Universal access seal

• US 20040106942A1
• Filed: 12/02/2002
• Published: 06/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Applied Medical Resources Corporation (Applied Medical Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Applied Medical Resources Corporation (Applied Medical Corporation)
• Inventors: Taylor, Scott, Brustad, John R., Pravong, Boun, Howe, Blair, Howe, Judith
• Granted Patent: US 7,390,317 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/185
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• 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 17/3474 Insufflating needles, e.g. Veress needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3498 Valves therefor, e.g. flapper valves, slide valves haemostasis valves A61M39/06; check valves A61M39/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00845 of moving parts with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00853 low friction, hydrophobic and corrosion-resistant fluorocarbon resin coating (ptf, ptfe, polytetrafluoroethylene)
• 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

Abstract

A surgical access device including a valve housing and an instrument receiving element mounted in the valve housing having an aperture for flexibly receiving and directing instruments having a wide range of diameters. The instrument receiving element includes a braid or mesh tube generally shaped like an hourglass. The surgical access device may include an access septum seal molded from a gel material. The surgical access device can flexibly engage instruments having diameters ranging from about 3.5 mm to about 12.9 mm.

Claims

1. A surgical access device operatively connected to a cannula having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end, comprising:

a valve housing disposed at the proximal end of the cannula; and

an instrument receiving element mounted in the valve housing having an aperture for flexibly receiving and directing instruments having a wide range of diameters.

2. The surgical access device recited in claim 1, further comprising an access septum seal disposed in the valve housing having a septum seal aperture.

3. The surgical access device recited in claim 1, wherein the instrument receiving element includes a tubular braid.

4. The surgical access device recited in claim 3, wherein the braid is coated with a material for reducing friction.

5. The surgical access device recited in claim 4, wherein the coating includes any soft or low-durometer elastomeric material.

6. The surgical access device recited in claim 5, wherein the elastomeric material includes at least one of a thermoplastic and a thermoset.

7. The surgical access device recited in claim 5, wherein the elastomeric material includes at least one of silicone, polyurethane, polyisoprene and Kraton.

8. The surgical access device recited in claim 4, wherein the coating includes at least one of hydrophilic polymer coating, Teflon (PTFE) coating, cyanoacrylate coating and Parylene coating.

9. The surgical access device recited in claim 3, wherein the braid is treated with at least one of plasma surface treatment and chlorination treatment for reducing friction during passage of instrumentation.

10. The surgical access device recited in claim 2, wherein the access septum seal may stretch, flex, swivel and/or slide in response to movement of an inserted instrument.

11. The surgical access device recited in claim 2, wherein the access septum seal is configured to float within the valve housing to minimize the cat-eye effect around an inserted instrument.

12. The surgical access device recited in claim 1, wherein the instrument receiving element includes a mesh tube.

13. The surgical access device recited in claim 1, wherein the instrument receiving element is generally shaped like an hourglass.

14. The surgical access device recited in claim 13, wherein the instrument receiving element includes a converging sidewall facilitating insertion of an instrument and a diverging sidewall facilitating removal of the instrument.

15. The surgical access device recited in claim 1, wherein the range of diameters is from about 3.5 mm to about 12.9 mm.

16. The surgical access device recited in claim 3, wherein the braid further comprises braid elements.

17. The surgical access device recited in claim 3, wherein the braid comprises at least one of natural and synthetic monofilament thread materials including polyester, Kevlar, carbon fiber, Gore-Tex (expanded PTFE), Nomex, nylon, fiber glass, cotton, polypropylene and ceramic.

18. The surgical access device recited in claim 16, wherein the braid elements comprise a metal wire material including music wire, stainless steel and Nitinol.

19. The surgical access device recited in claim 16, wherein the braid elements provide interstitial spaces between an inserted instrument and the braid.

20. The surgical access device recited in claim 4, wherein the coated braid expands to form a seal around an outer surface of an instrument.

21. The surgical access device recited in claim 1, further comprising a zero-closure valve disposed in the valve housing.

22. The surgical access device recited in claim 1, wherein the valve housing further comprises means for manipulating the cannula to a preferred operative position.

23. The surgical access device recited in claim 22, wherein the manipulating means includes finger tabs.

24. The surgical access device recited in claim 1, further comprising an end cap for mounting the instrument receiving element.

