Apparatus and method for protecting a port site opening in the wall of a body cavity

• US 5,951,588 A
• Filed: 10/21/1997
• Issued: 09/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Red Dragon Innovations, LLC (2S Ventures, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Stephen P. Moenning
• Inventors: Moenning, Stephen P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, THUY D
• Application Number:
  US08/955,256
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 606/213, 606/214, 606/191, 606/198, 604/96, 604/97, 604/98, 604/104
• US Class Current: 606/213
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3423 Access ports, e.g. toroid shape introducers for instruments or hands access sites for liquids A61M39/0247
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3431 being collapsible, e.g. made of thin flexible material A61B17/3423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3419 Sealing means between cannula and body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3484 Anchoring means, e.g. spreading-out umbrella-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3492 against the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0815 Implantable devices for insertion in between organs or other soft tissues
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/40 Apparatus fixed or close to patients specially adapted for providing an aseptic surgical environment

Abstract

A medical apparatus includes a trocar assembly including a cannula and a trocar, wherein (1) the cannula has a lumen defined therein, (2) the trocar is positionable between a first trocar position and a second trocar position, (3) the trocar is positioned within the lumen of the cannula when the trocar is positioned at the first trocar position, and (4) the trocar is completely removed from the lumen of the cannula when the trocar is positioned at the second trocar position. The medical apparatus also includes a sleeve having a passageway extending therethrough, and a number of sealing members extending therefrom, wherein (1) the cannula is positionable between a first cannula position and a second cannula position, (2) the cannula is positioned within the passageway of the sleeve when the cannula is positioned at the first cannula position, and (3) the cannula is completely removed from the passageway of the sleeve when the cannula is positioned at the second cannula position. A medical procedure utilizing the medical apparatus is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A medical apparatus positionable within an opening in a wall of a body cavity, comprising:

a trocar assembly including a cannula and a trocar, wherein (1) said cannula has a lumen defined therein, (2) said trocar is positionable between a first trocar position and a second trocar position, (3) said trocar is positioned within said lumen of said cannula when said trocar is positioned at said first trocar position, and (4) said trocar is completely removed from said lumen of said cannula when said trocar is positioned at said second trocar position; and

a sleeve having a passageway extending therethrough, and a number of sealing members extending therefrom, wherein (1) said sealing members are movable between (a) an first orientation in which said sealing members are positioned to facilitate advancement of said sleeve into said opening and (b) a second orientation in which said sealing members are positioned in contact with an interior surface of said wall of said body cavity which surrounds a space defined between said opening of said body cavity and said sleeve, (2) said cannula is positionable between a first cannula position and a second cannula position, (3) said cannula is positioned within said passageway of said sleeve when said cannula is positioned at said first cannula position, (4) said cannula is completely removed from said passageway of said sleeve when said cannula is positioned at said second cannula position, (5) said cannula is movable between said first cannula position and said second cannula position when said sealing members are positioned in said second orientation, and (6) said sealing members are movable between said first orientation and said second orientation when said cannula is positioned within said passageway of said sleeve.

2. The medical apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a gasket interposed between said cannula and said sleeve when said cannula is positioned at said first cannula position such that a seal is formed between said cannula and said sleeve.

3. The medical apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said sleeve has a distal end and said sealing members extend therefrom.

4. The medical apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said sealing members have a first end portion which is attached to a sleeve sidewall, and

said sealing members further have a second end portion which are configured to define an orifice when said sealing members are positioned at said first orientation.

5. The medical apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an actuator for controlling movement of said sealing members between said first orientation and said second orientation.

6. A medical apparatus, comprising:

a trocar assembly including a cannula and a trocar, wherein (1) said cannula has a lumen defined therein, (2) said trocar is positionable between a first trocar position and a second trocar position, (3) said trocar is positioned within said lumen of said cannula when said trocar is positioned at said first trocar position, and (4) said trocar is completely removed from said lumen of said cannula when said trocar is positioned at said second trocar position;

a sleeve having a passageway extending therethrough, and a number of sealing members extending therefrom, wherein (1) said cannula is positionable between a first cannula position and a second cannula position, (2) said cannula is positioned within said passageway of said sleeve when said cannula is positioned at said first cannula position, (3) said cannula is completely removed from said passageway of said sleeve when said cannula is positioned at said second cannula position, (4) said sleeve is positionable within an opening defined in a wall of a body cavity, (5) said sealing members are movable between (a) a first orientation in which said sealing members are positioned to facilitate advancement of said sleeve into said opening, and (b) a second orientation in which said sealing members are positioned in contact with an interior surface of said wall of said body cavity which surrounds a space defined between said opening of said body cavity and said sleeve; and

an actuator for controlling movement of said sealing members between said first orientation and said second orientation,

wherein said actuator includes a guide member positionable at (1) a first position in which said sealing members are maintained in said first orientation, and (2) a second position in which said sealing members are allowed to assume said second orientation.

7. The medical apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

said actuator further includes a handle connected to said guide member.

