Seal protection mechanism
First Claim
1. An access device having an axis extending between a proximal end and an opening distal end, and properties for facilitating introduction into the body of an instrument having a pointed distal tip, the device comprising:
- a housing having walls defining a channel extending through the device;
a valve disposed in the housing across the channel and adapted to form a seal around the instrument when the instrument is inserted into the channel;
the valve including inner portions defining an aperture to receive the instrument and outer portions extending radially outwardly of the inner portions;
means having a continuous, generally conical inner surface engageable by the instrument, and positioned between the instrument and at least the outer portion of the valve for isolating the valve from the pointed distal tip during insertion of the instrument;
the valve being formed of an elastomeric material; and
the isolating means being formed of a material having compliance less than that of the elastomeric material forming the valve in order to distribute the insertion forces along the valve.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An access device has an axis extending between a proximal end and an opposing distal end, and properties for facilitating introduction into the body of an instrument having a pointed distal tip. The device includes a housing having walls defining a channel extending through the device and a valve disposed in the housing across the channel and adapted to form a seal around the instrument. The valve includes inner portions defining an aperture to receive the instrument and outer portions extending radially outwardly of the inner portions. Means carried by the housing is positioned to be disposed between the instrument and at least the outer portion of the seal for isolating the seal from the pointed distal tip during insertion of the instrument.
480 Citations
24 Claims
-
1. An access device having an axis extending between a proximal end and an opening distal end, and properties for facilitating introduction into the body of an instrument having a pointed distal tip, the device comprising:
-
a housing having walls defining a channel extending through the device; a valve disposed in the housing across the channel and adapted to form a seal around the instrument when the instrument is inserted into the channel; the valve including inner portions defining an aperture to receive the instrument and outer portions extending radially outwardly of the inner portions; means having a continuous, generally conical inner surface engageable by the instrument, and positioned between the instrument and at least the outer portion of the valve for isolating the valve from the pointed distal tip during insertion of the instrument; the valve being formed of an elastomeric material; and the isolating means being formed of a material having compliance less than that of the elastomeric material forming the valve in order to distribute the insertion forces along the valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. An access device having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end, and properties for facilitating the introduction into the body of an instrument having a pointed distal tip, the device comprising:
-
a housing having walls defining a channel through the device; a septum valve disposed in the housing across the channel and adapted to form a seal around the instrument when the instrument is inserted into the channel; inner portions of the valve defining an aperture to receive the instrument; outer portions of the valve extending radially outwardly of the inner portions; and means formed of a generally non-compliant material and disposed between the instrument and at least the outer portion of the valve for funneling the pointed distal tip of the instrument toward the aperture in the septum valve. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A trocar adapted to facilitate introduction into a body of an instrument having a pointed distal tip, the trocar having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end and further comprising:
-
a housing having walls defining a channel through the trocar; a septum valve disposed in the housing across the channel and adapted to form a seal around the instrument when the instrument is inserted into the channel; the valve including lip portions defining a hole to receive the instrument, and outer portions extending radially outwardly of the lip portions; means disposed proximally of the valve for prestressing the valve in response to insertion of the instrument into the trocar, the prestressing means enlarging the hole of the valve prior to introduction of the instrument through the valve; and means having an expandable inner surface for funneling the prestressed hole to avoid substantial contact between the valve and the instrument as the instrument passes through the hole. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A trocar assembly having a channel defined along an elongate axis and adapted to receive an instrument having a particular cross-sectional dimension and a sharp distal tip, the trocar assembly comprising:
-
an elastomeric septum disposed in said channel and including portions defining an orifice having in a relaxed state a first cross-section area and in an expanded state a second cross-sectional area; means responsive to the particular dimension of the instrument for expanding said orifice to the second cross-sectional area; and means having a continuous, generally conical inner surface engagable by the instrument and positioned between the instrument and the septum for isolating the septum from the sharp distal tip of the instrument during insertion of the instrument.
-
-
24. A seal assembly adapted to receive an elongate object having a sharp distal tip, and to form a seal around the object, the assembly comprising:
-
a housing including first portions defining a channel extending through the housing and second portions defining a peripheral recess in the housing; a septum extending across the channel of the housing; portions of the housing defining a hole adapted to receive the object with the septum portions forming a seal around the object; actuation means movable within the peripheral recess of the housing for enlarging a hole in response to insertion of the object into the channel; and means having a continuous, generally conical inner surface engagable by the object, and positioned between the instrument and the septum for isolating the septum from the sharp distal tip of the object during insertion of the instrument.
-
Specification