Multiport trocar

• US 6,217,555 B1
• Filed: 01/14/1996
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Applied Medical Resources Corporation (Applied Medical Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Applied Medical Resources Corporation (Applied Medical Corporation)
• Inventors: Tangherlini, Vincent C., Hart, Charles C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Seidel, Richard K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAYNARD, JENNIFER J
• Application Number:
  US08/793,494
• Time in Patent Office: 1,920 Days
• Field of Search: 604/164, 604/165, 604/167, 604/169, 604/256, 604/167.01, 604/167.02, 604/167.03, 604/167.04, 604/167.06, 604/117, 604/164.01, 604/161, 604/158, 606/108, 128/DIG.26
• US Class Current: 604/167.01
• 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 2017/3445 used as instrument channel for multiple instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3449 whereby the instrument channels merge into one single channel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3466 for simultaneous sealing of multiple instruments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/26 Cannula supporters

Abstract

A trocar adapted to extend across the body wall into a body cavity, forming a seal around an instrument inserted through the trocar, comprises a cannula having a first axis extending between proximal and distal ends. A valve housing attached to the proximal end of the cannula forms a working channel with the cannula and includes a rigid housing portion and a flexible housing portion. First and second septum valves are formed in an end wall of the flexible housing portion and form separate valve sets with associated zero closure valves disposed within the valve housing. The valve sets are sized and configured accommodating different ranges of instrument diameters. The first and second septum valves are offset from the axis of the cannula in normal positions but are movable to positions more aligned with the axis of the cannula, due to elastomeric characteristics of the flexible housing.

Claims

1. An access device adapted to extend across a body wall into a body conduit or cavity and to form a seal around an instrument inserted through the device into the body conduit or cavity, the device comprising:

a cannula forming an elongate passage extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the cannula;

a valve housing disposed at the proximal end of the cannula;

a side wall of the valve housing having a fixed relationship with the cannula;

an end cap of the valve housing, having a floating relationship with the side wall of the valve housing;

a first valve set disposed relative to the housing and forming with the passage of the cannula a first working channel;

a first septum valve included in the first valve set and disposed along the first working channel;

a first zero closure valve included in the first valve set and disposed along the first working channel axially of the first septum valve;

a second valve set disposed relative to the housing and forming with the passage of the cannula a second working channel;

a second septum valve included in the second valve set and disposed along the second working channel;

a second zero closure valve included in the second valve set and disposed along the second working channel axially of the second septum valve; and

an elastomeric member having properties for flexibly supporting at least one of the first septum valve and the second septum valve relative to the housing in a floating relationship with the cannula.

2. The access device recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second zero closure valves is a double duck bill valve.

3. The access device recited in claim 1 wherein:

the cannula has a first axis;

the first septum valve has a second axis; and

the second axis of the first septum valve is offset from the first axis of the cannula.

4. The access device recited in claim 3 wherein:

the first zero closure valve has a third axis;

the second axis of the first septum valve is offset from the first axis of the cannula a first distance;

the third axis of the first zero closure valve is offset from the first axis of the cannula a second distance; and

the second distance is greater than the first distance.

5. A trocar assembly, including:

a cannula having a first axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end;

a valve housing fixed to the cannula at the proximal end of the cannula and forming with the cannula a working channel, the valve housing including a side wall having a fixed relationship with the cannula, and a rigid end wall having a floating relationship with the side wall;

a valve wall having first portions fixed to the end wall of the housing and disposed generally transverse to the axis of the cannula, the valve wall having elastomeric properties permitting movement of the valve wall in response to movement of the end wall;

a first septum valve included in the valve wall and having portions defining a first opening with a second axis;

a second septum valve included in the valve wall and having portions defining a second opening with a third axis; and

at least one of the second axis of the first septum valve and the third axis of the second septum valve being offset from the first axis of the cannula.

6. The trocar assembly recited in claim 5 further comprising:

means for coupling the valve wall to the floating end wall of the housing to permit the second axis of the first septum valve to move from a first position wherein the second axis of the first septum valve is offset from the first axis of the cannula, to a second position wherein the second axis of the first septum valve is aligned with the first axis of the cannula.

7. The trocar assembly recited in claim 5 wherein both the second axis of the first septum valve and the third axis of the second septum valve are offset from the first axis of the cannula.

8. The trocar recited in claim 5 wherein the first septum valve is a zero closure septum valve.

9. The trocar recited in claim 5 further comprising a third valve having zero closure characteristics and being disposed in the valve housing between the first septum valve and the cannula, the third valve forming with the first septum valve a valve set.

10. The trocar recited in claim 5 wherein the first septum valve is disposed generally in a first plane, the second septum valve is disposed generally in a second plane, and the first plane is generally coplanar with the second plane.

11. The trocar recited in claim 5 wherein the first septum valve and the second septum valve and the end wall of the housing are disposed generally in a common plane.

12. A trocar adapted to extend across a body wall into a body cavity, and to form a seal around an instrument inserted through the trocar into the body cavity, the trocar comprising:

a cannula having a first axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end;

a valve housing fixed to the cannula at the proximal end of the cannula and forming with the cannula a working channel, the valve housing including a side wall having a fixed relationship with the cannula, and a rigid end wall having a floating relationship with the side wall;

a septum valve disposed along the working channel of the trocar and forming an opening having a second axis, the septum valve being formed of an elastomeric material stretchable between a first natural position wherein the second opening of the septum valve is disposed with the second axis offset from the first axis and of the cannula and a second stretched position wherein the second axis of the septum valve is generally aligned with the first axis of the cannula; and

portions of the septum valve being fixed to the floating end wall of the housing to permit movement of the septum valve from the first natural position to the second stretched position without substantial deformation of the opening of the septum valve.

13. The trocar recited in claim 12 further comprising:

a zero closure valve forming a valve set with the septum valve;

the zero closure valve being disposed along the working channel between the septum valve and the cannula;

whereby

the instrument passing through the septum valve also passes through the zero closure valve prior to entering the cannula.

14. A trocar comprising:

a cannula having an elongate tubular configuration;

a housing defining with the cannula a working channel;

an end cap movable relative to the housing and forming with the housing a valve cavity;

a valve assembly disposed in the valve cavity and extending across the working channel;

first portions of the valve assembly disposed in sealing engagement with the housing;

second portions of the valve assembly disposed in a fixed relationship with the movable end cap;

third portions of the valve assembly disposed between the first portions and the second portions; and

the third portions of the valve assembly having elastomeric properties and being in tension to bias the movable end cap toward the housing.

15. The trocar recited in claim 14 wherein the third portions of the valve assembly bias the end cap into sliding engagement with the housing.

16. The trocar recited in claim 14 wherein:

the cannula has an axis; and

the end cap is movable relative to the housing in a plane generally transverse to the axis of the cannula.

17. The trocar recited in claim 16 wherein:

the housing is generally symmetrical about the axis of the cannula; and

the end cap is generally perpendicular to the axis of the cannula.

18. A trocar having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the trocar comprising:

a cannula having an elongate tubular configuration;

a housing defining with the cannula a working channel, the housing having a side wall, and a proximal surface disposed in a plane generally transverse to the axis of the trocar;

an end cap defining with the housing a valve cavity, the end cap being disposed in sliding engagement with the proximal surface of the housing in a plane generally transverse to the axis of the trocar;

a valve assembly disposed in the valve cavity and including a plurality of valve sets each having a septum valve and an associated zero-closure valve; and

portions of the valve assembly having a fixed relationship with the end wall to permit a predetermined one of the valve sets to be moved toward the axis of the trocar.

19. The trocar recited in claim 18 wherein the end cap is disposed generally in a plane and the plane of the end cap is generally perpendicular to the axis of the trocar.

20. The trocar recited in claim 18 wherein the valve assembly includes:

a first valve set sized and configured for operation with a first instrument having a first diameter; and

a second valve set sized and configured for operation with a second instrument having a second diameter different than the first diameter.

33. The trocar recited in claim 18, wherein:

the side wall has in axial cross-section a particular shape; and

the end wall has a shape similar to the particular shape of the side wall.

34. The trocar recited in claim 33, wherein the particular shape is generally circular.

35. The trocar recited in claim 34, wherein the side wall has a first diameter and the end wall has a second diameter not greater than the first diameter of the side wall.

21. A trocar having a proximal end and a distal end, the trocar comprising:

a cannula having a first axis and an elongate tubular configuration;

a housing defining with the cannula a working channel;

a side wall of the housing extending from the cannula and defining an opening of the housing at the proximal end of the trocar;

an end cap having a second axis and being disposed to cover the opening of the housing at the proximal end of the trocar, the end cap forming with the side wall of the housing a valve cavity; and

the end cap being movable transverse to the axis of the cannula from a first position wherein the second axis of the end cap is aligned with the first axis of the cannula, to a second position wherein the second axis of the end cap is displaced from the first axis of the cannula.

22. The trocar recited in claim 21 wherein:

the opening of the trocar is circular and has a first diameter;

the end cap is circular and has a second diameter; and

the second diameter of the end cap is greater than the first diameter of the opening to prevent the end cap from moving totally into the valve cavity.

23. The trocar recited in claim 22 wherein:

the end cap has a planar configuration and is disposed in sliding engagement with the side wall of the housing at the opening of the trocar.

24. The trocar recited in claim 23 wherein the second axis of the end cap is generally parallel to the first axis of the cannula.

30. The trocar recited in claim 22, wherein:

the housing has an outer surface with a third diameter; and

the second diameter of the end cap is equal to about the third diameter of the outer surface of the housing.

31. The trocar recited in claim 21, further comprising:

a projection having a fixed relationship with one of the housing and the end cap, the projection having properties for limiting further displacement of the second axis from the first axis when the end cap is disposed in the second position.

32. The trocar recited in claim 21 wherein:

the projection comprises an annular flange extending from the end cap into the valve cavity, the flange being movable with the end cap and being disposed in an interference relationship with the side wall when the end cap is in the second position.

25. A surgical access device, comprising:

a cannula having an elongate tubular configuration;

a housing defining with the cannula a working channel;

a side wall of the housing extending generally axially to an opening at the proximal end of the housing;

an end cap movable transversely of the housing and forming with the side wall of the housing a cavity;

at least one valve assembly disposed in the valve cavity, the valve assembly being movable with the end cap and having properties for deforming if the valve assembly is moved into contact with the side wall of the housing; and

a projection extending from the end cap, the projection being movable transversely with the end cap for inhibiting contact between the valve assembly and the side wall in order to prevent deformation of the valve assembly.

26. The access device recited in claim 25 wherein the at least one valve assembly comprises:

a radial wall at least partially forming a septum valve; and

an axial wall at least partially forming a zero closure valve.

27. The access device recited in claim 26 wherein:

the axial wall has an axial length; and

the partition extends axially substantially the entire length of the axial wall of the zero closure valve.

28. The access device recited in claim 27 wherein the partition extends around the at least one valve assembly generally equidistant from the axial wall of the zero closure valve.

29. The access device recited in claim 27 wherein:

the device further comprises a second valve set moveable with the end cap; and

the partition extends continuously around the first valve set and the second valve set.

36. A trocar having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the trocar comprising:

a cannula having an elongate tubular configuration;

a housing defining with the cannula a working channel, the housing having a side-wall with a proximal surface disposed in a plane generally transverse to the axis of the trocar;

an end cap having a circular configuration and being disposed in sliding engagement with the proximal surface of the housing, the end cap defining with the housing a valve cavity, and having a floating relationship with the housing so that the end cap is movable omni-directionally relative to the housing;

a valve assembly disposed in the valve cavity;

a plurality of valve sets, included in the valve assembly, each having a septum valve and an associated zero-closure valve; and

portions of the valve assembly having a fixed relationship with the end cap so that displacement of the end cap moves a predetermined one of the valve sets toward the axis of the trocar.

37. The trocar recited in claim 36, wherein the movement of the one valve set toward the axis of the trocar is a linear movement.

38. The surgical axis device recited in claim 38, wherein the projection is disposed between the valve assembly and the side wall.