SURGICAL ACCESS DEVICES AND METHODS PROVIDING SEAL MOVEMENT IN PREDEFINED PATHS

• US 20100228092A1
• Filed: 03/06/2009
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Martin, David, Johnson, Gregory, Duke, Daniel, Morgan, Jerome R., Ortiz, Mark S., Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Houser, Kevin L., Haberstich, Wells D., Mumaw, Daniel J., Shurtleff, Carl, Miller, Matthew C., Scheib, Charles J., Reese, Mark J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,251,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/204
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0293 with ring member to support retractor elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3423 Access ports, e.g. toroid shape introducers for instruments or hands access sites for liquids A61M39/0247
• 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 2017/3445 used as instrument channel for multiple instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3449 whereby the instrument channels merge into one single channel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3466 for simultaneous sealing of multiple instruments

Abstract

Various methods and devices are provided for allowing multiple surgical instruments to be inserted into sealing elements of a single surgical access device. The sealing elements can be movable along predefined pathways within the device to allow surgical instruments inserted through the sealing elements to be moved laterally, rotationally, angularly, and vertically relative to a central longitudinal axis of the device for ease of manipulation within a patient'"'"'s body while maintaining insufflation.

Claims

1. A surgical access device, comprising:

a housing having a central axis and a working channel extending therethrough;

a seal member disposed in the housing and configured to seal the working channel; and

a plurality of sealing elements disposed in the seal member, each sealing element being configured to receive and form a seal around an instrument inserted therethrough and into the working channel, the plurality of sealing elements including at least one movable sealing element that is movable independent of the other sealing elements within a predetermined path.

2. The surgical access device of claim 1, wherein the seal member is rotatable about the central axis of the housing to enable collective movement of the plurality of sealing elements.

3. The surgical access device of claim 1, comprising a plurality of movable sealing elements wherein each of the plurality of movable sealing elements is movable independent of the other sealing elements within a predetermined path.

4. The surgical access device of claim 3, wherein the predetermined path comprises an elongate track unique to each movable sealing element.

5. The surgical access device of claim 4, wherein the movable sealing elements are slidable within the elongate track.

6. The surgical access device of claim 4, wherein the movable sealing elements are movable in any direction within the elongate track.

7. The surgical access device of claim 4, wherein the elongate track extends in a complete circle within the seal member and the at least one sealing element is movable around the circle within the track.

8. The surgical access device of claim 1, wherein the seal member comprises a deformable membrane and at least a portion of each sealing element is integrally formed with the deformable membrane.

9. The surgical access device of claim 1, wherein each sealing element is angularly movable relative to a planar surface of the housing such that a central axis of the sealing element is non-parallel with the central axis of the housing.

10. The surgical access device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sealing elements has an opening with a diameter different than a diameter of an opening in the other sealing elements.

11. The surgical access device of claim 1, further comprising a retractor extending from the housing and having an opening formed therethough for receiving surgical instruments.

12. The surgical access device of claim 11, wherein the housing is rotatable relative to the retractor.

13. The surgical access device of claim 11, further comprising a safety shield extending through the retractor and configured to protect the retractor from sharp surgical instruments inserted therethrough.

14. A surgical access device, comprising:

a housing having a central axis and a working channel extending therethrough;

a seal member disposed within the housing and configured to seal the working channel; and

a plurality of sealing elements disposed in the seal member, the plurality of sealing elements collectively being rotatable about the central axis of the housing, and at least one sealing element being independently movable within a predefined elongate pathway with respect to others of the plurality of sealing elements.

15. The surgical access device of claim 14, wherein the at least one sealing element is movable in all directions within its predefined elongate pathway.

16. The surgical access device of claim 14, wherein the plurality of sealing elements includes a plurality of movable sealing elements and each movable sealing element is configured for lateral and/or angular movement with respect to the central axis of the housing.

17. The surgical access device of claim 14, wherein at least one of the sealing elements is configured to rotate 360 degrees about a central axis of the housing.

18. The surgical access device of claim 14, wherein each sealing element is angularly movable relative to a planar surface of the housing such that a central axis of the sealing element is non-parallel with the central axis of the housing.

19. The surgical access device of claim 14, wherein the seal member comprises a flexible membrane that is configured to deform while maintaining a seal in response to movement of a surgical instrument inserted through one of the plurality of sealing elements.

20. The surgical access device of claim 14, further comprising a selective locking mechanism that is configured to selectively lock a position of at least one of the sealing elements within the seal member against movement in at least one direction.

21. The surgical access device of claim 20, wherein the selective locking mechanism is configured to be unlocked to allow the position of the at least one sealing element within the seal member to be changed to a new position and that is configured to relock the at least one sealing element against movement in at least one direction in the new position.