Surgical access system

Abstract

A surgical access assembly and method of use is disclosed. The surgical access assembly comprises an outer sheath and an obturator. The outer sheath and obturator are configured to be delivered to an area of interest within the brain. Either the outer sheath or the obturator may be configured to operate with a navigational system to track the location of either device within the brain.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A medical device for creating access into the soft tissue of the brain or spine, comprising:
 a sheath defined by an open distal end, an open proximal end, a lumen located between the open distal and proximal ends;   an obturator having a distal end portion, a proximal end portion and a body portion therebetween, the obturator insertable within the sheath to an introducing configuration, whereby the distal end portion extends outside the open distal end of the sheath;   wherein the obturator is hollow and further comprises a probe receptacle located at the distal end portion, the probe receptacle having an inner surface that tapers continuously from a first lateral size to a second lateral size, the first lateral size being greater than the second lateral size; and   a navigation probe having a distal tip;   wherein the inner surface is configured and dimensioned to receive the distal tip of the probe to selectively center the navigation probe with respect to the obturator when in the introducing configuration.   
     
     
         23 . The medical device of  claim 22 , further comprising a probe retainer configured to selectively fix the navigation probe with respect to the obturator in the introducing configuration. 
     
     
         24 . The medical device of  claim 23 , wherein the probe retainer is operable to fix the navigational probe from movement in the lateral direction. 
     
     
         25 . The medical device of  claim 23 , wherein the probe retainer includes a fastening element that is configured to selectively connect to the navigational probe. 
     
     
         26 . The medical device of  claim 22 , wherein the navigation probe is coaxial with the obturator, when in the introducing configuration. 
     
     
         27 . The medical device of  claim 22 , wherein the inner surface is configured to position the distal tip of the navigational probe with respect to the obturator distal end portion. 
     
     
         28 . The medical device of  claim 27 , wherein the probe receptacle inhibits the distal tip of the navigational probe from extending beyond a distal end of the obturator. 
     
     
         29 . The medical device of  claim 22 , wherein the navigational probe is centered within the obturator when engaged with the probe receptacle. 
     
     
         30 . The medical device of  claim 29 , wherein the distal tip of the navigational probe is centered at the probe receptacle. 
     
     
         31 . The medical device of  claim 22 , wherein at least a portion of the navigational probe receptacle has a conical shape. 
     
     
         32 . The medical device of  claim 22 , wherein the distal end portion is contoured to a narrow closed distal end tip. 
     
     
         33 . The medical device of claim  13 , wherein the distal end tip is blunt. 
     
     
         34 . A medical device for creating access into the soft tissue of the brain or spine, comprising:
 a sheath defined by an open distal end, an open proximal end, a lumen located between the open distal and proximal ends;   an obturator having a distal end portion, a proximal end portion and a body portion therebetween, the obturator insertable within the sheath to an introducing configuration, whereby the distal end portion extends outside the open distal end of the sheath;   wherein the obturator is hollow and further comprises a probe receptacle located at the distal end portion, the probe receptacle having an inner surface that tapers continuously from a first lateral size to a second lateral size, the first lateral size being greater than the second lateral size;   a navigation probe having a distal tip;   wherein the inner surface is configured and dimensioned to receive the distal tip of the probe to selectively center the navigation probe with respect to the obturator when in the introducing configuration; and   a probe retainer configured to selectively fix the navigation probe with respect to the obturator in the introducing configuration;   wherein the navigation probe is coaxial with the obturator, when in the introducing configuration.