US 6,981,959 B1
Trocar for inserting implants
John R. Peery, Stanford, Calif. (US)
Assigned to Alza Corporation, Palo Alto, Calif. (US)
Filed on Apr. 23, 1999, as Appl. No. 9/296,582.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/082759, filed on Apr. 23, 1998.
Int. Cl. A61M 31/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 604—60 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A trocar comprising:
a cannula for receiving an implant and inserting the implant into an animal, the cannula having a sharp tissue penetrating distal end;
a spring element received entirely within the cannula, the spring element having a leaf spring for retaining the implant inside the cannula, the leaf spring applying a frictional force against the implant sufficient to prevent the implant from sliding out of the cannula under a weight of the implant, wherein the spring element is formed as a sheet with the leaf spring formed as a T-shaped cut out portion within the sheet; and
an obturator for delivering the implant from the cannula into the animal.