Medtronic, Inc.

John A Lange

Ronald A Drake

Lester O Stener

Mitchell R Maciver

A detachable handle assembly for a tool, the tool for creating a sub-sternal tunnel in a patient. The handle assembly includes a lock-and-release mechanism by which the tunneling assembly is attached to the handle, the mechanism being operable to detach the handle from the tunneling assembly. The handle assembly also may include a knob that interlocks with the tunneling assembly, the knob being configured for engagement by fingers of an adult hand to apply a force to rotate a boring tip of the tunneling assembly.

Extravascular medical access tools having boring tip and methods of using such tools

This disclosure describes various tools and associated methods suitable for gaining access to extravascular spaces. The various tools and associated methods utilize a boring tip that may rotate to aid in safely and effectively crossing diaphragmatic attachments. The boring tip may, in some instances not have any sharp edge. For example, the boring tip may have a dome shape but including at least one surface recessed and offset from a summit of the dome shape. Various mechanisms may be used to control rotation of the boring tip as described herein.

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Inver Grove Heights, MN, United States of America

John A Lange