8. A medical procedure, comprising the steps of:

creating an opening in a wall of a body cavity;

advancing a medical apparatus through said opening and into said body cavity, said medical apparatus including (1) a sleeve having a number of sealing members connected thereto and a passageway extending therethrough, (2) a trocar assembly positioned within said passageway of said sleeve, said trocar assembly including a cannula and a trocar, wherein (a) said sealing members are movable between (i) an first orientation in which said sealing members are positioned to facilitate advancement of said sleeve into said opening and (ii) a second orientation in which said sealing members are positioned in contact with an interior surface of said wall of said body cavity which surrounds a space defined between said opening of said body cavity and said sleeve (b) said cannula is completely removable from said passageway of said sleeve when said sealing members are positioned in said second orientation, (c) said cannula has a lumen defined therein, (d) said trocar is completely removable from said lumen of said cannula, and (e) said sealing members are movable between said first orientation and said second orientation when said cannula is positioned within said passageway of said sleeve; and

positioning said sealing members in said second orientation.

9. The medical procedure of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

moving said cannula in an axial direction relative to said sleeve while (1) said cannula is positioned within said passageway of said sleeve and (2) said sealing members are in contact with said interior surface of said body cavity.

10. The medical procedure of claim 8, wherein:

said advancing step includes the step of simultaneously advancing said sleeve and said trocar assembly through said opening and into said body cavity.

11. The medical procedure of claim 8, wherein:

said advancing step includes the step of maintaining said sealing members at a first orientation which facilitates advancement of said sleeve through said opening and into said body cavity.

12. The medical procedure of claim 11, wherein:

said positioning step includes the step of moving said sealing members from said first orientation to a second orientation, and

when said sealing members are positioned at said second orientation, said sealing members are positioned to prevent fluid communication between an area inside of said body cavity and an area outside of said body cavity through a space defined between said opening of said body cavity and said sleeve.

13. The medical procedure of claim 12, wherein:

said advancing step further includes the step of positioning a guide member at a first position so that said sealing members are maintained in said first orientation; and

said positioning step further includes the step of moving said guide member from said first position to a second position so that said sealing members are allowed to assume said second orientation.

14. The medical procedure of claim 8, wherein:

said creating step includes the step of creating said opening in said wall of said body cavity with said trocar.

15. The medical procedure of claim 8, wherein:

said medical apparatus further includes a bearing member secured to an interior sidewall of said sleeve such that said bearing member contacts said cannula when said cannula is positioned within said passageway of said sleeve, and

said bearing member forms a seal between said interior sidewall of said sleeve and said cannula so as to prevent fluid communication between an area inside of a body cavity and an area outside of said body cavity through a space defined between said sleeve and said cannula.

16. A medical procedure, comprising the steps of:

creating an opening in a wall of a body cavity;

advancing a medical apparatus through said opening and into said body cavity, said medical apparatus including (1) a sleeve having a number of sealing members connected thereto and a passageway extending therethrough, (2) a trocar assembly positioned within said passageway of said sleeve, said trocar assembly including a cannula and a trocar, wherein (a) said cannula is completely removable from said passageway of said sleeve, (b) said cannula has a lumen defined therein, and (c) said trocar is completely removable from said lumen of said cannula;

positioning said sealing members to contact an interior surface of said body cavity; and

completely removing said trocar from said lumen of said cannula while said sleeve remains positioned within said opening in said wall of said body cavity.

17. A medical procedure, comprising the steps of:

creating an opening in a wall of a body cavity;

advancing a medical apparatus through said opening and into said body cavity, said medical apparatus including (1) a sleeve having a number of sealing members connected thereto and a passageway extending therethrough, (2) a trocar assembly positioned within said passageway of said sleeve, said trocar assembly including a cannula and a trocar, wherein (a) said cannula is completely removable from said passageway of said sleeve, (b) said cannula has a lumen defined therein, and (c) said trocar is completely removable from said lumen of said cannula;

positioning said sealing members to contact an interior surface of said body cavity; and

completely removing said cannula from said passageway of said sleeve while said sleeve remains positioned within said opening in said wall of said body cavity.

18. A medical apparatus, comprising:

a trocar assembly including a cannula and a trocar, wherein (1) said cannula has a lumen defined therein, and (2) said trocar is completely removable from said lumen of said cannula; and

a sleeve having a passageway extending therethrough and a number of sealing members extending therefrom, wherein (1) said sealing members are movable between (a) an first orientation in which said sealing members are positioned to facilitate advancement of said sleeve into an opening defined in a wall of a body cavity, and (b) a second orientation in which said sealing members are positioned to prevent fluid communication between an area inside of said body cavity and an area outside of said body cavity through a space defined between said opening in said wall of said body cavity and said sleeve, (2) said cannula is completely removable from said sleeve when said sealing members are positioned in said second orientation, and (3) said sealing members are movable between said first orientation and said second orientation when said cannula is positioned within said passageway of said sleeve.

19. The medical apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a bearing member secured to an interior sidewall of said sleeve such that said bearing member contacts said cannula when said cannula is positioned within said passageway of said sleeve, wherein:

said bearing member forms a seal between said interior sidewall of said sleeve and said cannula so as to prevent fluid communication between an area inside of said body cavity and an area outside of said body cavity through a second space defined between said sleeve and said cannula.