Seal for trocar

• US 5,865,807 A
• Filed: 07/23/1997
• Issued: 02/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph W. Blake III
• Original Assignee: Joseph W. Blake III
• Inventors: Blake, Joseph W. III
• Primary Examiner(s): YASKO JR, JOHN D
• Application Number:
  US08/898,926
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 604/161, 604/164, 604/167, 604/169
• US Class Current: 604/167.06
• 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 17/3474 Insufflating needles, e.g. Veress needles
• 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 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

A sealing arrangement for trocar tubes including an upper ring seal forming the primary seal, and a lower seal valve forming the secondary seal. Both seals form part of a valve system which can be positioned within a removable cartridge. The seal valve is elastomeric in tubular form for passing instruments and is provided with upper and lower flanges for placement within the trocar. The intermediate portion of the valve between the flanges is in the general form of converging and diverging frusto-conical sections which join along a sealing line. A seal is formed between the interior wall surfaces of the valve and the instrument present in the trocar tube. Peritoneal pressure is admitted to the trocar head or housing for pressing the valve in forming the desired seal. With the instrument removed, the valve walls engage each other along the seal line to form the desired seal. The valve walls are layered with hydrogel and a microencapsulated liquid coating substantially extending the shelf-life of the valve, providing lubricity for the valve surface, and improving the sealing characteristic of the base elastomer of the valve body.

Claims

1. A seal for instruments in the central passage of a trocar, the seal comprising upper and lower peripheral rims joined by in air tight tube, the tube portion of the seal between the rims being in the general form of upper converging and lower diverging planar wall sections which meet along a diametric sealing line defined by touching interior surfaces of the planar wall sections, the lower planar walls comprising return planar walls which protect the integrity of the diametric sealing line by resisting the tendency of instruments to disturb the seal line by inverting the upper planar walls when instruments pass through the seal.

2. A seal for instruments in the central passage of a trocar, the seal comprising upper and lower peripheral rims joined by a generally cylindrical air tight tube, the tube portion of the seal between the rims being in the general form of upper converging and lower diverging planar wall sections which meet along a diametric sealing line defined by touching interior surfaces of the planar wall sections the lower planar walls comprising return panels which protect the integrity of the seal line by resisting the tendency of instruments to disturb the seal line by inverting the upper planar walls when passing through the seal valve, and a protective insert having a peripheral rim and a depending truncated skirt placed within the seal with its skirt protecting the sidewalls of the seal against puncture, and acting as a guide for directing instruments with tips to pass axially through the trocar and seal without puncturing the seal.

3. A sealing valve for a trocar comprising upper and lower peripheral rims joined by a generally cylindrical air tight tube, the tube portion of the valve between the rims being in the general form of upper converging and lower diverging planar wall sections which meet along a diametric sealing line defined by touching interior surfaces of the planar wall sections, the lower planar walls comprising return panels which protect the integrity of the seal line by resisting the tendency of instruments to disturb the seal line by inverting the upper planar walls when passing through the seal valve.

4. A seal for a trocar housing having a first opening and a central passage, the seal comprising a one-piece molding defining a primary seal and a secondary seal positioned in the housing encompassing the central passage, the primary seal positioned in the housing around the first opening, the secondary seal being attached to and depending from the primary seal and defined by a generally cylindrical air tight tube terminating in a lower peripheral rim, the tube portion of the secondary seal being in the general form of upper converging and lower diverging planar wall sections which meet along a diametric sealing line defined by touching interior surfaces of the planar wall sections the lower planar walls comprising return planar walls which protect the integrity of the seal line by resisting the tendency of instruments to disturb the seal line by inverting the upper planar walls when passing through the seal.

5. A seal arrangement for instruments in the central passage of a trocar, the seal arrangement comprising:

a primary seal including a peripheral rim, and a radially extending annular sealing web having a central aperture of a diameter less than that of instruments passing the trocar central passage, and

a secondary seal having upper and lower peripheral rims joined by an air tight tube, the tube portion of the seal between the rims being in the general form of upper converging and lower diverging planar wall sections which meet along a diametric sealing line defined by touching interior surfaces of the planar wall sections, the lower planar walls comprising return planar walls which protect the integrity of the diametric sealing line by resisting the tendency of instruments to disturb the seal line by inverting the upper planar walls when instruments pass through the seal.