Continuous gas flow trocar assembly
First Claim
1. A method for providing a pressurized insufflation fluid into a patient cavity and providing sealable access to the patient cavity during a procedure performed with a first surgical instrument, comprising the steps of:
- providing a trocar assembly including inner and outer tubular members each having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the inner and outer tubular members defining a passageway therebetween, the distal end portion of the inner tubular member and the distal end portion of the outer tubular member defining a distal trocar seal nozzle, wherein the distal trocar seal nozzle is in fluid communication with the passageway;
introducing a pressurized fluid into the passageway;
discharging the pressurized fluid from the trocar seal nozzle to form a wall of pressurized fluid to seal the trocar assembly during a surgical procedure performed therewith;
introducing a first surgical instrument into the inner tubular member; and
extending the surgical instrument through the wall of pressurized fluid and into the cavity of the patient for surgical use therewithin.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A trocar assembly for providing a pressurized insufflation fluid into a patient cavity and for providing sealable access to the patient cavity by a surgical instrument. The assembly comprises an inner tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end. An outer tubular member is disposed about the inner tubular member, the outer tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the inner tubular member and the distal end of the outer tubular member define a trocar seal nozzle arranged therebetween.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method for providing a pressurized insufflation fluid into a patient cavity and providing sealable access to the patient cavity during a procedure performed with a first surgical instrument, comprising the steps of:
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providing a trocar assembly including inner and outer tubular members each having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the inner and outer tubular members defining a passageway therebetween, the distal end portion of the inner tubular member and the distal end portion of the outer tubular member defining a distal trocar seal nozzle, wherein the distal trocar seal nozzle is in fluid communication with the passageway; introducing a pressurized fluid into the passageway; discharging the pressurized fluid from the trocar seal nozzle to form a wall of pressurized fluid to seal the trocar assembly during a surgical procedure performed therewith; introducing a first surgical instrument into the inner tubular member; and extending the surgical instrument through the wall of pressurized fluid and into the cavity of the patient for surgical use therewithin. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of sealing a trocar assembly within a cavity of a patient during a surgical procedure preformed by an instrument used within that cavity of the patient, comprising the steps of:
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introducing a pressurized fluid through a plenum in the trocar assembly through an elongated channel formed between a wall of an inner tubular member and a wall of an outer tubular member of the trocar assembly, wherein a spiral groove is arranged on an inner surface of the inner tubular member to effect flow exiting from the trocar assembly, and wherein the inner and outer tubular members have respective distal end portions defining an annular discharge nozzle; discharging pressurized fluid from the annular discharge nozzle; forming a wall of pressurized fluid within the cavity of the patient to seal the cavity from excessive loss of fluid pressure within the cavity of the patient; introducing the instrument into the inner tubular member; piercing the wall of pressurized fluid with the instrument during the surgical procedure; maintaining a generally constant fluid pressure within the cavity of the patient by supplying a constant flow of pressurized fluid through the plenum in the trocar assembly; and manipulating the instrument with respect to the trocar assembly. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A method of surgically operating upon a patient, comprising the steps of:
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inserting a trocar assembly into the abdominal cavity of a patient; introducing a wall of pressurized fluid through a channel formed between an inner tubular member of the trocar assembly and an outer tubular member of the trocar assembly, wherein the channel is in fluid communication with a generally annular nozzle arranged at a distal end portion of the trocar assembly; introducing at least one surgical instrument through the inner tubular member and into the abdominal cavity of the patient through the wall of pressurized fluid; and providing an annular collection reservoir at a proximal end portion of the trocar assembly for collecting matter from an exhaust flow exiting the trocar assembly. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of surgically operating on a patient, comprising the steps of:
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inserting a trocar assembly into the abdominal cavity of a patient; introducing a wall of pressurized fluid through a channel formed between an inner tubular member of the trocar assembly and an outer tubular member of the trocar assembly, wherein the channel is in fluid communication with a generally annular nozzle provided at a distal end portion of the trocar assembly; and introducing at least one surgical instrument through the inner tubular member and into the abdominal cavity of the patient, through the wall of pressurized fluid, wherein the generally annular nozzle is in fluid communication with a plenum chamber arranged between the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member of the trocar assembly. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method of surgically operating upon a patient, comprising the steps of:
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inserting a trocar assembly into the abdominal cavity of the patient; introducing a wall of pressurized fluid through a channel formed between an inner tubular member of the trocar assembly and an outer tubular member of the trocar assembly, wherein the channel is in fluid communication with a generally annular nozzle arranged at a distal end portion of the trocar assembly; introducing at least one surgical instrument through the inner tubular member and into the abdominal cavity of the patient through the wall of pressurized fluid; and providing a duckbill valve at a proximal end portion of the trocar assembly. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification