Access assembly including inflatable seal member

• US 8,696,557 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2011
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Fischvogt, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumberledge, Jerry
• Application Number:
  US13/223,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20120157779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 600201-246
• US Class Current: 600/207
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/02 for holding wounds open; Tractors specula A61B1/32 ; drainage appliances for wounds A61M27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0293 with ring member to support retractor elements
• 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 17/3431 being collapsible, e.g. made of thin flexible material A61B17/3423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3439 with means for changing the inner diameter of the cannula, e.g. expandable A61B17/3423, A61B17/3431 take precedence; catheters A61M25/0662
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3445 used as instrument channel for multiple instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3464 with means acting on inner surface of valve or seal for expanding or protecting, e.g. inner pivoting fingers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3486 Balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3492 against the outside of the body

Abstract

An access assembly for insertion through an opening in tissue is provided. The access assembly includes a flexible outer sleeve having an upper rim formed on a proximal end, a lower rim formed on a distal end and defining a longitudinal opening extending therebetween. The lower rim may define an inflatable space that in a deflated state facilitates insertion of the lower rim through tissue and in an inflated state assists in retaining the access assembly in place relative to the tissue. The access assembly further includes an inflatable member secured within the longitudinal opening of the outer sleeve. The inflatable member includes a plurality of inflatable lobes configured to selectively receive at least one surgical device therebetween in a sealing manner.

Claims

1. An access assembly for insertion through tissue, the access assembly comprising:

a flexible outer sleeve having an upper rim formed on a proximal end, a lower rim formed on a distal end and defining a longitudinal opening extending therebetween; and

an inflatable member secured within the longitudinal opening of the outer sleeve, the inflatable member including at least three inflatable lobes secured to one another at a common point prior to inflation of the inflatable lobes, adjacent lobes having sidewalls and defining a shared longitudinal slot configured to selectively receive at least one surgical device in a sealing manner, the adjacent lobes being expandable toward each other such that the sidewalls are engageable with one another.

2. The access assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the upper and lower rims is configured to be selectively inflated.

3. The access assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the upper and lower rims is configured to be compressed.

4. The access assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper rim has a diameter greater than a diameter of a central portion of the flexible outer sleeve.

5. The access assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible outer sleeve is integrally formed with the inflatable member.

6. The access assembly of claim 1, wherein complete deflation of any of the inflatable lobes causes inward collapse of at least one of the upper and lower rims.

7. The access assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the inflatable lobes is operably connected to a source of inflation fluid.

8. The access assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the inflatable lobes is independently connected to a source of inflation fluid.

9. The access assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the inflatable lobes is wedge-shaped.

10. The access assembly of claim 1, wherein the inflatable lobes are coated with a material to provide at least one of the following:

to prevent the inflatable lobes from sticking together, to facilitate a seal between the inflatable lobes or to facilitate reception of a surgical device therethrough.

11. The access assembly of claim 1, wherein the inflatable member is configured to simultaneously receive two or more surgical devices therethrough.

12. The access assembly of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal slot is substantially linear and is configured to enable lateral translation of a surgical device within the longitudinal slot.

13. An access assembly for insertion through tissue, the access assembly comprising:

a flexible outer sleeve defining a longitudinal opening extending therethrough; and

an inflatable member secured within the longitudinal opening of the outer sleeve, the inflatable member including at least three inflatable lobes secured to one another at a common point prior to inflation of the inflatable lobes, and a plurality of longitudinal slots defined by sidewalls of adjacent inflatable lobes configured to receive at least one surgical device, the inflatable lobes and the longitudinal slots sharing a common point of intersection, the inflatable lobes being expandable toward each other such that the sidewalls are engageable with one another.

14. The access assembly of claim 13, wherein the longitudinal slots extend radially outward from the common point of intersection.

15. The access assembly of claim 13, wherein the inflatable lobes are repositionable between an uninflated condition, wherein the longitudinal slots define an opening extending therethrough, and an inflated condition, wherein the longitudinal slots are sealed.

16. An access assembly for insertion through tissue, the access assembly comprising:

a flexible outer sleeve defining a longitudinal opening extending therethrough; and

an inflatable member secured within the longitudinal opening of the outer sleeve, the inflatable member including at least three inflatable lobes to one another at a common point prior to inflation of the inflatable lobes and longitudinal slots defined by sidewalls of adjacent inflatable lobes, wherein adjacent inflatable lobes share a common longitudinal slot and adjacent inflatable lobes are expandable toward each other such that the sidewalls are engageable with one another when expanded.

17. The access assembly of claim 16, wherein the inflatable lobes are repositionable between an uninflated condition, wherein the longitudinal slots define an opening extending therethrough, and an inflated condition, wherein the longitudinal slots are sealed.

18. The access assembly of claim 16, wherein the longitudinal slots define outer boundaries of the inflatable lobes.