Appeal No. 96-2631
Application No. 08/177,616
APPENDIX
1. A safety penetrating instrument for penetrating an
anatomical cavity wall to gain access to an anatomical cavity
comprising
a cannula having a distal end for introduction in the
anatomical cavity, a proximal end for being disposed externally
of the anatomical cavity and a lumen between said distal and
proximal ends of said cannula;
a penetrating member disposed in said lumen of said cannula
and having a distal end for penetrating the anatomical cavity
wall;
protection means for placing said safety penetrating
instrument in a protected state where said distal end of said
penetrating member is in a protected, non-exposed position; and
trigger means proximally movable during penetration of the
anatomical cavity wall for triggering said protection means to
place said safety penetrating instrument in said protected state
upon said trigger means moving proximally a predetermined
distance whereby, when said predetermined proximal distance
corresponds to the thickness of the anatomical cavity wall, said
safety penetrating instrument will be placed is said protected
state when said portal sleeve [sic, cannula] distal end enters
the anatomical cavity.
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