece.

3. The obturator assembly of claim 2 , wherein the inner surface extends along the second piece.

4. The obturator assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a first relief area and a second relief area on the inner surface.

5. The obturator assembly of claim 4 , further comprising a recess in the inner surface within the elongated body wherein the first relief area and the second relief area converge.

6. The obturator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is a cannulated hub rotatably connected to the elongated body within the recess.

7. The obturator assembly of claim 6 , wherein the cannulated hub has an aperture with a driver geometry.

8. The obturator assembly of claim 7 , wherein the cannulated obturator shaft has a locking end with a driver geometry configured to mate with the driver geometry of the aperture of the cannulated hub.

9. The obturator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cannulated obturator shaft has a tapered distal end.

10. An obturator assembly, comprising:

an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end;

a channel extending along an inner surface within the elongated body;

a cannulated hub rotatably connected to the elongated body in a recess, the cannulated hub rotatable between a first configuration and a second configuration;

a locking mechanism integrated with the cannulated hub;

a cannulated obturator shaft removably attached or fixed to the locking mechanism and rotatable between the first configuration and the second configuration via the locking mechanism, wherein the second configuration is orthogonal to the first configuration; and

a latch assembly comprising a latch connected to the cannulated obturator shaft, and a latch sheath with an open end and a latch sheath channel extending therethrough, the latch sheath channel configured to receive the cannulated obturator shaft, and wherein the latch assembly is configured to removably couple and lock a cannula around the cannulated obturator and move with the cannulated obturator shaft from the first configuration to the second configuration.

11. The obturator assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a first relief area and a second relief area extending into the inner surface within the elongated body.

12. The obturator assembly of claim 10 , wherein the latch is configured to mate with a feature on a cannula.

13. The obturator assembly of claim 10 , wherein the latch is spring-biased toward the cannulated obturator shaft.

14. The obturator assembly of claim 10 , wherein the latch assembly is rotatable with the cannulated obturator shaft between the first configuration to the second configuration.

15. The obturator assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a guide pin extending through a lumen of the cannulated obturator shaft.

16. The obturator assembly of claim 15 , wherein between the first and second configurations, the guide pin extends through the first and second relief areas.

17. The obturator assembly of claim 11 , wherein between the first and second configurations, the cannulated obturator shaft extends through the first and second relief areas in the elongated body.

18. The obturator assembly of claim 11 , further comprising an actuator on an outer surface of the elongated body operably connected to the locking mechanism.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 21, 2025
From: CONMED CORPORATION; BIOREZ, INC.; BUFFALO FILTER LLC; IN2BONES USA, LLC; LINVATEC CORPORATION; SURGIQUEST, INC.; VIKING SYSTEMS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 072097/0762 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 18, 2021
From: ANDERSON, SHARON
To: CONMED CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055640/0403 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62735246 · Sep 24, 2018
Related Publication 20220031359A1 · Feb 3, 2022
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