Valve seat for an insufflation cannula assembly

• US 5,053,016 A
• Filed: 03/02/1990
• Issued: 10/01/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Lander, Jack R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max
• Application Number:
  US07/488,628
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 604/158, 604/164, 604/165, 604/167, 604/171, 604/272-274, 251/298
• US Class Current: 604/256
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3498 Valves therefor, e.g. flapper valves, slide valves haemostasis valves A61M39/06; check valves A61M39/24

Abstract

A cannula assembly for use in conjunction with insufflatory surgical techniques includes a cannula, a housing mounted on one end of the cannula, and a flapper valve mounted in the housing. The flapper valve includes a valve seat which is situated at an opening formed in the housing, a valve plug which is adapted to engage the valve seat to form a substantially gas tight seal with the valve seat, and a support plate on which the valve plug is mounted and which is biased to pivot the plug into and out of engagement with the valve seat. The valve plug is movable on the support plate so as to be self-aligning with the valve seat when the plug and valve are in engagement.

Claims

1. A flapper valve for an insufflation cannula assembly, the cannula assembly including a cannula defining a cannula passage and a housing mounted on one end of the cannula and having an opening formed therein, the flapper valve being mounted in the housing of the assembly, the flapper valve comprising:

a valve seat within the housing opening, said valve seat being formed of a resilient flexible material and having an opening formed therein, said valve seat opening being bounded by a lip extending at least generally radially inwardly of said valve seat, at least a portion of said lip being of reduced thickness, said reduced thickness portion thereby being of greater flexibility than adjacent portions of said valve seat, said valve seat opening being in communication with the cannula passage and being adapted to allow a surgical instrument to pass therethrough and into the cannula passage;

a valve plate pivotally mounted in said housing, said valve plate having front and back faces, said front face of said valve plate being dimensioned and adapted to engage said resilient flexible lip of said valve seat, said valve plate including means for obstructing said opening in said valve seat by engagement with said lip of said valve seat in a manner to cause said lip to become resiliently flexed to thereby affect a substantially gas tight seal; and

biasing means for biasing said valve plate into engagement with said lip of said valve seat.

2. The flapper valve of claim 1, wherein said valve plate is substantially U-shaped.

3. The flapper valve of claim 1, wherein said valve seat engages and is maintained in position by a flange positioned within said housing.

4. The flapper valve of claim 3, wherein said valve seat engages said flange over an area sufficient to prevent gas leakage therebetween.

5. The flapper valve of claim 1, wherein said reduced thickness portion of said valve seat is adapted to conform to the shape of said obstructing means to form a substantially gas tight seal therewith.

6. A valve seat for use with a flapper valve assembly in an insufflation cannula assembly comprising:

a valve seat body formed of a resilient flexible material having an opening formed therein, said valve seat opening being bounded by a lip, at least a portion of said lip being of reduced thickness and extending at least generally radially inwardly of said valve seat body, said reduced thickness portion thereby being of greater flexibility than adjacent portions of said valve seat;

the flapper valve adapted to be moved from positions into and out of engagement at least with said reduced thickness portion of said valve seat, said flapper valve engaging said reduced thickness portion in a manner to cause said reduced thickness portion to become resiliently flexed to affect a substantially gas tight seal.

7. An insufflation cannula assembly comprising:

a cannula having opposite end portions;

a housing mounted at one end of the cannula, said housing having an opening formed therein;

flange means positioned within said housing adjacent said housing opening;

a valve seat positioned on said flange means, said valve seat having an opening formed therein, said valve seat opening being bounded by a resilient flexible lip, at least a portion of said lip being of reduced thickness and extending at least generally radially inwardly of said valve seat, said reduced thickness portion thereby being of greater flexibility than adjacent portions of said valve seat, said valve seat opening being in communication with the cannula passage and being adapted to allow a surgical instrument to pass therethrough and into the cannula passage;

a valve plate pivotally mounted in said housing, said valve plate having front and back faces, said front face of said valve plate being dimensioned and adapted to engage said lip of said valve seat, said valve plate including means for obstructing said opening in said valve seat by engagement with said lip of said valve seat in a manner to cause said lip to become resiliently flexed to thereby affect a substantially gas tight seal; and

biasing means for biasing said valve plate into engagement with said lip of said valve seat.

8. The insufflation cannula assembly of claim 7, wherein said lip of said valve seat is formed of a resilient material.