Absorbing fluids in a surgical access device
First Claim
1. A surgical access device, comprising:
- a housing having an insufflation port;
a seal disposed within the housing proximal to the insufflation port, the seal having an opening configured to receive a surgical instrument therethrough; and
a sorbent element spaced a distance apart from and not in contact with the seal, the sorbent element being disposed radially outward of the opening in the seal such that the sorbent element will not contact an instrument disposed through the opening, the sorbent element being configured to sorb fluid.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention generally provides methods and devices for removing fluid from a surgical instrument. Surgical access devices and seal systems are generally provided having one or more valves or seal assemblies to create a closed system between the outside environment and the environment in which the surgical access device is being inserted. In one embodiment, a seal assembly is provided and can include a seal having an opening configured to receive a surgical instrument therethrough and a fluid remover in the form of an absorbent element, a scraper element, a wicking element, or any combination thereof can be associated with the seal and configured to remove fluid from the opening and/or a surgical instrument.
402 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A surgical access device, comprising:
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a housing having an insufflation port; a seal disposed within the housing proximal to the insufflation port, the seal having an opening configured to receive a surgical instrument therethrough; and a sorbent element spaced a distance apart from and not in contact with the seal, the sorbent element being disposed radially outward of the opening in the seal such that the sorbent element will not contact an instrument disposed through the opening, the sorbent element being configured to sorb fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A surgical access device, comprising:
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a housing defining a working channel sized and configured to receive a surgical instrument, the housing having a proximal portion and a distal cannula extending distally from the proximal portion and configured to be inserted into a body cavity; a seal disposed within the proximal portion of the housing and having an opening positioned to receive a surgical instrument passed through the working channel therethrough; and a sorbent element disposed within the proximal portion of the housing and spaced radially outward of the working channel such that the sorbent element will not contact an instrument disposed through the working channel, the sorbent element being spaced a distance apart from and not in contact with the seal, and configured to sorb fluid to prevent fluid from being re-deposited on surgical instruments passed through the working channel. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for removing fluid from a seal opening, comprising:
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inserting a distal cannula of an access device through tissue to form a working channel extending into a body cavity; passing a surgical instrument through an opening in a seal disposed in a proximal housing of the access device, wherein the access device includes a sorbent element in the proximal housing that does not contact the seal and that is configured to sorb fluid from the instrument, and wherein the sorbent element does not come into contact with the instrument. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification