Gas flow trocar arrangement

• US 20050015043A1
• Filed: 12/18/2003
• Published: 01/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Surgiquest, Inc. (Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Surgiquest, Inc. (Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Halgren, Donald N., Stubbs, Jack B., Campbell, Michael, Thompson, Ronald J., Hartman, George A. J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,285,112 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• 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 17/3474 Insufflating needles, e.g. Veress needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00265 Hand assisted surgery, i.e. minimally invasive surgery with at least part of an assisting hand inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04

Abstract

A trocar assembly for use in surgery in a patient, comprising an elongated outer tubular member having a first or proximal end and a second or distal end. The proximal end has a housing enclosing a fluid pressure chamber therein. The distal end of the outer tubular member has a gaseous fluid discharge arrangement therethrough, through which a medical instrument is disposed for surgical manipulation of the patient.

Claims

1. A trocar assembly for use in surgery in a patient, comprising:

an elongated outer tubular member having a first or proximal end and a second or distal end, said proximal end having a housing enclosing a fluid pressure chamber therein;

said distal end of said outer tubular member having a gaseous fluid discharge arrangement therethrough, through which a medical instrument is disposed for surgical manipulation of the patient.

2. The trocar assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said pressure chamber in said proximal end of said outer tubular member is in fluid communication with said gaseous discharge arrangement on said distal end of said outer tubular member.

3. The trocar assembly as recited in claim 1, including a fluid return conduit arranged between said distal end of said trocar assembly and said proximal end of said trocar assemb

4. The trocar assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein said gaseous discharge arrangement provides a gaseous seal to any surgical instrument extending through said trocar assembly.

5. The trocar assembly as recited in claim 3, including a pressure sensor in fluid communication with said fluid return conduit of said trocar assembly.

6. The trocar assembly as recited in claim 1, including a baffle arranged within said outer tubular member to function as a sound reducer in said outer tubular member.

7. The trocar assembly as recited in claim 6, wherein said baffle has a first tubular member extending distally therefrom to function as a guide for a medical instrument extending therethrough.

8. The trocar assembly as recited in claim 1, including a flexible gaseous valve arranged within said outer tubular member to prevent any fluid splashback therethrough.

9. The trocar assembly as recited in claim 1, including a flexible gaseous valve arranged on said proximal end of said elongated outer tubular member.

10. The trocar assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a return gaseous fluid receiving chamber.

11. The trocar assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein said gaseous fluid receiving chamber is in fluid communication with an insufflation fluid supply arrangement.

12. The trocar assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said fluid pressure chamber is in fluid communication with an insufflation fluid supply arrangement.

13. The trocar assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein said gaseous fluid receiving chamber and said fluid pressure chamber each have a port in communication with an insufflation arrangement to provide and control pressure and provide a gaseous seal relative to said trocar assembly utilized in a patient.

14. The trocar assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein a pressurized fluid supply is in fluid communication with said fluid pressure chamber to provide a constant sealing fluid about a surgical instrument extending through said trocar assembly and to provide a balanced fluid supply to maintain a proper pneumoperitoneum for the patient being operated upon.

15. The trocar assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said outer tubular member is non-circular in cross section to minimize trauma to any surgical site.

16. A method of maintaining the pneumoperitoneum of a surgical patient during a surgical operation, comprising:

inserting a trocar assembly into a site on the patient;

providing a pressurized gas to a port on said trocar assembly;

inserting at least one surgical instrument through a central channel in said trocar assembly; and

sealing said instrument with respect to said trocar assembly by a jet of gaseous fluid being directed through said trocar and about said instrument.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, including:

returning said gaseous fluid from said patient out a return channel in said trocar assembly.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, including:

monitoring said returning gaseous fluid from said patient for pressure, flow rates, temperature, moisture or composition.

20. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein said jet of gaseous fluid may be directed about said instrument in said central channel at any longitudinal location of that instrument in said central channel.

19. (Cancelled).

21. (Cancelled).

22. A method of maintaining the pneumoperitoneum of a patient during a surgical procedure utilizing a trocar assembly, comprising:

inserting a trocar through an incision in the patient;

inserting a surgical instrument through said trocar assembly and into the patient;

providing a pressurized fluid through said trocar; and

sealing said instrument with a flow of said pressurized fluid to maintain the pneumoperitoneum and provide a sealing of said instrument extending therethrough.

23-24. -24. (Cancelled).

25. (Cancelled).