SURGICAL INTRODUCER

Abstract

The present invention provides a surgical introducer for inserting an implant into a human ear, the introducer comprising a handle, a slider movable relative to the handle between a first position and a second position, a retaining means being at least partially defined by the slider, and a releasable locking mechanism biased to lock the slider in said first or second position, wherein, when the slider is in said first position an implant is engaged by the retaining means and when the slider is moved towards said second position the implant is deployed.

Claims

1. A surgical introducer for inserting an implant into a human ear, the introducer comprising: a handle; a slider movable relative to the handle between a first position and a second position; a retaining means being at least partially defined by the slider, and a releasable locking mechanism biased to lock the slider in said first or second position, wherein, when the slider is in said first position an implant is engaged by the retaining means and when the slider is moved towards said second position the implant is deployed.

2. A surgical introducer for inserting an implant into a human ear according to claim 1, wherein the retaining means is further defined by the handle.

3. A surgical introducer inserting an implant into a human ear wherein the handle comprises a body and slider support member.

4. A surgical introducer for inserting an implant into a human ear according to claim 3, wherein the body of the handle comprises a channel to house the slider support member and receive the slider.

5. A surgical introducer for inserting an implant into a human ear according to claim 4, wherein the channel comprises a locking formation having a first locking position and a second locking position according to the first position and second position of the slider respectively.

6. A surgical introducer for inserting an implant into a human ear according to claim 5, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a resilient spring engageable with the locking formation of the handle.

7. A surgical introducer for inserting an implant into a human ear according to claim 6, wherein the locking mechanism and slider are a unitary component.

8. A surgical introducer for inserting an implant into a human ear according to claim 7, wherein the resilient spring comprises a first portion having a first width received by the channel and a second portion having a second width, greater than the first width engageable with the locking formation of the channel.

9. A surgical introducer for inserting an implant into a human ear according to any preceding claim wherein the slider further comprises a visual indicator to assist an operator in identifying when the introducer has been inserted a sufficient distance into the ear of a patient.

10. A surgical introducer for inserting an implant into a human ear according to claim 9, wherein the visual indicator is an embossment.

11. A surgical introducer for inserting an implant into a human ear according to any preceding claim, wherein the handle comprises two openings therethrough to each receive a finger of an operator.

12. A surgical introducer for inserting an implant into a human ear as described with reference to, and or as shown in, the drawings.

13. An introducer according to any of claims 1 to 11 in combination with an implant formed of shape-memory material and having a first configuration when retained by the retaining means of the introducer and a second pre-programmed configuration when deployed into a patient's ear.

Description

FIGURES

[0023] Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0024] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a surgical introducer according to embodiments of the invention.

[0025] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the surgical introducer of FIG. 1.

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a further view of the surgical introducer of FIG. 1.

[0027] FIG. 4 shows an implant as used with the introducer of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 5 shows a flattened implant as used with the introducer of the present invention.

DETAILED SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0029] FIGS. 1 to 3 show a surgical introducer 10 for inserting an implant, 22 into the cartilaginous portion of a human ear. The introducer 10 comprises a handle 12 and a slider 14 which is movable relative to the handle 12.

[0030] The handle 12 comprises a body formed from two mirrored parts 12a, 12b and a slider support 16 extending forwardly of the body 12a, 12b. Each part of the body 12a, 12b includes snap fit connections 12c for joining the two parts of the body 12a, 12b of the handle 12 together. The two parts of the body 12a, 12b define between them a channel 12d within which the slider 14 and slider support 16 are received.

[0031] The body 12a, 12b has two apertures 12f therethrough which are configured to each receive an operator's finger. The body also has a trigger grip position 12g to provide flexibility in how the introducer 10 is held.

[0032] The slider support 16 comprises a flat plate 14a which is fixed to the body 12a, 12b of the handle 12. The forward end 16b of the slider support 16 is provided with a longitudinal cut-out 16c for receiving a part of the slider 14 to prevent lateral movement of the slider 14 relative to the handle 12.

[0033] The slider 14 comprises a substantially flat plate 14a having a distal end 14b and a proximal end 14c. A resilient spring 18 forms an integral part of the slider 14 at its proximal end 14c. The resilient spring is a profiled sprung plate which extends upwardly from the proximal end 14c of the slider 14 and towards the distal end 14b of the slider 14. A portion 18a of the extreme end of the resilient spring 18 is of a greater width than the remainder of the resilient spring 18 and the slider 14.

[0034] The distal end 14b of the slider 14 defines a retaining lip 14d which partially retains one end of an implant 22. The retaining lip 14d can be up to 0.6 mm long but will typically be between 0.45-0.5 mm long. The lip can be up to 0.5 mm thick but will typically be between 0.25-0.3 mm thick. The distal end 16a of the slider support defines a similar retaining lip (not shown) of substantially similar dimension which partially retains the opposite end of an implant 22.

[0035] A pin 14e is spot welded to the slider 14 for engagement with the longitudinal cut-out 16b of the slider support 16. An embossment 14f is provided between the retaining lip 14d and pin 14e of the slider to provide visual indication of when the introducer 10 is in the desired position. In the illustrated example, the embossment 14f is disposed centrally between the retaining lip 14d and pin 14e of the slider.

[0036] The slider 14 is received by the channel 12d of the body 12a, 12b and overlays the slider support 16. The slider 14 can move between a first, extended position and a second, retracted position. The range of longitudinal movement of the slider 14 is inhibited by engagement of the wider portion 18a of the resilient spring 18 with respective indents 12e formed in each part of the body 12a, 12b of the handle 12.

[0037] The indents 12e formed in each part of the body 12a, 12b are generally M shaped. The wider portion of the resilient spring 18 has a width corresponding to the maximum distance between the indent 12e of each part of the body 12a, 12b. The range of movement of the slider 14 is thus limited to being equivalent to the distance between the two internal apex of the M-shaped indents 12e.

[0038] A cover 20 overlays the resilient spring 18 to provide comfort and a tactile response to a surgeon. The cover 20 is formed from two mirrored parts 20a, 20b which are snap-fitted together around the resilient spring 18.

[0039] The implant 22, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, comprises a nitinol plate 22a which is coated with 24 carat gold. A plurality of tines 22b extend from one side of the plate 22a for engaging with the cartilage of a human ear. The plate 22a includes an opening 22c therethrough to assist with removal of the implant 22 from a human ear once prominent ear deformity has been corrected.

[0040] The implant 22, as shown in FIG. 4, is biased in a horse shoe shape in its second pre-programmed configuration. When the implant 22 is loaded into the introducer 10 it is flattened (see FIG. 5) such that it is flattened and retained between the retaining lip 14d of the slider 14 and the retaining lip of the slider support. The slider 14 is in the retracted position when an implant 22 has been loaded into the retaining means. The implant 22 reverts to its biased horseshoe shape when the slider 14 is moved to the extended position and the implant 22 is thus deployed from the introducer 10.

[0041] Before the implant 22 can be implanted into an ear of a patient, the patient needs to be given a local anaesthetic so that an incision can be made through the skin of the ear. The skin is then lifted away from the cartilage to create a tunnel. The slider 14 of the introducer 10 is inserted into the tunnel to position the implant 22 in the desired position. The slider 14 is then extended to increase the distance between the distal end 14b of the slider 14 and the distal end 16a of the slider support 16. The implant 22 is then deployed from the introducer 10 and reverts to its natural horseshoe shape around the cartilage of the ear. This has the effect of enhancing the natural shape of the antihelical fold and reducing prominence of the ear.

[0042] The above description is given by way of example only and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.