Side load tolerant instruments for use in laparoscopic surgery
First Claim
1. A side-load tolerant trocar instrument for use in laparoscopic procedures in a body cavity, the instrument comprising:
- an outer part, the outer part being elongate and bending lengthways when a lateral bending force is applied thereto, the outer part, when bent lengthways by the lateral bending force, including a laterally-displaced portion, wherein the outer part is straight in the absence of the lateral bending force; and
an inner part, the inner part being an elongate trocar, having a first length, and including a housed portion, the housed portion being part of the first length of the inner part, the housed portion being housed in, and being capable of moving freely axially relative to, the outer part, the housed portion of the inner part having a second length, and being shaped over at least part of the second length to accommodate the laterally-displaced portion of the outer part, wherein the housed portion of the inner part is straight in the absence of the lateral bending force.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A side-load tolerant instrument, comprising an outer part and an inner part, for use in laparoscopic procedures in a body cavity. The inner part is elongate and includes a housed portion, which is part of the length of the inner part. The outer part is elongate, houses the housed portion of the inner part, and permits the housed portion to move freely axially relative to it. The outer part bends lengthways when an external side load is applied to it. The outer part exerts an internal side load on the housed portion of the inner part to bend the housed portion lengthways to conform to the lengthways bending of the outer part. Side-load tolerance is provided by reducing the internal side load between outer part and the inner part resulting from the outer part bending lengthways in response to the external side load. The reduced internal side load reduces friction between the outer part and the inner part when the instrument is subject to the external side load. The inner part includes a lateral compliance device that reduces the internal side load required to bend the housed portion of the inner part to conform to lengthways bending of the outer part. Alternatively, the housed portion of the inner part may be shaped over at least part of its length to accommodate a laterally-displaced portion of the outer part that results from the lengthways bending of the outer part.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A side-load tolerant trocar instrument for use in laparoscopic procedures in a body cavity, the instrument comprising:
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an outer part, the outer part being elongate and bending lengthways when a lateral bending force is applied thereto, the outer part, when bent lengthways by the lateral bending force, including a laterally-displaced portion, wherein the outer part is straight in the absence of the lateral bending force; and an inner part, the inner part being an elongate trocar, having a first length, and including a housed portion, the housed portion being part of the first length of the inner part, the housed portion being housed in, and being capable of moving freely axially relative to, the outer part, the housed portion of the inner part having a second length, and being shaped over at least part of the second length to accommodate the laterally-displaced portion of the outer part, wherein the housed portion of the inner part is straight in the absence of the lateral bending force. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A side-load tolerant instrument for use in laparoscopic procedures in a body cavity, the instrument comprising:
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an inner part, the inner part being elongate, and having a length, and including a housed portion, the housed portion being part of the length of the inner part; and an outer part, the outer part being elongate, housing the housed portion of the inner part and permitting the housed portion of the inner part to move freely axially relative thereto, the outer part bending lengthways when a lateral external bending force is applied thereto, the outer part exerting a lateral internal bending force on the housed portion of the inner part to bend the housed portion of the inner part lengthways to conform to the lengthways bending of the outer part in response to the lateral external bending force, wherein the outer part is straight in the absence of the lateral external bending force; and
whereinthe housed portion of the inner part includes an elastic lateral compliance means for reducing the lateral internal bending force required to bend the housed portion of the inner part to conform to the lengthways bending of the outer part in response to the external bending force, wherein the housed portion of the inner part is straight in the absence of the lateral internal bending force. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A side-load tolerant trocar assembly, comprising:
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a trocar, the trocar being elongate, having a length and including a housed portion, the housed portion being part of the length of the trocar; and a trocar tube, the trocar tube being elongate, housing the housed portion of the trocar, and permitting the housed portion of the trocar to move axially relative thereto, the trocar tube bending lengthways when an external lateral bending force is applied thereto, wherein the trocar tube is straight in the absence of the external lateral bending force, the trocar tube exerting a lateral internal bending force on the housed portion of the trocar to bend the housed portion of trocar lengthways to conform to the lengthways bending of the trocar tube in response to the external lateral bending force; and
whereinthe housed portion of the trocar includes an elastic lateral compliance means for reducing the lateral internal bending force required to bend the housed portion of the trocar to conform to the lengthways bending of the trocar tube in response to the lateral external bending force, wherein the housed portion of the trocar is straight in the absence of the lateral internal bending force. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A side-load tolerant trocar assembly, comprising:
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a trocar tube, the trocar tube being elongate and bending lengthways when a lateral bending force is applied thereto, the trocar tube, when bent lengthways by the lateral bending force, including a laterally-displaced portion, wherein the trocar tube is straight in the absence of the lateral bending force; and a trocar, the trocar being elongate and having a first length, and including a housed portion, the housed portion being part of the first length of the trocar, the housed portion being housed in, and being capable of moving freely axially relative to, the trocar tube, the housed portion of the trocar having a second length, and being shaped over at least part of the second length to accommodate the laterally-displaced portion of the trocar tube, wherein the housed portion of the trocar is straight in the absence of the lateral bending force. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification