Discrete flexion head for single port device

• US 8,376,938 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2009
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Morgan, Jerome R., Shelton, Frederick E. IV
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Kevin T
• Assistant Examiner(s): BECCIA, CHRISTOPHER J
• Application Number:
  US12/623,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20110124967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 600201-209, 60416401-16412, 60416701-16704
• US Class Current: 600/204
• 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 2017/3449 whereby the instrument channels merge into one single channel

Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for accessing a body cavity. A surgical access device can be configured to be positioned in tissue to provide access through a working channel of the device to a body cavity underlying the tissue. The device can include a flexible member and a plurality of discrete housing portions disposed in at least a proximal portion of an outer housing. Each of the discrete housing portions can be surrounded by the flexible member within the outer housing and be configured to move therein relative to one another and to the outer housing. The flexible member can be configured to act as a barrier between the discrete housing portions such that when one of the discrete housing portions moves, the flexible member can flex to allow the other discrete housing portions to remain in a substantially fixed position relative to the outer housing.

Claims

1. A surgical access device, comprising:

an outer housing having proximal and distal ends with a lumen extending therethrough; and

a plurality of discrete housing portions disposed across the proximal end of the outer housing and spaced a distance apart from one another, each housing portion having an opening extending therethrough and in communication with the lumen in the outer housing, and the plurality of housing portions being coupled by a flexible member such that each housing portion is independently movable relative to one another.

2. The surgical access device of claim 1, wherein each housing portion includes at least one sealing element configured to form at least one of a channel seal when no surgical instrument is disposed therethrough and an instrument seal around a surgical instrument inserted therethrough.

3. The surgical access device of claim 1, wherein each housing portion is movable relative to one another in a plane transverse to a longitudinal axis of the outer housing.

4. The surgical access device of claim 1, wherein each housing portion is independently movable in multiple directions relative to one another.

5. The surgical access device of claim 1, wherein each of the housing portions is substantially rigid.

6. The surgical access device of claim 1, wherein the flexible member comprises a gel.

7. The surgical access device of claim 1, wherein the flexible member comprises a foam.

8. The surgical access device of claim 1, further comprising a retractor configured to attach to and distally extend from the outer housing and to be positioned within an opening in tissue, the retractor having a working channel extending therethrough for forming a pathway through tissue into a body cavity.

9. The surgical access device of claim 8, wherein when the retractor is attached to the outer housing, each of the discrete housing portions is movable relative to the retractor.

10. The surgical access device of claim 8, wherein the retractor comprises a flexible elongate cannula extending between a proximal ring member and a distal ring member.

11. A surgical access device, comprising:

an annular ring defining a lumen;

a plurality of discrete housing portions disposed within the ring and defining channels between each of the housing portions, each housing portion having at least one sealing port configured to receive an instrument inserted therethrough and into the lumen; and

a flexible member disposed in the channels such that each of the housing portions can move relative to one another in a plane transverse to a longitudinal axis of the ring.

12. The surgical access device of claim 11, wherein each sealing port includes at least one sealing element configured to form at least one of a channel seal when no surgical instrument is disposed therethrough and an instrument seal around a surgical instrument inserted therethrough.

13. The surgical access device of claim 11, wherein the channels are configured to prevent any of the housing portions from directly contacting one another.

14. The surgical access device of claim 11, wherein each of the housing portions is in a longitudinally fixed position relative to the annular ring.

15. The surgical access device of claim 11, wherein the flexible member provides a fluid-tight seal for the lumen.

16. The surgical access device of claim 11, further comprising a retractor distally extending from the annular ring and configured to be positioned within an opening in tissue, the retractor having a working channel extending therethrough for forming a pathway through tissue into a body cavity.