Sealing multiple surgical instruments
AssigneeIntuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
InventorsBram Gilbert Antoon Lambrecht, William J. Park
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cannula seal is presented. The cannula seal includes a cross-slit seal that can include a side wall that includes folded sidewalls; slits that are formed by the folded sidewalls when the cross-slit seal is in a closed position; and a concave end surface at the slits. The cross-slit seal can include energizing ribs formed to close the seal. The instrument guide includes a pyramidal shaped seal that seals against doors when no instrument is inserted and seals against an instrument when the instrument is inserted.
Claims23
A cross-slit seal, comprising:
- a plurality of folded sidewalls including side surfaces extending to distal end surfaces, the distal end surfaces together forming a concave end surface when the cross-slit seal is in a closed position;
- and
- a first slit and a second slit that intersects the first slit to form a cross-slit in the concave end surface formed by the plurality of folded sidewalls when the cross-slit seal is in a closed position.
A cross-slit seal, comprising:
- a plurality of folded sidewalls;
- first and second slits that are formed by the plurality of folded sidewalls when the cross-slit seal is in a closed position, the first and second slits forming a cross-slit;
- and
- at least one of:
- a concave end surface formed by distal end surfaces of the plurality of folded sidewalls when the cross-slit seal is in a closed position, each of plurality of folded sidewalls including side surfaces that extend to the one of the distal end surfaces, wherein the slits are in the concave end surface, and
- a rib at an end surface that adjoins two of the plurality of folded sidewalls, the rib being sized, shaped, and positioned to engage an inside wall of a cannula.
A cross-slit seal comprising:
- a first pair of opposing folded sidewalls that come together to define a first concave distal end surface when the cross-slit seal is in a closed position, the first pair of folded sidewalls forming a first slit in the first concave distal end surface;
- and
- a second pair of opposing folded sidewalls that come together to define a second concave distal end surface when the cross-slit seal is in a closed position, the second pair of folded sidewalls forming a second slit in the second concave distal end surface;
- wherein the second slit intersects the first slit.
A cross-slit seal comprising:
- a plurality of folded sidewalls that come together to form a cross-shaped and concave distal end surface;
- wherein a cross-slit is formed in the distal end surface when the seal is in a closed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.