Self-sealing surgical access port
First Claim
1. A self sealing surgical access port permitting a surgical tool to be used within a body cavity, said access port comprising:
- a rigid duct having a distal end positionable within the body cavity, said duct being extendable through living tissue of said body and having a proximal end positionable outside of said cavity; and
a flexible tube positioned substantially coaxially within said duct and attached thereto, said tube having an inner low-friction surface surrounded by an elastic membrane, said membrane being biased so as to form a constricted region of said tube, said tube being elastically deformable radially outwardly to permit said surgical tool to pass through said duct and into said body cavity, said constricted region of said membrane closing around said tool to substantially continuously seal said tube while said tool extends therethrough.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An access port for performing surgical procedures within an insufflated body cavity is disclosed. The port is formed from a duct that is inserted into the body cavity, the duct having a stiff sidewall to prevent collapse. The duct contains a flexible tube that has a constricted shape that forms a seal around a surgical instrument inserted through the duct. The tube has an inner membrane with a low coefficient of friction to facilitate passage of surgical instruments through the duct. The tube has an elastic outer membrane to bias it into the constricted shape. The tube may also be pressurized into the constricted shape by gas, gel or liquid. The tube itself may also form a seal in the absence of the tool, or a second seal, such as a duckbill valve, may be positioned within the duct.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A self sealing surgical access port permitting a surgical tool to be used within a body cavity, said access port comprising:
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a rigid duct having a distal end positionable within the body cavity, said duct being extendable through living tissue of said body and having a proximal end positionable outside of said cavity; and
a flexible tube positioned substantially coaxially within said duct and attached thereto, said tube having an inner low-friction surface surrounded by an elastic membrane, said membrane being biased so as to form a constricted region of said tube, said tube being elastically deformable radially outwardly to permit said surgical tool to pass through said duct and into said body cavity, said constricted region of said membrane closing around said tool to substantially continuously seal said tube while said tool extends therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A self sealing surgical access port permitting a surgical tool to be used within a body cavity, said access port comprising:
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a rigid duct having a distal end positionable within the body cavity, said duct being extendable through living tissue of said body and having a proximal end positionable outside of said cavity; and
a flexible tube positioned substantially coaxially within said duct and attached thereto, said tube having an inner low-friction surface surrounded by an elastic membrane, said tube having opposite ends attached to said duct so as to define a pocket between said tube and said duct between said opposite ends of said tube, said pocket being pressurized with a fluid so that said membrane forms a constricted region between said ends of said tube, said tube being elastically deformable radially outwardly against said pressurization to permit said surgical tool to pass through said duct and into said body cavity, said pressurization forcing said constricted region of said membrane to close around said tool to substantially continuously seal said tube while said tool extends therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A surgical access port, comprising:
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a stiff outer shell having a plurality of lengthwise extending struts arranged circumferentially, said struts defining a plurality of slots in spaced relation to one another;
a membrane positioned within said outer shell, said membrane formed from a material having a lower coefficient of friction than said outer shell.
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Specification