Valve arrangement for surgical instruments and valve cage for accomodating the valve arrangement

• US 20050085774A1
• Filed: 04/27/2002
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg
• Original Assignee: St ONGE Steward Johnston & Reens
• Inventors: Streifinger, Wolfgang, Storm, Gerald
• Granted Patent: US 7,713,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/167.10
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3498 Valves therefor, e.g. flapper valves, slide valves haemostasis valves A61M39/06; check valves A61M39/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/045 pre-slit to be pierced by blunt instrument

Abstract

The invention relates to a valve arrangement for surgical instruments, particularly trocars, such as those used for minimally invasive operations, e.g. operations involving laparoscopic techniques. The invention also relates to a valve cage (18) for accommodating the valve arrangement. The valve arrangement comprises a valve body (1) made of closed-cell, gas-tight foam material having at least one slot (7), which passes through the valve body and which is provided for introducing a surgical instrument guided inside the trocar. The valve cage is provided in the form of a housing whose shape and size are adapted to the outer dimensions of the valve body. The housing can be joined to a conventional trocar sleeve in a sealed and detachable manner.

Claims

1. A valve arrangement for surgical instruments, particularly trocars, having a valve body (1) of closed-cell, gas-tight foamed material incorporating at least one slit (7) penetrating the valve body for inserting a surgical instrument (30) guided inside the trocar,

characterized in that

the supper surface (4) of the valve body (1) incorporates a cutout (9) that tapers substantially coniformly or cuneiformly towards the slit (7).

2. A valve arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve body (1) is designed as a block and delimited by an upper, a lower, and at least one lateral surface (4, 5, 6).

3. A valve arrangement according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the slit (7) divides the valve body into two halves (2, 3).

4. A valve arrangement according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the bottom surface (5) of the valve body (1) incorporates a cutout (14) that tapers substantially coniformly or cuneiformly towards the slit (7).

5. A valve arrangement according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the upper surface (5) of a cutout (19, 14) is provided at least partly with a smooth and harder coating (11) as compared to the foamed material.

6. A valve arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that the coating (11) is composed of plastic, metallic, or ceramic material.

7. A valve arrangement according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the bottom surface (5) of the valve body (1) incorporates slanting pressure deflecting surfaces (12, 13) extending at an acute angle relative to the slit.

8. A valve arrangement according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the valve body (1) incorporates at least one hollow space (15, 16) that encompasses the slit (7) at least partially along the sides and is open towards the bottom surface.

9. A valve arrangement according to any of the above claims, characterized in that it incorporates a centering and guide sleeve (22) disposed in the region of the upper surface (4) of the valve body (1) for the instrument (30) to be inserted.

10. A valve arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve body (1) consists of two separate abutting, roller-shaped foamed bodies (26, 27).

11. A valve arrangement according to claim 10, characterized in that the foamed bodies (26, 27) each are supported in a manner so that they can rotate about an axis (28, 29) in the direction of the arrow (31).

12. A valve arrangement according to any of the above claims, characterized in that it is implemented as a disposable article.

13. A valve cage (18) for accommodating the valve arrangement according to the above claims,

characterized by

a housing (18) adapted in its shape and size to the outer dimensions of the valve body (1), which can be sealingly and detachably connected to a conventional trocar sleeve (25).

14. A valve cage according to claim 13, characterized in that the connection (24) is implemented as a plug-type connection, quarter-turn fastener, or screw-type connection.

15. A valve cage according to any of claims 14 or 15*, characterized in that it incorporates a connector for the gas supply, which is disposed below the valve body (1).

*This appears to be a typographical error in the German-language document and should read “

claims 13 or 14”

16. A valve cage according to any of claims 14 through 16†

, characterized in that it is composed of plastic.

†

This appears to be a typographical error in the German-language document and should read “

claims 13 through 15”

17. A valve cage according to any of claims 14 through 17‡

, characterized in that it is implemented as a disposable article.

‡

This appears to be a typographical error in the German-language document and should read “

claims 13 through 16”