Medical dilator system

Abstract

A medical dilating system includes a dilator device configured to penetrate and provide an opening in tissue of a patient, and a plurality of sleeves cooperatively configured to widen the opening in the tissue. The dilator device has an elongated shape with an exterior surface, first and second ends, and an interior wall defining an open interior volume extending from an opening of the second end to one or more openings in a tapered tip at the first end. Each of the plurality of sleeves has an elongated shape with an exterior surface and an interior wall defining an open interior volume extending from an opening of a first end of the sleeve to a second end of the sleeve. The plurality of sleeves include a first sleeve positioned around the exterior surface of the dilator device, and a second sleeve positioned around the exterior surface of the first sleeve.

1 . A medical dilating system for creating and dilating an opening in a tissue of a brain of a patient during surgery, comprising:
 a dilator device having an elongated shape with an exterior surface, a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the dilator device includes a tapered tip configured to penetrate and provide the opening in the tissue of the patient, and wherein the dilator device includes an interior wall that generally defines an open interior volume extending from an opening of the second end of the dilator device to one or more openings along a side portion of the tapered tip at the first end of the dilator device, wherein the dilator device is operable to allow a liquid to flow from one or more of the openings along the side portion of the tapered tip, through the open interior volume of the dilator device to the opening of the second end of the dilator device; and   a plurality of sleeves cooperatively configured to widen the opening in the tissue, each of the plurality of sleeves having an elongated shape with an exterior surface, a first end, a second end, and an interior wall that generally defines an open interior volume substantially extending from an opening of the first end of the respective sleeve to the second end of the respective sleeve, wherein the plurality of sleeves include at least a first sleeve operable to allow the internal wall of the first sleeve to be substantially positioned around the exterior surface of the dilator device, and a second sleeve operable to allow the internal wall of the second sleeve to be substantially positioned around the exterior surface of the first sleeve.   
     
     
         2 . The medical dilating system of  claim 1 , wherein the open interior volume of each of the plurality of sleeves substantially extends from the opening of the first end of the respective sleeve to an opening of the second end of the respective sleeve. 
     
     
         3 . The medical dilating system of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface of the dilator device includes one or more depth indicators configured to assist a user in determining a depth of penetration of the dilator device in the tissue. 
     
     
         4 . The medical dilating system of  claim 3 , wherein the exterior surface of one or more of the plurality of sleeves includes one or more depth indicators configured to assist a user in determining a depth of penetration of the dilator device in the tissue. 
     
     
         5 . The medical dilating system of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more depth indicators of one or more of the plurality of sleeves extend substantially around the exterior surface of the one or more of the plurality of sleeves. 
     
     
         6 . The medical dilating system of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more depth indicators of the plurality of sleeves comprises measurements in centimeters. 
     
     
         7 . The medical dilating system of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more depth indicators of the plurality of sleeves comprises measurements in inches. 
     
     
         8 . The medical dilating system of  claim 3 , wherein the tissue is brain tissue. 
     
     
         9 . The medical dilating system of  claim 3 , wherein the dilating device is positioned at or adjacent a tumor. 
     
     
         10 . The medical dilating system of  claim 3 , wherein the dilating device is positioned at or adjacent a lesion. 
     
     
         11 . The medical dilating system of  claim 1 , wherein the opening of the second end has a circular cross-section. 
     
     
         12 . The medical dilating system of  claim 11 , wherein the circular cross-section of the opening of the second end has a diameter greater than or equal to half of a diameter defined by the exterior surface of the second end of the dilator device. 
     
     
         13 . The medical dilating system of  claim 11 , wherein the circular cross-section of the opening of the second end has a diameter less than or equal to half of a diameter defined by the exterior surface of the second end of the dilator device. 
     
     
         14 . A medical dilating system for penetrating from the surface of a tissue of a brain of a patient to a desired depth in the tissue to create and dilate an opening in the tissue for use in surgery, the medical dilating system comprising:
 a dilator device having an exterior surface and an elongated shape with a first end, a body, and a second end, wherein the first end of the dilator device includes a tapered tip, and the body includes depth indicators to assist a user in determining a depth of penetration of the dilator device into the tissue, wherein the dilator device includes an interior wall that generally defines an open interior volume extending from an opening of the second end of the dilator device to one or more openings along a side portion of the tapered tip at the first end of the dilator device, wherein the dilator device is operable to allow a liquid to flow from one or more of the openings along the side portion of the tapered tip, through the open interior volume of the dilator device to the opening of the second end of the dilator device; and   a plurality of sleeves each having an exterior surface, a first end, a second end, and an interior wall that generally defines an open interior volume extending from the first end of the respective sleeve to the second end of the respective sleeve, wherein the plurality of sleeves include at least a first sleeve operable to allow the internal wall of the first sleeve to be substantially positioned around the exterior surface of the dilator device, and a second sleeve operable to allow the internal wall of the second sleeve to be substantially positioned around the exterior surface of the first sleeve.