# US 10,869,691 B2 · Flexible single lumen gas sealed access port for use during robotically assisted endoscopic surgical procedures > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,869,691 B2 - Document ID: US10869691B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/021,386 - Filed: 2018-06-28 - Published: 2018-11-01 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-08 - Assignees: Conmed Corporation - Applicants: Conmed Corporation - Inventors: Mikiya Silver; Michael J. Kane - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10869691B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/3423: {Access ports, e.g. toroid shape introducers for instruments or hands (access sites for liquids A61M39/0247)} - A61B 17/3421: {Cannulas} - 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)} - A61B 17/3474: {Insufflating needles, e.g. Veress needles} - 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)} - A61B 2017/3419: {Sealing means between cannula and body} - A61B 2017/3443: {with means for adjusting the length of a cannula} - A61B 2017/3466: {for simultaneous sealing of multiple instruments} - A61B 2017/3484: {Anchoring means, e.g. spreading-out umbrella-like structure} - A61B 2017/3492: {against the outside of the body} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A gas sealed access port is disclosed including a proximal housing having a central lumen providing gas sealed access to the surgical cavity, an inlet path for communicating with a source of pressurized gas, a tapered neck portion and an interior cavity accommodating an annular jet assembly for receiving pressurized gas from the inlet path to generate a gaseous seal within the tapered neck portion, and an elongated tubular body extending from the tapered neck portion in communication with the central lumen and including a flexible proximal body portion and a rigid distal body portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gas sealed access port for performing an endoscopic surgical procedure in a surgical cavity of a patient, comprising: a) a proximal housing including a central lumen providing gas sealed access to the surgical cavity, an inlet path for communicating with a source of pressurized gas, a tapered neck portion and an interior cavity accommodating an annular jet assembly for receiving pressurized gas from the inlet path to generate a gaseous seal within the tapered neck portion to maintain a stable pressure within the surgical cavity; and b) an elongated tubular body extending from the tapered neck portion of the proximal housing in communication with the central lumen and including a flexible proximal body portion and a rigid distal body portion, wherein a proximal end portion of the rigid distal body portion is dimensioned for insertion into a distal end portion of the flexible proximal body portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A gas sealed access port as recited in claim 1, wherein a distal end portion of the tapered neck portion of the proximal housing is dimensioned for insertion into a proximal end portion of the flexible proximal body portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A gas sealed access port as recited in claim 2, wherein the distal end portion of the tapered neck portion of the proximal housing has an exterior annular shoulder for limiting the insertion of the distal end portion of the tapered neck portion into the proximal end portion of the flexible proximal body portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A gas sealed access port as recited in claim 1, wherein the proximal end portion of the rigid distal body portion has an exterior annular ring for limiting the insertion of the proximal end portion of the rigid distal body portion into the distal end portion of the flexible proximal body portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A gas sealed access port as recited in claim 1, wherein a distal end portion of the rigid distal body portion has an exterior flared annular barb to inhibit withdrawal of the access port from the surgical cavity. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A gas sealed access port as recited in claim 1, wherein the proximal end portion of the rigid distal body portion has an interior annular landing for interfacing with an exterior annular shoulder on an obturator shaft inserted into the central lumen of the proximal housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A gas sealed access port as recited in claim 1, wherein the flexible proximal body portion of the tubular body has a bendable tubular configuration. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A gas sealed access port as recited in claim 1, wherein the flexible proximal body portion of the tubular body has a bendable and extensible accordion configuration. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A gas sealed access port as recited in claim 1, wherein the proximal housing includes an outlet path for returning spent gas used to generate the gaseous seal in the tapered neck portion of the housing to a source of suction. ### Claim 10 A gas sealed access port assembly for performing an endoscopic surgical procedure in a surgical cavity of a patient, comprising: a) a proximal housing including a central lumen providing gas sealed access to the surgical cavity, an inlet path for communicating with a source of pressurized gas, a tapered neck portion and an interior cavity accommodating an annular jet assembly for receiving pressurized gas from the inlet path to generate a gaseous seal within the tapered neck portion to maintain a stable pressure within the surgical cavity; b) an elongated tubular body extending from the tapered neck portion of the proximal housing in communication with the central lumen and including a flexible proximal body portion and a rigid distal body portion; and c) an obturator having an elongated shaft dimensioned and configured for insertion through the central lumen of the proximal housing to introduce the access port into the surgical cavity while maintaining the flexible proximal body portion in an unbent condition, wherein a proximal end portion of the rigid distal body portion is dimensioned for insertion into a distal end portion of the flexible proximal body portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A gas sealed access port as recited in claim 10, wherein a distal end portion of the tapered neck portion of the proximal housing is dimensioned for insertion into a proximal end portion of the flexible proximal body portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A gas sealed access port as recited in claim 11, wherein the distal end portion of the tapered neck portion of the proximal housing has an exterior annular shoulder for limiting the insertion of the distal end portion of the tapered neck portion into the proximal end portion of the flexible proximal body portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) A gas sealed access port as recited in claim 10, wherein the proximal end portion of the rigid distal body portion has an interior annular landing for interfacing with an exterior annular shoulder formed on the elongated shaft of the obturator when the obturator is inserted into the central lumen of the proximal housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) A gas sealed access port as recited in claim 10, wherein the proximal end portion of the rigid distal body portion has an exterior annular ring for limiting the insertion of the proximal end portion of the rigid distal body portion into the distal end portion of the flexible proximal body portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) A gas sealed access port as recited in claim 10, wherein a distal end portion of the rigid distal body portion has an exterior flared annular barb to inhibit withdrawal of the access port from the surgical cavity. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) A gas sealed access port as recited in claim 10, wherein the flexible proximal body portion of the tubular body has a bendable tubular configuration. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) A gas sealed access port as recited in claim 10, wherein the flexible proximal body portion of the tubular body has a bendable and extensible accordion configuration. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) A gas sealed access port as recited in claim 10, wherein the proximal housing includes an outlet path for returning spent gas used to generate the gaseous seal in the tapered neck portion of the housing to a source of suction. ### Claim 19 A gas sealed access port for performing an endoscopic surgical procedure in a surgical cavity of a patient, comprising: a) a proximal housing including a central lumen providing gas sealed access to the surgical cavity, an inlet path for communicating with a source of pressurized gas, a tapered neck portion and an interior cavity accommodating an annular jet assembly for receiving pressurized gas from the inlet path to generate a gaseous seal within the tapered neck portion to maintain a stable pressure within the surgical cavity; and b) an elongated tubular body extending from the tapered neck portion of the proximal housing in communication with the central lumen and including a flexible proximal body portion and a rigid distal body portion, wherein the flexible proximal body portion of the tubular body has a bendable and extensible accordion configuration. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A gas sealed access port as recited in claim 19, wherein a distal end portion of the tapered neck portion of the proximal housing is dimensioned for insertion into a proximal end portion of the flexible proximal body portion. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A gas sealed access port as recited in claim 20, wherein the distal end portion of the tapered neck portion of the proximal housing has an exterior annular shoulder for limiting the insertion of the distal end portion of the tapered neck portion into the proximal end portion of the flexible proximal body portion. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) A gas sealed access port as recited in claim 19, wherein a proximal end portion of the rigid distal body portion is dimensioned for insertion into a distal end portion of the flexible proximal body portion. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) A gas sealed access port as recited in claim 22, wherein the proximal end portion of the rigid distal body portion has an exterior annular ring for limiting the insertion of the proximal end portion of the rigid distal body portion into the distal end portion of the flexible proximal body portion. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) A gas sealed access port as recited in claim 19, wherein a distal end portion of the rigid distal body portion has an exterior flared annular barb to inhibit withdrawal of the access port from the surgical cavity. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) A gas sealed access port as recited in claim 19, wherein a proximal end portion of the rigid distal body portion has an interior annular landing for interfacing with an exterior annular shoulder on an obturator shaft inserted into the central lumen of the proximal housing. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) A gas sealed access port as recited in claim 19, wherein the proximal housing includes an outlet path for returning spent gas used to generate the gaseous seal in the tapered neck portion of the housing to a source of suction.