Trocar assembly

• US 5,993,471 A
• Filed: 10/22/1997
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Erol D. Riza
• Original Assignee: Erol D. Riza
• Inventors: Riza, Erol D., Gaya, Cosme Ribe
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRINH, HOA B
• Application Number:
  US08/955,735
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 606/185, 604/164, 604/167, 604/169, 604/264
• US Class Current: 606/185
• 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 2017/349 Trocar with thread on outside

Abstract

A trocar assembly for use in minimally invasive surgery including a housing having an opening formed therethrough and adapted to receive a selected surgical instrument therein. Positioned within the housing is a split seal having a slit extending therethrough. The split seal maintains a seal through the opening of the housing when a surgical instrument is not inserted through the bore of the sleeve. Also positioned within the housing is a seal assembly having a plurality of sealing structures effective to maintain a seal between the housing and a surgical instrument inserted through the bore of the sleeve, such that the plurality of seals accommodate and seal against surgical instruments having different diameters.

Claims

1. A trocar assembly comprising:

a housing having an opening formed therethrough and adapted to receive a surgical instrument therein, said housing defining a distal portion;

a sleeve defining a proximal portion removably fastened to said distal portion of said housing, said sleeve having a bore aligned with said opening in said housing, which bore is adapted to receive the surgical instrument;

a split seal positioned within said housing, said split seal having a slit extending therethrough, said split seal effective to maintain a seal through said opening of said housing when a surgical instrument is not inserted through said opening of said housing; and

a seal assembly positioned within said housing, said seal assembly having a plurality of sealing structures effective to maintain a seal between said housing and surgical instruments of differing diameters which may be inserted through said opening of said housing.

2. The trocar assembly defined in claim 1, wherein said seal assembly includes first and second seals, the combination of said first and second seals effective to maintain a seal between said housing and a surgical instrument inserted through said opening of said housing, said first seal being adapted to maintain a seal between a surgical instrument of a first diameter and said housing, said second seal being adapted to maintain a seal between a surgical instrument of a second diameter and said housing, wherein the first and second diameters are different.

3. The trocar assembly defined in claim 2, wherein said first and second seals are positioned within said housing such that a surgical instrument which is inserted through said opening of said housing is inserted through both said first and second seals.

5. The trocar assembly defined in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a flange extending radially outwardly therefrom, said sleeve having radially inwardly extending finger portions formed thereon which engage said flange of said housing to fasten said housing to said sleeve.

6. The trocar assembly defined in claim 5, wherein said flange of said housing has radially inwardly extending flats formed therein, said housing being removably fastened to said sleeve by rotationally aligning said flats with said finger portions to disengage said finger portions with said flange.

7. The trocar assembly defined in claim 1, wherein said sleeve includes a tubular wall defining said bore, said tubular wall having a pair of opposed slots formed therethrough.

8. The trocar assembly defined in claim 1, wherein said sleeve has a plurality of stems extending radially outwardly from said sleeve, said plurality of stems being adapted to retain an end of a suture.

4. A trocar assembly comprising:

a housing having an opening formed therethrough and adapted to receive a surgical instrument therein, said opening formed through said housing defines an axis through said housing;

a split seal positioned within said housing, said split seal having a slit extending therethrough, said split seal effective to maintain a seal through said opening of said housing when a surgical instrument is not inserted through said opening of said housing; and

a seal assembly positioned within said housing, said seal assembly having a plurality of sealing structures effective to maintain a seal between said housing and surgical instruments of differing diameters which may be inserted through said opening of said housing, said seal assembly including;

a ball rotatable mounted within said housing and movable to first and second operating positions, said ball defining first and second bores extending through said ball, said first bore being in axial alignment with said opening of said housing when said ball is in said first operating position, said second bore being in axial alignment with said opening of said housing when said ball is in said second operating position;

a first seal positioned within said first bore of said ball and adapted to maintain a seal between said housing and a surgical instrument having a first diameter which is inserted through said first bore of said ball; and

a second seal positioned within said second bore of said ball and adapted to maintain a seat between said housing and a surgical instrument having a second diameter, different fiom said first diameter, which is inserted through said second bore of said ball.

9. A trocar assembly comprising:

a housing having an opening formed therethrough and adapted to receive a selected surgical instrument therein; and

first and second seals positioned within said housing, the combination of said first and second seals effective to maintain a seal between said housing and a surgical instrument inserted through said opening of said housing, said first seal being adapted to maintain a seal between said housing and a surgical instrument having a first diameter, said second seal being adapted to maintain a seal between said housing and a surgical instrument having a second diameter, wherein the first and second diameters are different.

10. The trocar assembly defined in claim 9, wherein said first and second seals are positioned within said housing such that a surgical instrument which is inserted through said trocar assembly is inserted through both said first and second seals.

11. The trocar assembly defined in claim 9, wherein said second seal has a slit partially extending therethrough thereby defining first and second lips formed in said second seal.

12. The trocar assembly defined in claim 11, wherein said second seal has a radially inwardly extending circumferential annular bead, said bead having a different sized opening than said first seal, said first seal being adapted to maintain a seal between said housing and a surgical instrument of a first diameter inserted through said first seal, said bead of said second seal being adapted to maintain a seal between said housing and a surgical instrument of a second diameter inserted through said second seal, wherein the first and second diameters are different.

13. The trocar assembly defined in claim 9, wherein said second seal has a proximal end and a distal end, said second seal comprising:

a flange extending radially outwardly from said proximal end of said second seal;

a distal portion located at said distal end of said second seal;

an intermediate portion positioned between said flange and said distal portion; and

a circumferential bead extending radially inwardly from said intermediate portion, said second seal having a slit formed through said intermediate portion and said distal portion, thereby defining first and second lips.

14. The trocar assembly defined in claim 13, wherein a circumferential groove is formed on the outer surface of said second seal between said intermediate portion and said distal portion, said groove being adjacent said bead.

15. The trocar assembly defined in claim 9, wherein said opening formed through said housing defines an axis through said housing, said trocar assembly further including a sleeve fastened to said housing, said sleeve having a bore formed therethrough in axial alignment with said opening of said housing.

16. The trocar assembly defined in claim 9, wherein said sleeve is removably fastened to said housing.

17. The trocar assembly defined in claim 15 further including a third seal positioned between said sleeve and said housing, said third seal providing sealing between said housing and said sleeve when said housing is fastened to said sleeve.

18. A trocar assembly comprising:

a housing having an opening formed therethrough, said opening defining an axis through said housing;

a ball rotatably mounted within said housing and movable to first and second operating positions, said ball having first and second bores extending through said ball, said first bore being in axial alignment with said opening of said housing when said ball is in said first operating position, said second bore being in axial alignment with said opening of said housing when said ball is in said second operating position;

a first seal positioned within said first bore of said ball and adapted to maintain a seal between said housing and a surgical instrument having a first diameter which is inserted through said first bore of said ball and said first seal; and

a second seal positioned within said second bore of said ball and adapted to maintain a seal between said housing and a surgical instrument having a second diameter, different from said first diameter, which is inserted through said second bore of said ball and said second seal.

19. The trocar assembly defined in claim 18 further including a seal engaging the outer surface of said ball to maintain a seal between said ball and said housing.

20. The trocar assembly defined in claim 18, wherein said first bore extends through said ball at an angle of about 90 degrees from said second bore.

21. The trocar assembly defined in claim 18 further including a flap seal having a slit defined through a central portion thereof to form first and second flaps, said flaps being distally and inwardly extending and adapted to be urged together by pressurized gas in a distal portion of said trocar assembly.

22. The trocar assembly defined in claim 18, wherein said opening formed through said housing defines an axis through said housing, said trocar assembly further including a sleeve fastened to said housing, said sleeve having a bore formed therethrough in axial alignment with said opening of said housing.

23. The trocar assembly defined in claim 22, wherein said sleeve is removably fastened to said housing.

24. A trocar assembly comprising:

a housing having an opening formed therethrough and adapted to receive a surgical instrument therein;

a sleeve fastened to said housing, said sleeve having a bore aligned with said opening in said housing, which bore is adapted to receive the surgical instrument, said sleeve having a plurality of stems extending radially outwardly from said sleeve said plurality of stems being adapted to retain an end of a suture,

a split seal positioned within said housing, said split seal having a slit extending therethrough, said split seal effective to maintain a seal through said opening of said housing when a surgical instrument is not inserted through said opening of said housing; and

a seal assembly positioned within said housing, said seal assembly having a plurality of sealing structures effective to maintain a seal between said housing and surgical instruments of differing diameters which may be inserted through said opening of said housing.