Safety trocar penetrating instrument with safety shield having resilient legs

• US 5,676,681 A
• Filed: 12/04/1996
• Issued: 10/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inbae Yoon
• Original Assignee: Inbae Yoon
• Inventors: Yoon, InBae
• Primary Examiner(s): Thaler, Michael H.
• Application Number:
  US08/759,923
• Time in Patent Office: 314 Days
• Field of Search: 606/185, 604/164, 604/264, 604/272
• US Class Current: 606/185
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0233 Pointed or sharp biopsy instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3417 Details of tips or shafts, e.g. grooves, expandable, bendable; Multiple coaxial sliding cannulas, e.g. for dilating syringe needles A61M5/32; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3496 Protecting sleeves or inner probes; Retractable tips for protecting body piercing guide needles A61M25/0612
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3458 threaded
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/349 Trocar with thread on outside
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 of the patient or his organs

Abstract

A safety trocar penetrating instrument particularly useful in least invasive surgery includes a portal sleeve, a trocar disposed in the portal sleeve and having a sharp, solid, angled tissue penetrating distal end and a safety shield disposed in the portal sleeve and receiving the trocar, the safety shield being movable relative to the trocar between an extended position wherein a distal end of the safety shield protects the sharp tip and a retracted position exposing the sharp tip. The configuration of the distal ends of the trocar and the safety shield in the retracted position present a substantially continuous, angled surface for penetrating tissue. A hub receiving proximal ends of the trocar and safety shield includes a locking mechanism allowing the safety shield to be automatically or optionally locked in the extended position and permitting selective, releasable or automatic locking of the safety shield in the retracted position.

Claims

1. A safety trocar penetrating instrument comprising

an elongate, tubular portal sleeve having a distal end and a proximal end;

a housing coupled with said proximal end of said portal sleeve and having a valve therein for controlling fluid flow through said housing and said portal sleeve and for allowing passage of instruments therethrough;

a trocar disposed within said portal sleeve and having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a solid, distal end terminating at a sharp tip beyond said distal end of said portal sleeve for penetrating tissue;

a safety shield disposed between said portal sleeve and said trocar and having a proximal end and a distal end and being movable between an extended position with said safety shield distal end protruding distally of said trocar tip and a retracted position with said safety shield distal end disposed proximally of said trocar tip to expose said trocar tip;

a hub abutting said housing for receiving said proximal ends of said trocar and said safety shield, said trocar and said safety shield passing through said a valve in said housing;

bias means for biasing said safety shield toward said extended position and for permitting said safety shield to move proximally to said retracted position in response to a proximally directed force applied to said safety shield distal end, said bias means returning said safety shield to said extended position when the force applied to said safety shield distal end is removed; and

stop means for limiting proximal movement of said safety shield

wherein said trocar distal end includes a plurality of angled, flat sides joined at edges and said safety shield distal end includes a plurality of legs equal to said plurality of sides and having lateral edges aligned with said edges of said sides and wherein said legs taper distally along said sides to an apex disposed distally of said tip in said extended position, said legs being formed of a resilient, flexible material allowing said legs to expand outwardly from the trocar longitudinal axis in said retracted position.

2. A safety trocar penetrating instrument as recited in claim 1 wherein said stop means includes a portion of said legs configured to limit outward expansion of said legs in said retracted position.

3. A safety trocar penetrating instrument as recited in claim 2 wherein said bias means is formed by a portion of said legs.