Access port for laparoscopic surgery
First Claim
1. An access port useable for laparoscopic surgery within a pressurized body cavity surrounded by living tissue, said access port permitting insertion of a surgical tool into said cavity while maintaining pressure therein, said access port comprising:
- an elongated duct having a distal end insertable through an opening in said tissue into said cavity, and a proximal end extending outwardly therefrom, said duct having an outer surface forming a seal with said living tissue;
a plurality of flexible, resilient opposed surfaces positioned within said duct, said opposed surfaces cooperating with one another when subjected to internal pressure within said duct to form a substantially fluid-tight one-way valve, said opposed surfaces being flexibly deformable to permit said tool to be inserted through said duct and into said cavity; and
a flexible, resilient tube positioned within said duct, said tube being radially inwardly biased so as to be engageable with said tool and form a substantially fluid-tight seal therearound when said tool is inserted through said duct.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An access port for use in laparoscopic surgery is disclosed. The port includes a duct having a one-way valve and a tubular seal. The one-way valve has opposed surfaces that co-apt in response to internal pressure within the duct. The tubular seal has an inner layer with a low friction coefficient surrounded by an outer elastic layer that biases the inner layer into sealing engagement with a surgical tool inserted through the duct. The one-way valve seals the duct in the absence of a tool extending through the duct. The low friction coefficient of the inner layer facilitates insertion and removal of the tool through the duct. The port has a distal end insertable into a pressurized cavity, and a proximal end that extends from the cavity and provides access thereto.
216 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An access port useable for laparoscopic surgery within a pressurized body cavity surrounded by living tissue, said access port permitting insertion of a surgical tool into said cavity while maintaining pressure therein, said access port comprising:
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an elongated duct having a distal end insertable through an opening in said tissue into said cavity, and a proximal end extending outwardly therefrom, said duct having an outer surface forming a seal with said living tissue;
a plurality of flexible, resilient opposed surfaces positioned within said duct, said opposed surfaces cooperating with one another when subjected to internal pressure within said duct to form a substantially fluid-tight one-way valve, said opposed surfaces being flexibly deformable to permit said tool to be inserted through said duct and into said cavity; and
a flexible, resilient tube positioned within said duct, said tube being radially inwardly biased so as to be engageable with said tool and form a substantially fluid-tight seal therearound when said tool is inserted through said duct. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An access port useable for procedures within a vascular vessel, said access port permitting insertion of a tool into said vessel while maintaining pressure therein, said access port comprising:
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an elongated duct;
a plurality of flexible, resilient opposed surfaces positioned within said duct, said opposed surfaces cooperating with one another when subjected to internal pressure within said duct to form a substantially fluid-tight one-way valve, said opposed surfaces being flexibly deformable to permit said tool to be inserted through said duct and into said vessel; and
a flexible, resilient tube extending from an end of said duct, said tube being radially inwardly biased so as to be engageable with said tool and form a substantially fluid-tight seal therearound when said tool is inserted through said duct and into said vessel. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An access port useable to perform procedures within a pressurized environment, said access port permitting insertion of a tool into said environment while maintaining pressure therein, said access port comprising:
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an elongated duct;
a plurality of flexible, resilient opposed surfaces positioned within said duct, said opposed surfaces cooperating with one another when subjected to internal pressure within said duct to form a substantially fluid-tight one-way valve, said opposed surfaces being flexibly deformable to permit said tool to be inserted through said duct and into said environment; and
a flexible, resilient tube in fluid communication with said duct, said tube being radially inwardly biased so as to be engageable with said tool and form a substantially fluid-tight seal therearound when said tool is inserted through said duct and said tube. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification