Sleeve trocar with penetration indicator

• US 6,228,058 B1
• Filed: 12/10/1998
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Conmed Corporation (Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Core Dynamics, Inc. (Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Prosek, Michael E., Dennis, William G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kennedy, Sharon
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lam, Ann Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/209,225
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 604/164, 604/158, 604/118, 604/51, 604/48, 604/111, 604/160, 604/166, 604/168, 604/264, 604/272, 604/900, 606/167, 606/181, 606/185
• US Class Current: 604/164.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3401 Puncturing needles for the peridural or subarachnoid space or the plexus, e.g. for anaesthesia local anaesthesia A61M19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3474 Insufflating needles, e.g. Veress needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3494 with safety means for protection against accidental cutting or pricking, e.g. limiting insertion depth, pressure sensors for the peridural space A61B17/3401
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3496 Protecting sleeves or inner probes; Retractable tips for protecting body piercing guide needles A61M25/0612
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0811 for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument

Abstract

A sleeve trocar for piercing tissue to provide a conduit to an internal body cavity insufflated by gas includes a generally tubular sleeve member having a cutting edge and a passageway therethrough. An obturator assembly is telescopically disposed within the sleeve member with the obturator assembly having a moveable portion and a stationary portion, each obturator portion having a blunt face projecting beyond the cutting edge. The present invention also includes a penetration indicator assembly which provides an audible sound upon breach of a body cavity wall.

Claims

1. A sleeve trocar for piercing tissue to provide a conduit to an internal body cavity insufflated by gas, said trocar comprising:

a sleeve member having a generally tubular wall member defining a bore therethrough;

a cutting edge;

an obturator assembly telescopically disposed within said sleeve member, said obturator assembly including at least one movable obturator portion having a generally blunt tip, said at least one movable obturator portion being movable between a first position wherein said generally blunt tip projects beyond said wall member and a second position wherein said generally blunt tip is disposed interiorly of at least a portion of said cutting edge, and at least one stationary obturator portion having a face member, said least one stationary obturator portion being fixed relative to said sleeve member with said face member projecting beyond a portion of said wall member; and

means for biasing said at least one movable obturator portion into said first position;

wherein said cutting edge includes a sharp piercing tip formed thereon and said movable obturator portion projects beyond said piercing tip in said first position.

2. A sleeve trocar for piercing tissue to provide a conduit to an internal body cavity insufflated by gas, said trocar comprising:

a sleeve member having a generally tubular wall member defining a bore therethrough;

a cutting edge;

an obturator assembly telescopically disposed within said sleeve member, said obturator assembly including at least one movable obturator portion having a generally blunt tip, said at least one movable obturator portion being movable between a first position wherein said generally blunt tip projects beyond said wall member and a second position wherein said generally blunt tip is disposed interiorly of at least a portion of said cutting edge, and at least one stationary obturator portion having a face member, said least one stationary obturator portion being fixed relative to said sleeve member with said face member projecting beyond a portion of said wall member;

means for biasing said at least one movable obturator portion into said first position; and

a penetration indication assembly including a penetration indicator operatively associated with said sleeve member and at least one passageway formed in said obturator assembly in fluid communication with said penetration indicator to allow gas to flow from a pierced body cavity through said at least one passageway to actuate said penetration indicator.

3. A sleeve trocar according to claim 2 wherein said penetration indicator produces an audible signal responsive to gas from said body cavity passing therethrough to thereby indicate that a body cavity wall has been breached.

4. A sleeve trocar according to claim 3 and further comprising a handle formed on one end of said sleeve member and having a bore extending therethrough to form said penetration indicator, said bore being in fluid communication with said at least one passageway and configured to produce an audible signal responsive to gas from said body cavity passing therethrough to thereby indicate that a body cavity wall has been breached.

5. A sleeve trocar according to claim 2 wherein said penetration indication assembly includes a plurality of passageways formed about a periphery of said at least one movable obturator portion to form peripheral passageways, said peripheral passageways being formed by a combination of said tubular wall of said sleeve member and walls formed in said periphery of said at least one movable obturator portion.

6. A sleeve trocar according to claim 2 wherein said penetration indication assembly includes a plurality of passageways formed about a periphery of said least one stationary obturator portion to form peripheral passageways, said peripheral passageways being formed by a combination of said tubular wall of said sleeve member and walls formed in said periphery of said least one stationary obturator portion.

7. A sleeve trocar according to claim 2 wherein said penetration indication assembly includes a plurality of passageways formed about respective peripheries of said at least one movable obturator portion and said least one stationary obturator portion to form peripheral passageways, said peripheral passageways being formed by a combination of said tubular wall of said sleeve member and walls formed in said respective peripheries of said at least one movable obturator portion and said least one stationary obturator portion.

8. A sleeve trocar according to claim 2 wherein said plurality of passageways are formed as throughbores in said face member to extend through said face member and said stationary obturator portion in fluid communication with said bore formed in said sleeve member and said bore formed in said handle.

9. A sleeve trocar for piercing tissue to provide a conduit to an internal body cavity insufflated by gas, said trocar comprising:

a sleeve member having a generally tubular wall member defining a bore through said sleeve member;

an obturator assembly telescopically disposed within said sleeve member, said obturator assembly including at least one movable obturator portion having a generally blunt tip, said at least one movable obturator portion being movable between a first position wherein said generally blunt tip projects beyond said wall member and a second position wherein said generally blunt tip is disposed within said bore, and at least one stationary obturator portion having a face, said least one stationary obturator portion being formed as a plug member and fixed relative to said sleeve member with said face being formed on one end of said plug member with said face projecting beyond a portion of said wall member;

a spring disposed within said tubular sleeve member, said spring being fixed at one end to said at least one movable obturator portion with the other end fixed to a stop member formed within said sleeve member for biasing said at least one movable obturator portion outwardly beyond said wall member; and

a penetration indication assembly including a penetration indicator operatively associated with said sleeve member for producing an audible signal responsive to gas from said body cavity passing therethrough and at least one passageway formed in said obturator assembly in fluid communication with said penetration indicator to allow gas to flow from a pierced body cavity through said at least one passageway to actuate said penetration indicator to thereby indicate that a body cavity wall has been breached.

10. A sleeve trocar according to claim 9 wherein said sleeve member includes a cutting edge with a sharp piercing tip formed thereon and said movable obturator portion projects beyond said piercing tip in said first position.

11. A sleeve trocar according to claim 9 wherein said face member includes a smoothly contoured surface for smooth separation of tissue for enhanced ease of entry of said trocar into the body cavity.

12. A sleeve trocar according to claim 9 and further comprising a handle formed on one end of said sleeve member and having a bore formed therethrough to form said penetration indicator, said bore being in fluid communication with said at least one passageway and configured to produce an audible signal responsive to gas from said body cavity passing therethrough to thereby indicate that a body cavity wall has been breached.

13. A sleeve trocar according to claim 9 wherein said penetration indication assembly includes a plurality of passageways formed about a periphery of said at least one movable obturator portion to form peripheral passageways, said peripheral passageways being formed by a combination of said tubular wall of said sleeve member and walls formed in said periphery of said at least one movable obturator portion.

14. A sleeve trocar according to claim 9 wherein said penetration indication assembly includes a plurality of passageways formed about a periphery of said least one stationary obturator portion to form peripheral passageways, said peripheral passageways being formed by a combination of said tubular wall of said sleeve member and walls formed in said periphery of said least one stationary obturator portion.

15. A sleeve trocar according to claim 9 wherein said penetration indication assembly includes a plurality of passageways formed about respective peripheries of said at least one movable obturator portion and said least one stationary obturator portion to form peripheral passageways, said peripheral passageways being formed by a combination of said tubular wall of said sleeve member and walls formed in said respective peripheries of said at least one movable obturator portion and said least one stationary obturator portion.

16. A sleeve trocar according to claim 9 wherein said plurality of passageways are formed as throughbores in said face member to extend through said face member and said stationary obturator portion in fluid communication with said bore in said sleeve member and said bore in said handle.

17. A sleeve trocar for piercing tissue to provide a conduit to an internal body cavity insufflated by gas, said trocar comprising:

a sleeve member having a generally tubular wall member defining a bore through said sleeve member, a first end portion formed with a beveled cutting edge having a piercing tip formed thereon, and defining an aperture region for forming and defining an aperture in body cavity walls; and

an opposing second end portion;

an obturator assembly telescopically disposed within said sleeve member, said obturator assembly including an obturator head having a generally blunt tip, said obturator head being movable between a first position wherein said generally blunt tip projects beyond said piercing tip and a second position wherein said generally blunt tip is disposed within said bore, said obturator head being sized to occupy a predetermined portion of said aperture region leaving a remainder of said aperture region;

means for biasing said obturator head into said first position; and

an obturation face member fixed relative to said sleeve member with a portion of said obturation face member projecting beyond a portion of said cutting edge, said obturation face member being sized to occupy said remainder of said aperture region.

18. A sleeve trocar according to claim 17 wherein said obturator head is sized to occupy less than half of said aperture region.

19. A sleeve trocar according to claim 17 wherein said obturation face member includes a plug member fixedly disposed within said sleeve member with a face projection being formed on one end of said plug member and sized to project beyond a portion of said beveled cutting edge.

20. A sleeve trocar according to claim 19 wherein said face projection includes a smoothly contoured surface for smooth separation of tissue for enhanced ease of entry of said trocar into the body cavity.

21. A sleeve trocar according to claim 17 wherein said obturation face member is formed integrally with said sleeve member with a face projection sized to project beyond a portion of said beveled cutting edge.

22. A sleeve trocar according to claim 21 wherein said face projection includes a smoothly contoured surface for smooth separation of tissue for enhanced ease of entry of said trocar into the body cavity.

23. A sleeve trocar according to claim 17 and further comprising a penetration indication assembly including a penetration indicator operatively associated with said sleeve member and at least one passageway formed in said obturator head in fluid communication with said penetration indicator to allow gas to flow from a pierced body cavity through said at least one passageway to actuate said penetration indicator.

24. A sleeve trocar according to claim 23 wherein said penetration indicator produces an audible signal responsive to gas from said body cavity passing therethrough to thereby indicate that a body cavity wall has been breached.

25. A sleeve trocar according to claim 24 and further comprising a handle formed on said opposing end of said sleeve member and said penetration indicator is formed as bore extending through said handle in fluid communication with said at least one passageway and configured to produce an audible signal responsive to gas from said body cavity passing therethrough to thereby indicate that a body cavity wall has been breached.

26. A sleeve trocar according to claim 23 wherein said penetration indication assembly includes a plurality of passageways formed about a periphery of said obturator head to form peripheral passageways, said peripheral passageways being formed by a combination of said tubular wall of said sleeve member and walls formed in said periphery of said obturator head.

27. A sleeve trocar according to claim 23 wherein said penetration indication assembly includes a plurality of passageways formed about a periphery of said obturation face member to form peripheral passageways, said peripheral passageways being formed by a combination of said tubular wall of said sleeve member and walls formed in said periphery of said obturation face member.

28. A sleeve trocar according to claim 23 wherein said penetration indication assembly includes a plurality of passageways formed about respective peripheries of said obturator head and said obturation face member to form peripheral passageways, said peripheral passageways being formed by a combination of said tubular wall of said sleeve member and walls formed in said respective peripheries of said obturator head and said obturation face member.

29. A sleeve trocar according to claim 17 wherein said plurality of passageways are formed as throughbores in said face member to extend through said face member and said stationary obturator portion in fluid communication with said bore formed in said sleeve member and said bore formed in said handle.

30. A sleeve trocar according to claim 17 wherein said means for biasing said obturator head into said first position includes a spring disposed within said tubular sleeve member, said spring being fixed at one end to said obturator head with the other end fixed within said sleeve member for biasing said obturator head outwardly beyond said piercing tip.

31. A sleeve trocar for piercing tissue to provide a conduit to an internal body cavity insufflated by gas, said trocar comprising:

a sleeve member having a generally tubular wall member defining a bore therethrough;

a cutting edge;

an obturator assembly telescopically disposed within said sleeve member, said obturator assembly including at least one movable obturator portion having a generally blunt tip, said at least one movable obturator portion being movable between a first position wherein said generally blunt tip projects beyond said wall member and a second position wherein said generally blunt tip is disposed interiorly of at least a portion of said cutting edge, and at least one stationary obturator portion having a face member, said least one stationary obturator portion being fixed relative to said sleeve member with said face member protecting beyond a portion of said wall member; and

means for biasing said at least one movable obturator portion into said first position;

wherein said obturator assembly includes a conical stationary obturator portion fixed in said sleeve member and projecting outwardly therefrom, said conical stationary obturator portion being formed from at least two stationary obturator members in abutment with one another, extending a predetermined distance into said bore formed in said sleeve member and having a obturator passage formed therebetween with said movable obturator portion being disposed in said obturator passage for movement between said first and second positions.

32. A sleeve trocar according to claim 31 and further comprising a cutting edge formed on at least one of said stationary obturator members adjacent said passage in which said movable obturator is disposed.

33. A sleeve trocar according to claim 31 and further comprising a penetration indication assembly including a penetration indicator operatively associated with said sleeve member and at least one passageway formed in said obturator assembly in fluid communication with said penetration indicator to allow gas to flow from a pierced body cavity through said at least one passageway to actuate said penetration indicator.

34. A sleeve trocar according to claim 33 wherein said movable obturator portion includes said at least one passageway formed therein as at least one throughbore formed in fluid communication with said penetration indicator to allow gas to flow from a pierced body cavity through said at least one passageway to actuate said penetration indicator.

35. A sleeve trocar for piercing tissue to provide a conduit to an internal body cavity insufflated by gas, said trocar comprising:

a sleeve member having a generally tubular wall member defining a bore therethrough;

a cutting edge;

an obturator assembly telescopically disposed within said sleeve member, said obturator assembly including at least one movable obturator portion having a generally blunt tip, said at least one movable obturator portion being movable between a first position wherein said generally blunt tip projects beyond said wall member and a second position wherein said generally blunt tip is disposed interiorly of at least a portion of said cutting edge, and at least one stationary obturator portion having a face member, said least one stationary obturator portion being fixed relative to said sleeve member with said face member projecting beyond a portion of said wall member; and

means for biasing said at least one movable obturator portion into said first position;

wherein said obturator assembly includes a conical stationary obturator portion fixed in said sleeve member and projecting outwardly therefrom, said conical stationary obturator portion being formed from at least three obturator members in abutment with one another, extending a predetermined distance into said bore and having three obturator passages formed therebetween with said movable obturator portion being formed as three movable obturator members disposed in respective said obturator passages for movement between said first and second positions.

36. A sleeve trocar according to claim 35 and further comprising at least one cutting edge formed on at least one of said stationary obturator members adjacent at least one said passage in which said movable obturator is disposed.

37. A sleeve trocar according to claim 35 and further comprising a penetration indication assembly including a penetration indicator operatively associated with said sleeve member and at least one passageway formed in said obturator assembly in fluid communication with said penetration indicator to allow gas to flow from a pierced body cavity through said at least one passageway to actuate said penetration indicator.

38. A sleeve trocar according to claim 37 wherein said movable obturator portion includes said at least one passageway formed therein as at least one throughbore formed in fluid communication with said penetration indicator to allow gas to flow from a pierced body cavity through said at least one passageway to actuate said penetration indicator.

39. A sleeve trocar for piercing tissue to provide a conduit to an internal body cavity insufflated by gas, said trocar comprising:

a sleeve member having a generally tubular wall member defining a bore through said sleeve member;

an obturator assembly telescopically disposed within said sleeve member, said obturator assembly including a conical stationary obturator portion fixed in said sleeve member and projecting outwardly therefrom, at least one movable obturator portion having a generally blunt tip, said at least one movable obturator portion being movable between a first position wherein said generally blunt tip projects beyond said wall member and a second position wherein said generally blunt tip is disposed within said conical stationary obturator portion, wherein said conical stationary obturator portion being formed from at least two obturator members in abutment with one another, extending a predetermined distance into said passageway and having a obturator passage formed therebetween with said movable obturator portion being disposed in said obturator passage for movement between said first and second positions, said conical stationary obturator portion having a face member, said conical stationary obturator portion being formed as a two plug members, said face member being formed on one end of said plug member with said face projecting beyond a portion of said wall member;

a cutting edge formed on at least one of said stationary obturator members adjacent said passage in which said movable obturator is disposed;

a spring disposed within said tubular sleeve member, said spring being fixed at one end to said at least one movable obturator portion with the other end fixed to a stop member formed within said sleeve member for biasing said at least one movable obturator portion outwardly beyond said wall member; and

a penetration indication assembly including a penetration indicator operatively associated with said sleeve member for producing an audible signal responsive to gas from said body cavity passing therethrough and at least one passageway formed in said obturator assembly in fluid communication with said penetration indicator to allow gas to flow from a pierced body cavity through said at least one passageway to actuate said penetration indicator to thereby indicate that a body cavity wall has been breached.

40. A sleeve trocar according to claim 39 and further comprising a penetration indication assembly including a penetration indicator operatively associated with said sleeve member and at least one passageway formed in said obturator assembly in fluid communication with said penetration indicator to allow gas to flow from a pierced body cavity through said at least one passageway to actuate said penetration indicator.

41. A sleeve trocar according to claim 39 wherein said movable obturator portion includes said at least one passageway formed therein as at least one throughbore formed in fluid communication with said penetration indicator to allow gas to flow from a pierced body cavity through said at least one passageway to actuate said penetration indicator.

42. A sleeve trocar according to claim 39 and further comprising a handle formed on one end of said sleeve member and having a bore formed therethrough to form said penetration indicator, said bore being in fluid communication with said at least one passageway and configured to produce an audible signal responsive to gas from said body cavity passing therethrough to thereby indicate that a body cavity wall has been breached.

43. A sleeve trocar according to claim 39 wherein said penetration indication assembly includes a plurality of passageways formed about a periphery of said at least one movable obturator portion to form peripheral passageways, said peripheral passageways being formed by a combination of said tubular wall of said sleeve member and walls formed in said periphery of said at least one movable obturator portion.

44. A sleeve trocar according to claim 39 wherein said penetration indication assembly includes a plurality of passageways formed about a periphery of said least one stationary obturator portion to form peripheral passageways, said peripheral passageways being formed by a combination of said tubular wall of said sleeve member and walls formed in said periphery of said least one stationary obturator portion.

45. A sleeve trocar according to claim 39 wherein said penetration indication assembly includes a plurality of passageways formed about respective peripheries of said at least one movable obturator portion and said least one stationary obturator portion to form peripheral passageways, said peripheral passageways being formed by a combination of said tubular wall of said sleeve member and walls formed in said respective peripheries of said at least one movable obturator portion and said least one stationary obturator portion.

46. A sleeve trocar according to claim 39 wherein said plurality of passageways are formed as throughbores in said face member to extend through said face member and said stationary obturator portion in fluid communication with said bore in said sleeve member and said bore in said handle.

47. A sleeve trocar for piercing tissue to provide a conduit to an internal body cavity insufflated by gas, said trocar comprising:

a sleeve member having a generally tubular wall member defining a bore through said sleeve member;

an obturator assembly telescopically disposed within said sleeve member, said obturator assembly including a cutting edge, at least one movable obturator portion having a generally blunt tip, said at least one movable obturator portion being movable between a first position wherein said generally blunt tip projects beyond said wall member and a second position wherein said generally blunt tip is disposed interiorly of said cutting edge, and a conical stationary obturator portion fixed in said sleeve member and projecting outwardly therefrom, said conical stationary obturator portion being formed from at least three obturator members in abutment with one another, extending a predetermined distance into said passageway and having three obturator passages formed therebetween with said movable obturator portion being formed as three movable obturator members disposed in said obturator passage for movement between said first and second positions, said conical stationary obturator portion having a face member, said face member being formed on one end of said conical stationary obturator portion with said face member projecting beyond a portion of said wall member;

said cutting edge formed on at least one of said stationary obturator members adjacent at least one of said passages in which said movable obturator is disposed;

a spring disposed within said tubular sleeve member, said spring being fixed at one end to said at least one movable obturator portion with the other end fixed to a stop member formed within said sleeve member for biasing said at least one movable obturator portion outwardly beyond said wall member; and

a penetration indication assembly including a penetration indicator operatively associated with said sleeve member for producing an audible signal responsive to gas from said body cavity passing therethrough and at least one passageway formed in said obturator assembly in fluid communication with said penetration indicator to allow gas to flow from a pierced body cavity through said at least one passageway to actuate said penetration indicator to thereby indicate that a body cavity wall has been breached.

48. A sleeve trocar according to claim 47 wherein said movable obturator portion includes said at least one passageway formed therein as at least one throughbore formed in fluid communication with said penetration indicator to allow gas to flow from a pierced body cavity through said at least one passageway to actuate said penetration indicator.

49. A sleeve trocar according to claim 47 wherein said face member includes a smoothly contoured surface for smooth separation of tissue for enhanced ease of entry of said trocar into the body cavity.

50. A sleeve trocar according to claim 47 and further comprising a handle formed on one end of said sleeve member and having a bore formed therethrough to form said penetration indicator, said bore being in fluid communication with said at least one passageway and configured to produce an audible signal responsive to gas from said body cavity passing therethrough to thereby indicate that a body cavity wall has been breached.

51. A sleeve trocar according to claim 47 wherein said penetration indication assembly includes a plurality of passageways formed about a periphery of said at least one movable obturator portion to form peripheral passageways, said peripheral passageways being formed by a combination of said tubular wall of said sleeve member and walls formed in said periphery of said at least one movable obturator portion.

52. A sleeve trocar according to claim 47 wherein said penetration indication assembly includes a plurality of passageways formed about a periphery of said least one stationary obturator portion to form peripheral passageways, said peripheral passageways being formed by a combination of said tubular wall of said sleeve member and walls formed in said periphery of said least one stationary obturator portion.

53. A sleeve trocar according to claim 47 wherein said penetration indication assembly includes a plurality of passageways formed about respective peripheries of said at least one movable obturator portion and said least one stationary obturator portion to form peripheral passageways, said peripheral passageways being formed by a combination of said tubular wall of said sleeve member and walls formed in said respective peripheries of said at least one movable obturator portion and said least one stationary obturator portion.

54. A sleeve trocar according to claim 47 wherein said plurality of passageways are formed as throughbores in said face member to extend through said face member and said stationary obturator portion in fluid communication with said bore in said sleeve member and said bore in said handle.