BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to mesh deployment devices and kits, and more particularly, to a mesh deployment device having separate actuation and mesh deployment units available in kits.

Background of Related Art

Surgery often requires access to internal tissue through open surgical procedures or endoscopic surgical procedures. As used herein, the term “endoscopic” refers to all types of minimally invasive surgical procedures including laparoscopic, arthroscopic, natural orifice intraluminal, and natural orifice transluminal procedures. Endoscopic surgery has numerous advantages compared to traditional open surgical procedures, including reduced scarring. Endoscopic surgery is often performed in an insufflatory fluid present within the body cavity, such as carbon dioxide or saline, to provide adequate space to perform the intended surgical procedures. The insufflated cavity is generally under pressure and is sometimes referred to as being in a state of pneumoperitoneum. Surgical access devices are often used to facilitate surgical manipulation of internal tissue while maintaining pneumoperitoneum. For example, trocars are often used to provide a port through which endoscopic surgical instruments are passed. Trocars generally have an instrument seal, which prevents the insufflatory fluid from escaping while an instrument is positioned in the trocar. Alternatively, an instrument may be inserted directly through an opening, i.e., incision, in tissue into the body cavity.

Surgical instruments for use in deploying mesh endoscopically are known. Some embodiments include an expandable frame attached to an elongated body portion. A mesh is attached to the frame when the frame is in an expanded condition. Collapsing of the frame allows the frame and the mesh to be inserted through an access port or other opening in tissue to position the mesh within a body cavity.

Some mesh deployment devices are provided to the clinician with the mesh pre-attached to the deployment device for convenience of the clinician and to prevent any damage that might occur to the mesh during attachment by the clinician. The deployment devices with the pre-attached mesh are then either shipped with the frame in an open condition, at increased shipping costs, or shipped with the frame collapsed, potentially compromising the integrity of the mesh, as the mesh may become creased or otherwise deformed. Further, the mesh deployment devices provided with the mesh pre-attached are typically intended for a single use.

Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide a mesh deployment device having separate mesh deployment and actuation units. It would be further beneficial if the actuation unit is configured to be reusable.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, a mesh deployment device having separate mesh deployment and actuation units is provided. A mesh deployment device includes an actuation unit and a mesh deployment unit configured to be releasably secured to the actuation unit. When the mesh deployment unit is secured to the actuation unit, a first actuation of the actuation unit moves the mesh deployment unit from an expanded condition to a collapsed condition and a second actuation of the actuation unit moves the mesh deployment unit from the collapsed condition to the expanded condition. The mesh deployment device may further include a mesh releasably secured to the mesh deployment unit. A third actuation of the actuation unit may release the mesh from the mesh deployment unit.

In some embodiments, the actuation unit includes a base assembly having a housing and a locking member pivotally supported within the housing. The locking member may be pivotable between a first position configured to prevent the third actuation of the actuation unit and a second position configured to permit the third actuation of the actuation unit. The actuation unit may include an articulation assembly operably connected to the base assembly. The articulation assembly may include an articulation housing, an articulation rod operably extending from within the articulation housing, and an articulation link operably connected to the articulation rod. Rotation of the articulation housing relative to the base assembly may cause longitudinal translation of the articulation rod and articulation link. The articulation assembly may further include an articulation ratchet having at least one protrusion and the articulation housing may include a geared portion. Engagement of the at least one protrusion with the geared portion may provide at least one of a tactile indication and an audible indication to the user of rotation of the articulation housing.

The actuation unit may include a deployment assembly having a deployment handle operably connected to the base assembly. The first actuation of the actuation unit may include movement of the deployment handle a first distance in the distal direction relative to the base assembly to move the mesh deployment unit from the expanded condition to the collapsed condition and the second actuation of the actuation unit may include movement of the deployment handle the first distance in a proximal direction relative to the base assembly to move the mesh deployment unit from the collapsed condition to the expanded condition. The third actuation of the actuation unit may include movement of the deployment handle a second distance in the proximal direction relative to the base assembly to cause the release of the mesh from the mesh deployment unit. The base assembly may further include a trigger member. The third actuation of the actuation unit may include pivoting of the locking member to release the trigger member and retraction of the trigger member.

The actuation unit may also include a connection assembly and the mesh deployment unit may include a connector assembly. The connection assembly may be operably connectable to the connector assembly to releasably secure the mesh deployment unit to the actuation unit. The connection assembly may include a connection member defining a cutout and the connector assembly includes a connector member having an extension configured to be selective received in the cutout. The connection assembly may further include a retaining sleeve configured to be selective positioned about the connector member to selectively retain the extension of the connector member within the cutout of the connection member.

In some embodiments, the mesh deployment unit includes a frame assembly and an actuator assembly operably connected to the frame assembly for moving the mesh deployment unit between the collapsed and expanded conditions. The mesh may be releasably secured to the frame assembly by a plurality of clips. The actuator assembly may be configured to cause movement of the plurality of clips from a locked position, for retaining the mesh to the frame assembly, to an unlocked position to permit the release of the mesh from the frame assembly. The plurality of clips may be configured to be moved from the locked position to the unlocked position during a third actuation of the actuation unit.

Also provided is a mesh deployment unit configured for selective connection to an actuation unit. The mesh deployment unit may include a frame assembly having first and second frame members, a connector assembly operably connectable to the frame assembly and configured for selective attachment to an actuation unit, and an actuator assembly having an actuator shaft extending from the frame assembly through the connector assembly. Distal movement of the actuator assembly relative to the connector assembly may be configured to move the frame assembly from an expanded condition to a collapsed condition. Proximal movement of the actuator assembly is configured to return the frame assembly to the expanded condition.

The mesh deployment unit may further include an attachment assembly for selectively securing a mesh to the first and second frame members. The attachment assembly may include a plurality of clips movable from a closed position, for retaining the mesh to the frame assembly, to an open position to permit release of the mesh. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the actuator shaft includes a rectangular cross-section. The mesh deployment unit may further include a locking member selectively securable to the connector assembly. The connector assembly may include a lockout for selectively engaging the locking member. The lockout member may be movable from a first position in engagement with the locking member to a second position disengaged from the locking member.

In addition, a kit for deploying mesh is provided. The kit includes a first mesh deployment unit including a frame assembly and a first mesh attached to the frame assembly. The first mesh deployment unit may be configured for selective connection to an actuation unit. The kit may further includes a second mesh deployment unit including a frame assembly and a second mesh attached to the frame assembly. The second mesh deployment unit may be configured for selective connection to the actuation unit. The first and second meshes may have the same configuration or different configurations. The kit may further include a third mesh deployment unit configured for selective connection to the actuation unit. In addition, the kit may include an actuation unit selectively connectable to the first or second mesh deployment units and may be configured to actuate the selected mesh deployment unit between collapsed and expanded conditions.

