Trocar seal/protector assemblies
First Claim
1. A trocar assembly for providing communication into an anatomical cavity, comprising:
- (a) a trocar tube defining an interior lumen having an open distal end portion and an open proximal end portion and further defining a long axis for accommodating axial movement of an elongate instrument of lesser cross-sectional dimension therethrough;
(b) a housing adjoining said proximal end portion of said trocar tube defining a chamber having open distal end portion and a proximal end portion that communicate with said lumen and permit axial movement of an elongate instrument therethrough;
(c) an elastomeric seal member positioned in said chamber for sealing said proximal end portion of said chamber, said seal member having an opening formed therein for permitting an elongate instrument to pass therethrough in sealing engagement therewith; and
(d) a seal/protector assembly positioned in said chamber adjacent to and proximally of said seal member in a facing relationship thereto for protecting said seal member as an elongate instrument moves axially through said seal member, said seal/protector assembly including at least two protector members positioned adjacent to and in alignment with one another along said long axis, each of said protector members having an integrally formed annular collar portion and at least one leaf portion formed integrally with said collar portion defining a living hinge portion at the intersection thereof about which said leaf portion is able to pivot distally and proximally, said leaf portions defining an opening therethrough in axial alignment with the opening in said seal member such that axial movement of an elongate instrument into contact with said leaf portions causes said leaf portions to pivot distally and thereby increase the size of the opening formed in said protector members to permit an elongate instrument to pass therethrough and then through the opening in said seal member without causing damage to said seal member.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Trocar assembly embodiments are disclosed that include a trocar tube and a housing defining a chamber adjoining a proximal end portion of the trocar tube. An elastomeric seal member is positioned within the chamber for sealing the chamber as an elongate instrument passes through an opening formed in the seal member. A seal/protector assembly is positioned in the chamber proximally of the seal member in facing relationship to the seal member. The protector assembly includes at least two axially aligned protector members, each of which has an annular collar portion and at least one leaf portion formed integrally with the collar portion so as to form a living hinge portion. The leaf portions define an opening therethrough in axial alignment with the opening in the seal member. Insertion of an elongate instrument into contact with the leaf portions causes them to pivot distally increasing the size of the opening formed thereby permitting the instrument to pass therethrough and through the opening in the seal member without causing damage to the seal member.
516 Citations
48 Claims
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1. A trocar assembly for providing communication into an anatomical cavity, comprising:
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(a) a trocar tube defining an interior lumen having an open distal end portion and an open proximal end portion and further defining a long axis for accommodating axial movement of an elongate instrument of lesser cross-sectional dimension therethrough; (b) a housing adjoining said proximal end portion of said trocar tube defining a chamber having open distal end portion and a proximal end portion that communicate with said lumen and permit axial movement of an elongate instrument therethrough; (c) an elastomeric seal member positioned in said chamber for sealing said proximal end portion of said chamber, said seal member having an opening formed therein for permitting an elongate instrument to pass therethrough in sealing engagement therewith; and (d) a seal/protector assembly positioned in said chamber adjacent to and proximally of said seal member in a facing relationship thereto for protecting said seal member as an elongate instrument moves axially through said seal member, said seal/protector assembly including at least two protector members positioned adjacent to and in alignment with one another along said long axis, each of said protector members having an integrally formed annular collar portion and at least one leaf portion formed integrally with said collar portion defining a living hinge portion at the intersection thereof about which said leaf portion is able to pivot distally and proximally, said leaf portions defining an opening therethrough in axial alignment with the opening in said seal member such that axial movement of an elongate instrument into contact with said leaf portions causes said leaf portions to pivot distally and thereby increase the size of the opening formed in said protector members to permit an elongate instrument to pass therethrough and then through the opening in said seal member without causing damage to said seal member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A trocar assembly for providing communication into an anatomical cavity, comprising:
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(a) a trocar tube defining an interior lumen having an open distal end portion and an open proximal end portion for accommodating axial movement of an elongate instrument of lesser cross-sectional dimension therethrough; (b) a housing adjoining said proximal end portion of said trocar tube defining a chamber having open distal end portion and a proximal end portion that communicate with said lumen and permit axial movement of an elongate instrument therethrough; (c) an elastomeric seal member positioned in said chamber for sealing said proximal end portion of said chamber, said seal member having an opening formed therein for permitting an elongate instrument to pass therethrough in sealing engagement therewith; and (d) a seal/protector assembly positioned in said chamber adjacent to and proximally of said seal member in a facing relationship thereto for protecting said seal member as an elongate instrument moves axially through said seal member, said seal/protector assembly including an inner protector member and an outer protector member positioned adjacent to and in axial alignment with one another, said inner and outer protector members having an integrally formed annular collar portion and at least one leaf portion formed integrally with said collar portion defining a living hinge portion at the intersection thereof about which said leaf portions are able to pivot distally and proximally, said leaf portions of said inner protector member being oriented with respect of said leaf portions of said outer protector member so that said leaf portions are not in axial alignment with one another, said leaf portions defining an opening therethrough in axial alignment with the opening in said seal member such that axial movement of an elongate instrument into contact with said leaf portions causes said leaf portions to pivot distally increasing the size of the opening formed in said protector members to permit an elongate instrument to pass therethrough and then through the opening in said seal member without causing damage to said seal member. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A seal/protector assembly for use in protecting an elastomeric seal member in a trocar assembly as an elongate instrument moves axially through the seal member, said seal/protector assembly comprising:
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at least two protector members positioned adjacent to and in axial alignment with one another; each of said protector members having an integrally formed annular collar portion and at least one leaf portion formed integrally with said collar portion defining living hinge portion at the intersection thereof about which said leaf portion is able to pivot; and said leaf portions defining an opening therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification