Method of making a hand access laparoscopic device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of making a gelcap, comprising:
- providing a cap having a wall comprising a plurality of apertures, wherein the wall defines an opening through the cap;
providing a casting mold having a mold cavity;
providing an oil;
providing a triblock copolymer;
mixing the oil and the triblock copolymer to form a slurry;
degassing the slurry;
filling the mold cavity with slurry;
heating the slurry and the mold until the slurry attains a temperature within a range between about 130°
C. and about 250°
C. and maintaining the mold and slurry within the range until the slurry transforms into gel;
cooling the gel to about ambient room temperature; and
removing the cured gel from the mold.
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Abstract
The invention relates to a hand access laparoscopy device having a gelcap, a retainer, a sleeve and a retention ring. The gelcap includes gel that is bonded to a cap. The cap includes an inner cylindrical wall to which the gel in bonded, thereby providing a sealing area between the device and the wound in a body wall. By securing the gel to the inner cylindrical wall, the thickness of the gel and corresponding cap is minimized along with the overall footprint of the device. With the gel thickness reduced and able to be substantially flush, the “doming” phenomenon produced by insufflation of a patient'"'"'s abdomen is reduced.
329 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method of making a gelcap, comprising:
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providing a cap having a wall comprising a plurality of apertures, wherein the wall defines an opening through the cap; providing a casting mold having a mold cavity; providing an oil; providing a triblock copolymer; mixing the oil and the triblock copolymer to form a slurry; degassing the slurry; filling the mold cavity with slurry; heating the slurry and the mold until the slurry attains a temperature within a range between about 130°
C. and about 250°
C. and maintaining the mold and slurry within the range until the slurry transforms into gel;cooling the gel to about ambient room temperature; and removing the cured gel from the mold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 39)
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29. A method of making a gelcap, comprising:
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providing a cap having an opening; providing a casting mold having a mold cavity; providing mineral oil; providing a triblock copolymer; mixing the mineral oil and the triblock copolymer to form a slurry; degassing the slurry in a vacuum chamber by stirring the slurry and applying a vacuum of about one atmosphere to the slurry; preheating the slurry prior to filling the mold cavity with slurry; filling the mold cavity with slurry; heating the slurry and the mold until the slurry attains a temperature within a range between about 130°
C. and about 250°
C. and maintaining the mold and slurry within the range until the slurry transforms into gel;degassing the slurry further while the slurry is in the mold; cooling the gel to about ambient room temperature; removing the cured gel from the mold; and coupling the gel to the cap, thereby forming the gelcap. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of making a gelcap, comprising:
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providing a cap having an opening therethrough; providing a casting mold having a mold cavity; providing mineral oil; providing a triblock copolymer; mixing the mineral oil and the triblock copolymer to form a slurry; degassing the slurry in a vacuum chamber by stirring the slurry and applying a vacuum of about one atmosphere to the slurry; preheating the slurry prior to filling the mold cavity with slurry; placing the cap into the mold cavity; filling the mold cavity having the cap with slurry such that the slurry is in contact with the cap; heating the slurry, the cap, and the mold until the slurry attains a temperature within a range between about 130°
C. and about 250°
C. and maintaining the mold and slurry within the range until the slurry transforms into gel, the gel being coupled to the cap and forming a gelcap;degassing the slurry further while the slurry and the cap are in the mold; cooling the gelcap to about ambient room temperature; and removing the gelcap from the mold. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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Specification