DEVICES AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING ACCESS INTO A BODY CAVITY
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A surgical access device, comprising:
- a flexible retractor having a working channel extending therethrough; and
a seal housing having a plurality of sealing elements disposed therein and configured to form a seal around an instrument inserted therethrough, the seal housing being freely movably suspended within a distal portion of the flexible retractor by a flexible tether coupled to the flexible retractor such that at least a portion of the seal housing can extend distally beyond the distal end of the retractor and can be freely angularly oriented relative to the retractor.
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Abstract
Methods and devices are provided for accessing a body cavity. In general, a surgical access device is provided that can include a retractor that forms a working channel through tissue, a seal housing for sealing the working channel and/or forming a seal around an instrument inserted therethrough, and a flexible suspension member that is configured to suspend the seal housing within the body cavity or allow the seal housing to extend beyond the distal end of the retractor.
218 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A surgical access device, comprising:
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a flexible retractor having a working channel extending therethrough; and a seal housing having a plurality of sealing elements disposed therein and configured to form a seal around an instrument inserted therethrough, the seal housing being freely movably suspended within a distal portion of the flexible retractor by a flexible tether coupled to the flexible retractor such that at least a portion of the seal housing can extend distally beyond the distal end of the retractor and can be freely angularly oriented relative to the retractor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A surgical access device, comprising:
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a retractor having proximal and distal ends with a working channel extending therethrough, the proximal end being configured to be positioned adjacent to an external surface of tissue and the distal end being configured to extend into a body cavity such that the working channel provides a pathway through the tissue; a suspension member having a proximal portion configured to couple to the proximal end of the retractor and a distal portion that extends through the working channel of the retractor; and a seal housing disposed within the distal portion of the suspension member and having at least one sealing element disposed therein and configured to form a seal around an instrument disposed therethrough; wherein at least a portion of the suspension member is flexible to allow the seal housing to extend beyond the distal end of the retractor. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for accessing a body cavity, comprising:
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positioning a flexible retractor within tissue such that a working channel of the flexible retractor forms a pathway through the tissue and into a body cavity; and inserting a surgical instrument through a sealing element in a seal housing suspended within the body cavity by a flexible tether extending between the seal housing and a proximal portion of the flexible retractor to position a distal end of the surgical instrument in the body cavity. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification