Trocar seal system

• US 6,702,787 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2002
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Vumback, William J., Stellon, Gene A., Racenet, David C., Pasqualucci, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CAMTU TRAN
• Application Number:
  US10/165,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20020156432A1
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 604/167.01, 604/167.06, 604/256, 604/158, 604/164.01, 604/164.09, 604/164.1, 604/264, 604/272, 606/167, 137/874, 137/872, 137/861
• US Class Current: 604/256
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0218 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0293 with ring member to support retractor elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/34 Trocars; Puncturing needles pointed biopsy instruments A61B10/0233; devices for piercing the ear-lobes A44C7/001; seals or hemostasis valves A61M39/06
• 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 17/3462 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: A61M 2039/0626 used with other surgical instruments, e.g. endoscope, trocar
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0673 comprising means actively pressing on the device passing through the seal, e.g. inflatable seals, diaphragms, clamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0686 comprising more than one seal
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/06 Haemostasis valves, i.e. gaskets sealing around a needle, catheter or the like, closing on removal thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87804 Valve or deflector is tubular passageway
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1052 with cutting, punching, tearing or severing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1056 Perforating lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1057 Subsequent to assembly of laminae
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1074 Separate cutting of separate sheets or webs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1075 of plural laminae from single stock and assembling to each other or to additional lamina

Abstract

A seal assembly for reception of an elongated surgical instrument is provided which includes a body having at least one opening configured and dimensioned to permit entry of an elongated surgical instrument and defining a central longitudinal axis; a seal member formed of a resilient material and defining an aperture therein, the aperture being configured and dimensioned such that insertion of the surgical instrument into the aperture causes the resilient material defining the aperture to resiliently contact the outer surface of the surgical instrument in a substantially fluid tight manner; and a fabric layer juxtaposed relative to the resilient material. A coating may be applied to the seal member to reduce friction between the seal member and surgical instrumentation inserted therein. The coating is preferably a hydrocyclosiloxane membrane prepared by plasma polymerization process.

Claims

1. A seal assembly for reception of an elongated surgical instrument, which comprises:

a body having at least one opening configured and dimensioned to permit entry of an elongated surgical instrument and defining a central longitudinal axis;

a seal member formed of a resilient material and defining an aperture therein, the aperture being configured and dimensioned such that insertion of the surgical instrument into the aperture causes the resilient material defining the aperture to resiliently contact the outer surface of the surgical instrument in a substantially fluid tight manner; and

a fabric layer juxtaposed relative to the resilient material.

2. A seal assembly for reception of an elongated surgical instrument according to claim 1, which further comprises a coating applied to the seal member to reduce friction between the seal member and surgical instrumentation inserted therein.

3. A seal assembly for reception of an elongated surgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein the coating is a hydrocyclosiloxane membrane prepared by plasma polymerization process.

4. A seal assembly for reception of an elongated surgical instrument according to claim 1, which further comprises a ring member secured to the seal member and having a dampening element disposed between a surface of the ring member and a surface of the body.

5. A seal assembly comprising:

a housing having a throughbore; and

a seal member supported within the housing, the seal member being formed of a resilient material, the resilient material having a top surface and a bottom surface, the seal member having fabric material positioned adjacent the resilient material and having an opening formed therein aligned with the throughbore in the housing.

6. A seal assembly according to claim 5, wherein the seal member has fabric material positioned on both the top and bottom surfaces of the resilient material.

7. A seal assembly according to claim 5, wherein the resilient material is polyisoprene.

8. A seal assembly according to claim 5, wherein the seal member includes a coating of material for reducing friction between the seal member and an instrument inserted through the seal member.

9. A seal assembly according to claim 8, wherein the coating is a hydrocyclosiloxane membrane.

10. A seal assembly according to claim 5, further including a ring assembly including a first ring member supported on the top surface of the seal member and a second ring member supported on the bottom surface of the seal member.

11. A seal assembly according to claim 10, wherein the first and second ring members are adapted to be snap-fitted together.

12. A seal assembly according to claim 5, wherein the housing includes an upper housing component and a lower housing component, the upper and lower housing components being positioned on opposite sides of the seal member.

13. A seal assembly according to claim 5, wherein the fabric material is positioned between layers of resilient material.

14. A seal assembly according to claim 5, wherein the seal assembly is adapted to releasably engage a cannula assembly.

15. A seal assembly according to claim 5, wherein the seal member has an hourglass configuration.

16. A seal assembly according to claim 5, wherein the seal member has a conical configuration.

17. A seal assembly according to claim 5, further including a second seal member, the second seal member having an opening formed therein having a diameter which is larger than the opening in the first seal member.

18. A seal assembly according to claim 10, further including a clamping element positioned between the ring assembly and the housing.