25. The surgical access device recited in claim 1, wherein the valve housing is configured as a hand-access port allowing passage of a user'"'"'s hand or finger into a body conduit or cavity.

26. The surgical access device recited in claim 19, wherein the braid elements capture lubricants within the interstitial spaces to facilitate manipulation and exchange of instruments.

27. The surgical access device recited in claim 2, wherein the access septum seal is molded from a gel material.

28. The surgical access device recited in claim 27, wherein the gel material extrudes through interstitial spaces of the instrument receiving element sealingly engaging an instrument while minimizing frictional contact between the instrument and the access septum seal.

29. The surgical access device recited in claim 27, wherein the gel material is a composite material comprising mineral oil and a thermoplastic elastomer.

30. The surgical access device recited in claim 27, wherein the gel material comprises a soft or low-durometer elastomeric material that is at least one of a thermoplastic and a thermoset.

31. The surgical access device recited in claim 30, wherein the elastomeric material includes at least one of silicone, polyurethane, polyisoprene and Kraton.

32. The surgical access device recited in claim 27, wherein the gel material comprises a closed cell foam material or an open cell foam material.

33. The surgical access device recited in claim 32, wherein the foam material includes at least one of silicone, urethane, Kraton, polyethylene, polyisoprene, polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyurethane, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), Neoprene and styrene butadiene (SBR).

34. The surgical access device recited in claim 1, further comprising a manifold.

35. The surgical access device recited in claim 1, further comprising a stopcock.

36. The surgical access device recited in claim 2, wherein the access septum seal comprises cored sections spaced about the septum seal aperture enabling the access septum seal to deform during insertion and removal of an instrument.

37. The surgical access device recited in claim 2, wherein the access septum seal comprises pockets storing lubricants and lubricant releasing apertures connecting the pockets to the septum seal aperture.

38. The surgical access device recited in claim 37, wherein the lubricant releasing apertures are oriented perpendicular to the septum seal aperture.

39. The surgical access device recited in claim 38, wherein the access septum seal deforms forcing the lubricants to ooze from the pockets through the lubricant releasing apertures thereby lubricating the instrument and facilitating instrument insertion and manipulation.

40. The surgical access device recited in claim 2, wherein the access septum seal further includes additives including at least one of waxes, soaps, paraffin wax, beeswax, calcium stearate, stearic acid, silicone oil, silicone grease, mineral oil, glycerin, graphite, silica, glass spheres, Teflon (PTFE), Parylene, talc and molybdenum disulfide to reduce tackiness and increase lubricity.

41. A surgical access device for providing access across a body wall and into a body conduit or cavity, comprising:

a cannula having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end;

a valve housing disposed at the proximal end of the cannula; and

an instrument receiving means mounted in the valve housing having an aperture for flexibly receiving and directing instruments having a wide range of diameters.

42. The surgical access device recited in claim 41, further comprising an access septum seal disposed in the valve housing having a septum seal aperture.

43. The surgical access device recited in claim 41, wherein the cannula is either disposable or reusable.

44. The surgical access device recited in claim 43, wherein the valve housing is removably attached to the disposable or reusable cannula.

45. The surgical access device recited in claim 42, wherein the access septum seal is configured to float within a cavity of the valve housing.

46. The surgical access device recited in claim 41, wherein the instrument receiving means includes a braid or a mesh tube generally shaped like an hourglass.

47. The surgical access device recited in claim 42, wherein the access septum seal is molded from a gel material.

48. The surgical access device recited in claim 41, wherein the instrument receiving means is coated with a friction reducing material.

49. A trocar for providing access into a body cavity, comprising:

a cannula defining a lumen having an open distal end portion and an open proximal end portion for accommodating a surgical instrument inserted therethrough;

a valve housing adjoining the proximal end portion of the cannula defining a housing having open distal and proximal end portions that communicate with the cannula lumen and permit insertion and removal of the surgical instrument therethrough; and

sealing means positioned in the valve housing, the sealing means defining a center bore portion allowing the surgical instrument to pass therethrough in sealing engagement therewith, the sealing means sealing the proximal end portion of the valve housing, and the sealing means having an hourglass shape defining converging and diverging sidewalls that form the center bore portion at the intersection thereof.

50. The trocar recited in claim 49, wherein the sealing means comprises an expanding means for enlarging the center bore portion to increase the diameter thereof, the expanding means deflects the center bore portion in an axial direction.