Stabilizer for a valve assembly for introducing instruments into body cavities

• US 5,389,081 A
• Filed: 05/18/1993
• Issued: 02/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Castro, Salvatore
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): VANOVER, PERRY
• Application Number:
  US08/063,255
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 251/212, 251/298, 354/226, 354/270, 354/272, 354/274, 604/30, 604/158, 604/164, 604/167, 604/169, 604/249, 604/256
• US Class Current: 604/167.03
• 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 2017/3464 with means acting on inner surface of valve or seal for expanding or protecting, e.g. inner pivoting fingers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/347 Locking means, e.g. for locking instrument in cannula

Abstract

A stabilizer assembly for supporting a surgical instrument passed through an insufflation cannula assembly. The stabilizer assembly includes a housing having an aperture formed therein to allow passage of surgical instruments therethrough. Also provided on the stabilizer assembly are separate rigid instrument support members which are selectively operable to apply rigid support to surgical instruments passed through the stabilizer assembly.

Claims

1. An insufflation trocar cannula comprising in combination:

a body having a cannula extending therefrom;

a valve assembly disposed in said housing; and

a stabilizer assembly including;

(a) housing means independent of the valve assembly having an aperture formed therein sufficient to allow passage of surgical instruments therethrough; and

(b) rigid instrument support means operatively mounted within said housing means and defining an orifice, for selectively applying rigid support to a surgical instrument inserted through said aperture wherein said orifice of said rigid instrument support means are infinitely adjustable over a predetermined range of motion to accommodate different surgical instruments each having a different diameter within said predetermined range;

whereby a surgeon can selectively apply said rigid support means to said instrument such that said instrument is substantially stabilized with respect to the valve assembly of said insufflation trocar cannula assembly.

2. An insufflation trocar cannula assembly comprising in combination:

a body having a cannula extending therefrom;

a valve assembly disposed in said body; and

a stabilizer assembly associated with said body, said stabilizer assembly including;

(a) housing means independent of the valve assembly having an aperture formed therein; and

b) rigid instrument support means defining an orifice and being operatively mounted within said housing means, for selectively applying rigid support to a surgical instrument inserted within an insufflation trocar cannula assembly wherein said orifice of said rigid instrument support means is infinitely adjustable over a predetermined range of motion to accommodate different surgical instruments each having a different diameter within said predetermined range; and

(c) actuating means operatively associated with said instrument support means whereby a surgeon can selectively apply said rigid support means to said instrument such that said instrument is substantially stabilized with respect to the valve assembly of said insufflation trocar cannula assembly.

3. An insufflation trocar cannula comprising, in combination:

a housing;

a valve assembly disposed in said housing; and

a stabilizer assembly associated with said housing, said stabilizer assembly including;

(a) a body portion defining an aperture of a predetermined size in communication with said passageway; and

(b) means operatively associated with said body portion, for selectively varying the size of said aperture in infinite increments up to said predetermined size.

4. An insufflation trocar cannula according to claim 3 wherein said selective varying means includes at least one movable rigid member slidably disposed within said body portion whereby upon selective movement of said rigid member, said aperture is partially covered by said rigid member thereby reducing the area in which said instrument may move with respect to said stabilizer assembly body portion.

5. An insufflation trocar cannula according to claim 3 wherein said selective varying means includes a pair of rigid members slidably mounted in said body portion in opposed sliding cooperation with respect to each other.

6. An insufflation trocar cannula according to claim 5 wherein said selective varying means further includes an actuating member operatively connected to each of said pair of rigid members, such that upon movement of said actuating member in a first direction, said pair of opposed rigid members move towards each other thereby reducing the size of said aperture and upon movement of said actuating member in a second direction, said pair of opposed rigid members move away from each other thereby enlarging the size of said aperture.

7. A valve assembly for use with surgical instruments to maintain a substantially fluid-tight seal during the introduction and presence of surgical instruments in said valve assembly while permitting manipulation of said instruments in a patient'"'"'s body, which comprises:

(a) a valve body defining a passageway therethrough;

(b) means mounted within said valve body, for sealing said passageway both prior to and while an instrument is inserted therein said sealing means defining a first aperture having a predetermined initial size; and

(c) a stabilizer assembly defining a second aperture of a predetermined size which communicates with said passageway, said stabilizer assembly including aperture varying means for selectively varying the size of said second aperture in a plurality of increments.

8. A valve assembly according to claim 7 wherein said selective aperture varying means includes at least one movable rigid member slidably disposed within said body portion, whereby upon selective movement of said rigid member, said second aperture is partially covered by said rigid member, such that the area in which said instrument may move with respect to said stabilizer assembly is reduced.

9. A valve assembly according to claim 7 wherein said selective aperture varying means includes a pair of rigid members slidably mounted in said body portion in opposed sliding cooperation with respect to each other.

10. A valve assembly according to claim 9 wherein said stabilizing assembly further comprises actuating means operatively connected to each rigid member of said pair of rigid members, for actuating movement of said rigid members, such that upon movement of said actuating means in a first direction, said pair of opposed rigid members move towards each other thereby reducing the size of said second aperture and upon movement of said actuating means in a second direction, said pair of opposed rigid members move away from each other, thereby enlarging the size of said second aperture.

11. A cannula assembly for use in a trocar assembly, said cannula assembly adapted to maintain a substantially fluid-tight seal between the inside of a patient'"'"'s body and the outside atmosphere, said cannula assembly comprising:

(a) an elongated sheath having a proximal end and a distal end;

(b) a valve housing defining a passageway therethrough and mounted near said proximal end of said elongated sheath;

(c) at least one valve means, positioned within said valve housing, configured and dimensioned to allow passage of a surgical instrument therethrough while providing a substantially fluid-tight seal both prior to insertion of said surgical instrument therein and after said surgical instrument is positioned therein; and

(d) a stabilizer assembly defining an aperture of a predetermined size, which is in communication with said passageway, said stabilizer assembly including aperture varying means for selectively varying the size of said stabilizer assembly aperture in infinite increments to accommodate different instruments having different diameters.

12. A cannula assembly according to claim 11, wherein said selective aperture varying means includes at least one movable rigid member slidably disposed within said body portion whereby upon selective movement of said rigid member said stabilizer assembly aperture is partially covered by said rigid member thereby reducing the area in which said instrument may move with respect to said stabilizer assembly.

13. A cannula assembly according to claim 11, wherein said selective aperture varying means includes a pair of rigid members slidably mounted in said body portion in opposed sliding cooperation with respect to each other.

14. A cannula assembly according to claim 13, wherein said stabilizer assembly further comprises actuating means operatively connected to each rigid member of said pair of rigid members, for actuating movement of said rigid members, such that upon movement of said actuating means in a first direction, said pair of opposed rigid members move towards each other, thereby reducing the size of said stabilizer assembly aperture and upon movement of said actuating means in a second direction, said pair of opposed rigid members move away from each other enlarging the size of said stabilizer assembly aperture.