Valve assembly for introducing instruments into body cavities
First Claim
1. A valve assembly for maintaining a substantial fluid tight seal between an internal portion of a patient'"'"'s body and an outside atmosphere during introduction of a surgical instrument into the patient'"'"'s body which comprises:
- sealing structure including at least one sealing gasket assembly having first and second overlapping elements each defining an opening arranged so that, said elements form a substantial gas and fluid tight seal prior to inserting an instrument therethrough, said elements being further constructed of a flexible material to allow passage of said instrument through said openings and provide substantial sealing about said instrument; and
means for tensioning said first and second overlapping elements of said sealing gasket such that said overlapping elements are biased in a closed position providing a gas and fluid tight seal prior to instrument insertion therethrough.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A valve assembly is provided for permitting the introduction of a surgical instrument into a patient'"'"'s body while providing a substantial seal about the instrument. The valve assembly includes a sealing gasket assembly providing a fluid tight seal before instrument insertion, and is configured and dimensioned for accommodating an instrument and providing a substantial fluid tight seal after insertion of an instrument. The valve assembly may further include a deformable sealing member having a substantially central aperture for accommodating the instrument. The sealing member provides a substantial seal about the instrument when the instrument is passed therethrough impeding the egress of fluids and gasses through the valve assembly.
165 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A valve assembly for maintaining a substantial fluid tight seal between an internal portion of a patient'"'"'s body and an outside atmosphere during introduction of a surgical instrument into the patient'"'"'s body which comprises:
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sealing structure including at least one sealing gasket assembly having first and second overlapping elements each defining an opening arranged so that, said elements form a substantial gas and fluid tight seal prior to inserting an instrument therethrough, said elements being further constructed of a flexible material to allow passage of said instrument through said openings and provide substantial sealing about said instrument; and
means for tensioning said first and second overlapping elements of said sealing gasket such that said overlapping elements are biased in a closed position providing a gas and fluid tight seal prior to instrument insertion therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A cannula assembly for a trocar assembly, said cannula assembly adapted to maintain a substantial seal between a cavity inside of a patient'"'"'s body and an outside atmosphere, said cannula assembly comprising:
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a tubular body portion;
a cannula valve housing positioned at a proximal end of said tubular body portion of said cannula;
sealing structure comprising at least one sealing gasket assembly having first and second overlapping elements each defining an opening arranged so that, said elements form a substantial fluid and gas tight seal prior to inserting an instrument therethrough, said elements being constructed of a flexible material to allow passage of said instrument through said openings; and
said sealing gasket assembly being couplable to a frame such that said first and second overlapping elements are tensioned for biasing said overlapping elements in a closed position prior to an instrument passing therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A seal assembly which comprises:
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a frame;
at least one sealing gasket assembly constructed of a flexible material and mounted to said frame, the sealing gasket assembly including;
a first sealing element defining a first semicircular opening and having a first wall; and
a second sealing element defining a second semicircular opening and having a second wall; and
at least one retainer element defining a substantially central aperture, said retainer element having adjacent movable portions configured and dimensioned to inhibit contact between an instrument and said at least one sealing gasket assembly upon insertion of the instrument through the sealing gasket assembly;
the at least one sealing gasket assembly being mounted so that the first and second walls overlap and define a substantial gas and fluid tight seal in the absence of the instrument inserted through the semicircular openings and so that the first and second walls are separable to allow the passage of the instrument through the semicircular openings. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification