Gas-tight seal accommodating surgical instruments with a wide range of diameters

• US 5,634,908 A
• Filed: 04/13/1995
• Issued: 06/03/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Applied Medical Resources Corporation (Applied Medical Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Origin Medsystems Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Loomas, Bryan E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rimell, Sam
• Assistant Examiner(s): Racunas, Robert V.
• Application Number:
  US08/422,129
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 604/167, 604/256
• US Class Current: 604/167.06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00137 End pieces at either end of the endoscope, e.g. caps, seals or forceps plugs
• 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 17/3498 Valves therefor, e.g. flapper valves, slide valves haemostasis valves A61M39/06; check valves A61M39/24
• 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: A61M 2039/0279 for introducing medical instruments into the body, e.g. endoscope, surgical tools
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0626 used with other surgical instruments, e.g. endoscope, trocar
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0673 comprising means actively pressing on the device passing through the seal, e.g. inflatable seals, diaphragms, clamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0686 comprising more than one seal
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/06 Haemostasis valves, i.e. gaskets sealing around a needle, catheter or the like, closing on removal thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0606 without means for adjusting the seal opening or pressure A61M39/0693 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0613 with means for adjusting the seal opening or pressure A61M39/0693 takes precedence

Abstract

A seal for use in a surgical instrument to provide a gas-tight seal with an instrument passed through the seal. The seal can form a gas-tight seal with an instrument having a diameter within a wide range of diameters. The seal comprises a seal body, an instrument seal, and a laterally-compliant seal mounting device. The seal body includes a bore through which the instrument is passed. The instrument seal is made of an elastic material and is disposed substantially perpendicular to the axis defined by the bore in the seal body. The instrument seal includes an instrument port through which the instrument is passed. The laterally-compliant seal mounting device mounts the instrument seal to the seal body, forms a gas-tight seal between the instrument seal and the seal body, and allows the instrument seal to move freely laterally in response to lateral movement of the instrument.

Claims

1. A seal for use in a surgical instrument to provide a gas-tight seal with an instrument passed through the seal, the instrument having a diameter in a wide range of diameters, the seal comprising:

a seal body including a bore wherethrough the instrument is passed, the bore defining an axis;

an instrument seal of an elastic material, the instrument seal being substantially perpendicular to the axis and including an instrument port wherethrough the instrument is passed;

a laterally-compliant seal mounting means for mounting the instrument seal to the seal body, for forming a gas-tight seal between the instrument seal and the seal body, and for allowing the instrument seal to move freely laterally in response to lateral movement of the instrument, wherein the laterally-compliant seal mounting means includes a rigid annulus and a laterally-compliant annulus disposed between the rigid annulus and the seal body, and wherein the instrument seal is attached to the rigid annulus with the instrument port inside the annulus; and

a lateral force transmitting means for transmitting a lateral force from the instrument directly to the laterally-compliant seal mounting means to move the instrument seal laterally with a reduced lateral force between the instrument and the instrument port.

2. A seal for use in a surgical instrument to provide a gas-tight seal with an instrument passed through the seal, the instrument having a diameter in a wide range of diameters, the seal comprising:

a seal body including a bore wherethrough the instrument is passed, the bore defining an axis;

an instrument seal of an elastic material, the instrument seal being substantially perpendicular to the axis and including an instrument port wherethrough the instrument is passed;

a laterally-compliant seal mounting means for mounting the instrument seal to the seal body, for forming a gas-tight seal between the instrument seal and the seal body, and for allowing the instrument seal to move freely laterally in response to lateral movement of the instrument; and

a lateral force transmitting means for transmitting a lateral force from the instrument directly to the laterally-compliant seal mounting means to move the instrument seal laterally with a reduced lateral force between the instrument and the instrument port.

3. A seal for use in a surgical instrument to provide a gas-tight seal with an instrument passed through the seal, the instrument having a diameter in a wide range of diameters, the seal comprising:

a seal body including a bore wherethrough the instrument is passed, the bore defining an axis;

a rigid mounting having a bore;

an instrument seal of an elastic material, the instrument seal including an instrument port wherethrough the instrument is passed, being substantially perpendicular to the axis, and being attached to the rigid mounting with the instrument port over the bore of the rigid mounting;

a compliant mounting disposed between the rigid mounting and the seal body; and

a lateral force transmitting means for transmitting a lateral force from the instrument directly to the rigid mounting to move the instrument seal laterally with a reduced lateral force between the instrument and the instrument port.

4. The seal of claim 3, wherein:

the lateral force transmitting means is mounted on the rigid mounting; and

the lateral force transmitting means comprises plural radially-acting means, disposed about the instrument port and biassed towards the instrument port, for contacting the instrument to transmit the lateral force from the instrument to the rigid mounting.