IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,616,501
Granted Patent B2
US 12,616,501 · App. 18/947,714 · Granted May 5, 2026

Surgical introducer with guidance system receptacle

Inventors: Robert Schaefer (Riverside, CA); David Cantor (Rome, IT)
Assignee: Vycor Medical, Inc.
A61B17/3421A61B17/3423A61B34/20A61B90/10A61B90/11A61B90/57A61B17/0218A61B2017/3429A61B2017/347A61B2034/2051A61B2034/2055A61B2090/103A61B2090/3983
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,616,501
App. No.
18/947,714
Granted
May 5, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A surgical introducer system having an outer introducer sidewall extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal introducer end to a distal introducer end, an inner introducer sidewall extending within the outer introducer sidewall along the longitudinal axis and forming an introducer passage extending in a distal direction from a proximal passage opening at the proximal introducer end to an introducer passage end wall located proximal to the distal introducer end, and an end wall passage extending from the introducer passage end wall towards the distal introducer end. The introducer end wall passage joins the introducer end wall at one or more end wall edges defining an axial stop ring configured to contact the distal tip of a navigation probe between the probe shaft and a terminal end of the distal probe tip at a line of contact to thereby prevent movement of the navigation probe in the distal direction.

Claims (37)

1 . A surgical access port assembly comprising:

a shaft retainer comprising:

a receiver having:

a receiver channel extending in a longitudinal direction and configured to receive a shaft in a proximal open end of the receiver channel, and limit movement of the shaft in a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and

a first threaded surface, and

a lock having:

a central passage extending in the longitudinal direction, and

a second threaded surface,

wherein:

the lock and receiver are movable between a first configuration in which the lock and receiver allow the shaft to move relative to the lock and receiver along the longitudinal direction, and a second configuration in which the lock and receiver prevent the shaft from moving relative to the lock and receiver along the longitudinal direction, and

the lock is rotatable relative to the receiver to engage the first threaded surface with the second threaded surface to thereby move the lock and receiver between the first configuration and the second configuration;

an introducer extending along the longitudinal direction from a proximal introducer end to a distal introducer end, the distal introducer end defining a tapered outer surface that reduces in size in a distal direction extending away from the proximal introducer end; and

a retractor removably attached to the introducer, the retractor comprising a retractor sidewall defining a hollow retractor passage extending from a proximal retractor end to a distal retractor end, wherein the retractor is configured to selectively secure to a remainder of the surgical access port assembly with the tapered outer surface of the introducer extending in the longitudinal direction distally beyond the distal retractor end, and wherein the hollow retractor passage has a retractor passage cross-sectional profile as viewed along the longitudinal direction, wherein the retractor passage cross-sectional profile comprises an elongated non-circular shape.

2 . The surgical access port assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retractor passage cross-sectional profile is oval.

3 . The surgical access port assembly of claim 2 , wherein the retractor passage cross-sectional profile is elliptical.

4 . The surgical access port assembly of claim 2 , wherein the retractor passage cross-sectional profile is oval entirely from the proximal retractor end to the distal retractor end.

5 . The surgical access port assembly of claim 1 , wherein the introducer comprises an introducer sidewall defining a hollow introducer passage extending from the proximal introducer end to the distal introducer end.

6 . The surgical access port assembly of claim 5 , wherein the hollow introducer passage has an introducer passage cross-sectional profile, as viewed along the longitudinal direction, wherein the introducer passage cross-sectional profile matches the elongated non-circular shape of the retractor passage cross-sectional profile, at least in a portion of the hollow introducer passage located within the hollow retractor passage when the introducer is attached to the retractor.

7 . The surgical access port assembly of claim 5 , wherein:

the retractor sidewall has a uniform retractor sidewall thickness from a first location adjacent to the proximal retractor end to a second location adjacent to the distal retractor end;

the introducer sidewall comprises a uniform introducer sidewall thickness in at least a portion of the hollow introducer passage located from the first location to the second location when the introducer is attached to the retractor.

8 . The surgical access port assembly of claim 5 , wherein the hollow introducer passage has an introducer passage cross-sectional profile as viewed along the longitudinal direction, wherein the introducer passage cross-sectional profile is oval entirely from the proximal introducer end to the distal introducer end.

9 . The surgical access port assembly of claim 8 , wherein the introducer further comprises a receptacle wall extending within the hollow introducer passage from the distal introducer end towards the proximal introducer end, the receptacle wall comprising one or more inner surfaces defining a receptacle.

10 . The surgical access port assembly of claim 9 , wherein the one or more inner surfaces define a circular cross-sectional shape as viewed along the longitudinal direction.

11 . The surgical access port assembly of claim 10 , wherein the circular cross-sectional shape tapers to reduce in size away towards the distal introducer end.

12 . The surgical access port assembly of claim 10 , wherein the circular cross-sectional shape comprises at least two stepped cylindrical wall segments.

13 . The surgical access port assembly of claim 9 , wherein the receptacle wall comprises one or more axial slots configured to permit fluid to flow radially though the receptacle wall.

14 . The surgical access port assembly of claim 9 , wherein the introducer comprises one or more openings at the distal introducer end, wherein the one or more openings are in fluid communication with the hollow introducer passage without passing through the receptacle.

15 . The surgical access port assembly of claim 9 , wherein the receiver extends into the hollow introducer passage and terminates at a distal receiver end that is spaced proximally from the receptacle wall when the shaft retainer is attached to the introducer.

16 . The surgical access port assembly of claim 5 , wherein the shaft retainer is removably connected to the introducer at the proximal introducer end by one or more releasable clamps, and wherein the one or more releasable clamps do not block an entirety of the hollow introducer passage at the proximal introducer end.

17 . The surgical access port assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retractor sidewall comprises a transparent material.

18 . The surgical access port assembly of claim 1 , wherein the distal introducer end comprises a transparent material.

19 . The surgical access port assembly of claim 1 , wherein the receiver channel comprises one or more slots extending along the longitudinal direction.

20 . The surgical access port assembly of claim 19 , wherein:

at least one of the receiver and the lock comprises a tapered surface;

the one or more slots extend radially thought the tapered surface; and

when the lock and the receiver are in the second configuration, the tapered surface is configured to compress an inner surface of the receiver channel against the shaft.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2024
From: SCHAEFER, ROBERT
To: VYCOR MEDICAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 069262/0528 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2024
From: CANTOR, DAVID
To: VYCOR MEDICAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 069262/0559 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 17473282 · Sep 13, 2021
Continuation In Part 16740858 · Jan 13, 2020
Continuation 15805821 · Nov 7, 2017
Continuation In Part 15372890 · Dec 8, 2016
Provisional Application 62418507 · Nov 7, 2016
Related Publication 20250064480A1 · Feb 27, 2025
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