Sliding reducer seal for surgical trocar

• US 5,531,758 A
• Filed: 03/25/1994
• Issued: 07/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Smith, Richard C., Houser, Kevin, Mauch, Jeffrey, Stephens, Randy R., Uschold, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thaler, Michael H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, WILLIAM W
• Application Number:
  US08/217,991
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 606/184, 606/185, 604/164, 604/165, 604/167, 604/160, 604/161, 604/168, 604/169, 604/158, 604/159, 604/178, 604/264, 604/272, 604/51
• US Class Current: 606/185
• 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

Abstract

A reducer seal which fits within the cannula handle of the trocar. Contained on the reducer seal there is a seal retainer. Contained on the seal retainer there is a track and movable on the track there is a slide. The reducer track is attached to the trocar housing. The reducer seal retainer is attached to the slide and holds the reducer seal in place. The reducer slide then snaps onto the reducer track. In an "open" position the reducer slide is held away from an opening in the reducer. Detents on the reducer track hold the reducer in this position. Transverse motion moves the reducer into an active or "closed" position. The reducer seal slides into frictional engagement on the sealing surface of the reducer track. The reducer has a smaller diameter opening than the trocar cannula.

Claims

1. In combination:

a trocar cannula having a cylindrical opening with an inner diameter, and a cannula handle attached to said cannula, said cannula handle having a cylindrical opening extending therethrough; and

said handle having a proximal end containing a planar surface; and

a lip on the perimeter of said surface, said lip having a height extending from said surface in a proximal direction; and

said handle cylindrical opening extending through said planar surface; and

a reducer mechanism attached to said planar surface and slidable with respect thereto, said reducer mechanism having an opening with a smaller inner diameter than said opening in said cannula handle, and said reducer mechanism having a height extending from said lip surface in a proximal dimension said reducer height no greater than the height of said lip; and

wherein said reducer mechanism is removably attached to said handle.

2. The combination of claim 1 further containing a plurality of detents on said planar surface, wherein said reducer mechanism is able to be retained by said detents in a position wherein said handle opening and said reducer mechanism opening are not aligned.

3. The combination of claim 1 further containing a plurality of detents on said planar surface, wherein said reducer mechanism is able to be retained by said detents in a position wherein said handle opening and said reducer mechanism opening are aligned.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said cannula opening is between 1 mm-33 mm.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said reducer mechanism opening is between 1 mm-18 mm.

6. In combination:

a trocar cannula having a cylindrical opening with an inner diameter, and a cannula handle attached to said cannula, said cannula handle having a cylindrical opening extending therethrough; and

said handle having a proximal end containing a planar surface; and

said handle cylindrical opening extending through said planar surface; and

a reducer mechanism attached to said planar surface and slidable with respect thereto, said reducer mechanism having an opening with a smaller inner diameter than said opening in said cannula handle; and

a flip top mechanism attached to said reducer, said flip top having a plate with a cylindrical opening thereon, said cylindrical opening of said plate different than that of said reducer mechanism plate opening and said cannula handle opening.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said handle has a lip having a height extending from said planar surface in a proximal direction, and said reducer mechanism having a proximal direction less than said lip height.

8. The combination of claim 6 further containing a plurality of detents on said planar surface, wherein said reducer mechanism is able to be retained by said detents in a position wherein said handle opening and said reducer mechanism opening are not aligned.

9. The combination of claim 6 further containing a plurality of detents on said planar surface, wherein said reducer mechanism is able to be retained by said detents in a position wherein said handle opening and said reducer mechanism opening are aligned.

10. The combination of claim 6 wherein said cannula opening is between 1 mm-33 mm.

11. The combination of claim 6 wherein said reducer mechanism opening is between 1 mm-18 mm.

12. The combination of claim 6 wherein said flip top opening is between 1 mm-18 mm.

13. The combination of claim 6 wherein said flip top is capable of being latched to one of said reducer mechanism or said cannula handle.

14. The combination of claim 6 where reducer mechanism is removably attached to said handle.