Obturator tips

• US 9,028,521 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2008
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Smith, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOWE, KATHERINE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US12/128,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20080300617A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,539 Days
• Field of Search: 606/185, 606/190, 606/191, 606/167, 606/184, 604/104, 604/164.11, 60416401-16413, 604/264
• US Class Current: 606/190
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3417 Details of tips or shafts, e.g. grooves, expandable, bendable; Multiple coaxial sliding cannulas, e.g. for dilating syringe needles A61M5/32; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3456 blunt
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/346 with wings

Abstract

A surgical instrument for use with a surgical portal apparatus is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes an elongate shaft and a dilating member disposed at the distal end of the elongate shaft. The elongate shaft has proximal and distal ends and defines a longitudinal axis. The dilating member has an outer surface that includes at least one atraumatic edge member. The at least one atraumatic edge member extends proximally from a tip of the dilating member. The dilating member has a first substantially triangular cross-section disposed transverse to the longitudinal axis.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument for use with a surgical portal apparatus comprising:

an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends and defining a longitudinal axis; and

a dilating member disposed at the distal end of the elongate shaft and including a tip, wherein an entire outer surface of the tip is atraumatic and includes;

a first portion having a transverse cross-sectional configuration including three curvate sides curving away from the central longitudinal axis;

a second portion extending distally from the first portion, the second portion having a transverse cross-sectional configuration including three substantially planar sides;

a third portion extending distally from the second portion, the third portion having a transverse cross-sectional configuration including three curvate sides curving towards the central longitudinal axis.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the elongate shaft defines a central longitudinal axis.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the tip of the dilating member is aligned with the central longitudinal axis.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the tip of the dilating member is offset with respect to the central longitudinal axis.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the dilating member has a substantially tapered profile.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the tip of the dilating member is substantially blunt.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein an entirety of the dilating member includes an atraumatic configuration free of any surfaces configured and dimensioned to sever tissue.

8. A surgical instrument for use with a surgical portal apparatus, comprising:

an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends and defining a central longitudinal axis; and

a dilating member disposed at the distal end of the elongate shaft, the dilating member tapered distally to a curvate tip, an entirety of the dilating member being atraumatic, the dilating member including;

a first portion having a transverse cross-sectional configuration including three sides curved away from the longitudinal axis;

a second portion extending distally from the first portion and having a triangular transverse cross-sectional configuration including three sides; and

a third portion extending distally from the second portion and having a transverse cross-sectional configuration including three sides, each of the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion having a different transverse cross-sectional configuration.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the three sides of the third portion are curved with respect to the central longitudinal axis.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the three sides of the third portion are curved towards the central longitudinal axis.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the dilating member includes an outer surface free of any surfaces configured and dimensioned to sever tissue.

12. A surgical instrument for use with a surgical portal apparatus, comprising:

an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends and defining a central longitudinal axis; and

an atraumatic dilating member disposed at the distal end of the elongate shaft, the dilating member tapered distally to a curvate tip, the dilating member including;

a first portion having a transverse cross-sectional configuration including three curvate sides curved away from the longitudinal axis;

a second portion extending distally from the first portion and having a transverse cross-sectional configuration including three planar sides, each planar side being joined to an adjacent planar side by a convex connecting segment; and

a third portion extending distally from the third portion and having a transverse cross-sectional configuration including three curvate sides.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the three sides of the third portion are curved with respect to the central longitudinal axis.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein the three sides of the third portion are curved towards the central longitudinal axis.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein an entirety of the dilating member includes an outer surface free of any surfaces configured and dimensioned to sever tissue.