Seal assembly for accommodating introduction of surgical instruments
First Claim
1. A seal assembly which comprises:
- (a) a housing;
(b) a resilient first gasket associated with said housing, said first gasket having an aperture formed therein for receiving surgical instrumentation;
an,(c) dilating means forming a passageway therethrough and having a continuous exterior face of fixed dimension associated with said housing for dilating said aperture of said first gasket;
wherein said first gasket and said dilating means are adapted for relative movement therebetween, said first gasket and said dilating means assuming a first position wherein said aperture of said first gasket is spaced from said dilating means and is adapted to receive surgical instrumentation of a first diameter with minimal insertion force, and assuming a second position wherein said aperture of said first gasket is stretched around said exterior face of said dilating means for receiving surgical instrumentation of a second diameter greater than said first diameter with minimal insertion force.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A seal assembly is provided which includes a housing and resilient first seal means associated with the housing. The first seal means is preferably a gasket having an aperture formed therein for receiving surgical instrumentation adapted to cooperate with a dilating means having an exterior face associated with the housing for dilating the aperture of the gasket. The first seal means and the dilating means are adapted for relative movement therebetween, the first seal means and the dilating means assuming a first position wherein the aperture of the first seal means is spaced from the dilating means and is adapted to receive surgical instrumentation of a first diameter with minimal insertion force, and assuming a second position wherein the aperture of the first seal means is stretched around the exterior face of the dilating means for receiving surgical instrumentation of a second diameter greater than the first diameter with minimal insertion force.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A seal assembly which comprises:
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(a) a housing; (b) a resilient first gasket associated with said housing, said first gasket having an aperture formed therein for receiving surgical instrumentation;
an,(c) dilating means forming a passageway therethrough and having a continuous exterior face of fixed dimension associated with said housing for dilating said aperture of said first gasket; wherein said first gasket and said dilating means are adapted for relative movement therebetween, said first gasket and said dilating means assuming a first position wherein said aperture of said first gasket is spaced from said dilating means and is adapted to receive surgical instrumentation of a first diameter with minimal insertion force, and assuming a second position wherein said aperture of said first gasket is stretched around said exterior face of said dilating means for receiving surgical instrumentation of a second diameter greater than said first diameter with minimal insertion force. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A seal assembly which comprises:
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(a) a housing; (b) resilient first seal means associated with said housing, said first seal means having an aperture formed therein for receiving surgical instrumentation; and (c) dilating means forming a passageway of fixed dimension therethrough and associated with said housing for dilating said aperture of said first seal means; wherein said first seal means and said dilating means are adapted for relative movement therebetween, said first seal means and said dilating means assuming a first position wherein said aperture of said first seal means is spaced from said dilating means and is adapted to receive surgical instrumentation of a first diameter with minimal insertion force, and assuming a second position wherein said aperture of said first seal means is stretched by said dilating means, for receiving surgical instrumentation of a second diameter greater than said first diameter with minimal insertion force. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A seal assembly which comprises:
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(a) a housing; (b) a seal member associated with said housing, said seal member having an aperture formed therein for receiving surgical instrumentation; and (c) an elongated tubular dilator member operatively associated with said seal member; wherein said seal member and said elongated tubular dilator are adapted for relative movement therebetween, said seal member and said elongated tubular dilator member assuming a first position wherein said aperture of said seal member is spaced from said elongated tubular dilator and is adapted to receive surgical instrumentation of a first diameter with minimal insertion force, and assuming a second position wherein said aperture of said seal member is stretched by said elongated dilator member to receive surgical instrumentation of a second diameter greater than said first diameter with minimal insertion force.
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Specification