Pleated Trocar Seal

• US 20070255218A1
• Filed: 04/18/2006
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Franer, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,789,861 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/167.20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3462 with means for changing the diameter or the orientation of the entrance port of the cannula, e.g. for use with different-sized instruments, reduction ports, adapter seals expandable cannulas A61B17/3417
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3464 with means acting on inner surface of valve or seal for expanding or protecting, e.g. inner pivoting fingers

Abstract

A trocar seal comprising an elastomeric membrane having an opening adapted to receive a surgical instrument. The membrane is configured with a plurality of pleats circumscribing the opening and extending laterally from opening. The pleats comprise a plurality of pleat walls increasing in height as the pleats extend laterally from the opening. In one embodiment, the pleats are conically arranged.

Claims

1. A seal for endoscopic instruments, comprising an elastomeric membrane having an opening adapted to receive a surgical instrument, said membrane being configured with a plurality of pleats circumscribing the opening and extending laterally from opening, said pleats comprising a plurality of pleat walls increasing in height as the pleats extend laterally from the opening.

2. The seal of claim 1, wherein the pleats are conically arranged.

3. The seal of claim 1, further comprising a wall section circumscribing and connected to the pleats.

4. The seal of claim 3, wherein the wall section is cylindrical.

5. The seal of claim 3, further comprising a radial flange extending laterally from the wall section.

6. The seal of claim 3, further comprising bellows circumscribing and connected to the wall section.

7. The seal of claim 1, further comprising a lip defining the opening.

8. The seal of claim 1, wherein the pleat height substantially conforms to the following equation:

$h\ge <br><br>\frac{\mathrm{\pi <br><br>}}{P}<br><br>\sqrt{r^2+r_i^2-r_{\mathrm{id}}^2}$

where;

h=pleat wall height as a function of radius

r=radius

r_i=radius of largest instrument designed for insertion through seal

r_id=radius at inside diameter of pleat section of seal

P=number of pleats

9. The seal of claim 1, comprising only eight pleats.

10. A trocar comprising the seal of claim 1.

11. A method for processing a trocar for surgery, comprising:

a) obtaining the trocar of claim 10;

b) sterilizing the trocar;

c) storing the trocar in a sterile container.

12. A trocar, comprising:

a) a seal housing;

b) a cannula extending distally from the seal housing;

c) a closure valve aligned with the cannula and positioned in the seal housing; and

d) an instrument seal aligned with the cannula and positioned in the seal housing, the instrument seal comprising an opening dimensioned to sealingly engage surgical instruments and a plurality of conically arranged pleats extending radially about the opening.

13. The trocar of claim 12, further comprising shield plates positioned in the concave portion of the conically arranged pleats.

14. A method for processing a trocar for surgery, comprising:

a) obtaining the trocar of claim 12;

b) sterilizing the trocar;

c) storing the trocar in a sterile container.

15. A trocar seal comprising:

a) a lip defining and an opening, said lip being adapted to sealingly engage a endoscopic surgical instrument; and

b) a plurality of conically arranged linear pleats circumscribing the lip and extending radially away from lip, said pleats comprising a plurality of medially tapering walls.

16. A trocar comprising the seal of claim 15 positioned in a seal housing.

17. A method for processing a trocar for surgery, comprising:

a) obtaining the trocar of claim 16;

b) sterilizing the trocar; and

c) storing the trocar in a sterile container.

18. The trocar seal of claim 15, further comprising a wall section circumscribing the pleats.

19. The trocar seal of claim 18, further comprising bellows circumscribing the wall section.

20. The trocar seal of claim 18, wherein the wall section has a cylindrical portion.