Endoscopic portal for use in endoscopic procedures and methods therefor
First Claim
1. An endoscopic portal for establishing communication with an anatomical cavity through a wall of the cavity comprisingan elongate tubular portal sleeve for insertion through the cavity wall and having a distal end for positioning within the cavity and a proximal end for positioning externally of the cavity;
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Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscopic portal includes a portal sleeve for insertion through a cavity wall and a valve assembly coupled with the portal sleeve including a bladder having a valve passage therethrough for introduction of instruments of various sizes into the cavity, the bladder having walls forming the valve passage and being normally closed while permitting the valve passage to open to receive the instruments. The bladder is movable by contact with the instruments to move along with the instruments to maintain sealing contact of the bladder with the instruments.
341 Citations
9 Claims
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1. An endoscopic portal for establishing communication with an anatomical cavity through a wall of the cavity comprising
an elongate tubular portal sleeve for insertion through the cavity wall and having a distal end for positioning within the cavity and a proximal end for positioning externally of the cavity; - and
a valve assembly disposed adjacent said portal sleeve proximal end and including a bladder having a valve passage therethrough, said valve passage being normally closed and being variably opened by an instrument inserted in said portal sleeve through said valve passage, said bladder having walls forming said valve passage and movable by contact with the instrument to move along with the instrument as the instrument passes through said valve assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An endoscopic portal for establishing communication with an anatomical cavity through a wall of the cavity comprising
an elongate portal sleeve having a lumen therein for being inserted through the cavity wall to establish communication with the cavity; - and
a valve assembly coupled with said lumen in said portal sleeve and including a bladder having walls forming a valve passage allowing passage therethrough by an instrument to be introduced in the cavity, said bladder being filled with a material allowing said valve passage to be normally closed and to conform to the size of the instrument to sealingly contact instrument to prevent passage of fluid thereby, said bladder walls forming said valve passage being inverted by contact with the instrument as the instrument moves through said valve assembly. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of introducing an instrument through a wall of an anatomical cavity including the steps of
inserting the instrument in a valve passage through a bladder, the valve passage being formed by walls of the bladder to have a normally closed position; -
expanding the valve passage to accommodate the instrument while maintaining the valve passage in sealing contact with the instrument; and moving the walls of the bladder forming the valve passage by contact with the instrument and in response to movement of the instrument through the valve passage. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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Specification