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.

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.