Importance

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Abstract

A safety penetrating instrument for penetrating an anatomical cavity wall to gain access to an anatomical cavity includes a cannula, a penetrating member disposed in the cannula and movable relative to the cannula between a penetrating position where the tissue penetrating distal end of the penetrating member protrudes distally from the distal end of the cannula and a protected position where the penetrating member distal end is proximally spaced from the distal end of the cannula, a retracting mechanism for moving the penetrating member proximally from the penetrating position to the protected position and for permitting the penetrating member to move distally to the penetrating position, a locking mechanism for locking the penetrating member in the penetrating position, a spring strip mounted by the penetrating member and having an extendable portion movable inwardly in a lateral direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the penetrating member from an extended position to a retracted position during penetration of the anatomical cavity wall and outwardly in the lateral direction from the retracted position to the extended position upon introduction of the extendable portion in the anatomical cavity, and a releasing mechanism responsive to movement of the extendable portion from the retracted position to the extended position for triggering release of the locking mechanism to permit the retracting mechanism to move the penetrating member to the protected position.

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First Claim