Switching stick dilation method and apparatus

Abstract

A method of dilating an incision to provide access to a surgical site. Such method may include the steps of making an incision in the skin of a patient near a predetermined surgical site, inserting into the incision a dilator, inserting at least one shoe horn in juxtaposition or in direct apposition with the dilator, removing the dilator from the incision, inserting a blunt dissector adjacent the at least one shoe horn, removing the at least one shoe horn, inserting a retractor or a tube over the blunt dissector and into the incision such that the retractor or tube is at or adjacent the predetermined surgical site, removing the blunt dissector from the incision, and performing a surgical procedure at the predetermined surgical site through the retractor or tube.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A kit for dilation of an incision to provide access to a surgical site, the kit comprising:
 first and second shoe horns each extending along a length and having at least a portion with an arcuately shaped cross-section in a plane perpendicular to an axis of the length, the arcuately shaped cross-section defining a concave inner surface,   wherein in an operative configuration in which the concave inner surfaces of the first and second shoe horns face each other, the first and second shoe horns define a passage through which access to a surgical site can be provided.   
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the concave inner surface of at least one of the first and second shoe horns is partially oval shaped. 
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein an insertion end of at least one of the first and second shoe horns is rounded. 
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 1 , further comprising a dilator. 
     
     
         5 . The kit of  claim 4 , wherein the dilator is cannulated to define a bore along a length thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 5 , further comprising a K wire configured to be disposed within the bore. 
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 4 , wherein the dilator has a first diameter, and further comprising a second dilator having a second diameter larger than the first diameter. 
     
     
         8 . The kit of  claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the dilator extends along an axis and has an oval shaped cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the axis thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The kit of  claim 8 , wherein the oval shaped cross-section of the dilator substantially conforms to the concave inner surfaces of the first and second shoe horns when the first and second shoe horns are in the operative configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 4 , further comprising a blunt dissector cannulated to define a bore along a length thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 10 , wherein the bore of the blunt dissector is configured to accept the dilator therein. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 10 , wherein the bore of the blunt dissector is sized and configured to substantially match an outer contour of the dilator. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 1 , further comprising a blunt dissector. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the blunt dissector extends along an axis and has an oval shaped cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the axis. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 1 , further comprising a retractor. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 15 , wherein the retractor is expandable. 
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 1 , further comprising a surgical implant for introduction to the surgical site. 
     
     
         18 . A kit for dilation of an incision to provide access to a surgical site, the kit comprising:
 a first shoe horn extending along a length and having at least a portion with an arcuately shaped cross-section in a plane perpendicular to an axis of the length, the arcuately shaped cross-section defining a concave inner surface;   a dilator;   a blunt dissector; and   a retractor.   
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a second shoe horn extending along a length and having at least a portion with an arcuately shaped cross-section in a plane perpendicular to an axis of the length of the second shoe horn, the arcuately shaped cross-section defining a concave inner surface,   wherein in an operative configuration in which the concave inner surfaces of the first and second shoe horns face each other, the first and second shoe horns define a passage through which access to a surgical site can be provided and into which at least the blunt dissector can be inserted.   
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 18 , further comprising a K wire.