# US 11,432,843 B2 · Centering mechanisms for a surgical access assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,432,843 B2 - Document ID: US11432843B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/564,534 - Filed: 2019-09-09 - Published: 2021-03-11 - Granted: 2022-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2019-09-09 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: Nicolette Lapierre; Jacob Baril; Matthew Dinino; Justin Thomas; Saumya Banerjee; Roy Pilletere - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11432843B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/3423: {Access ports, e.g. toroid shape introducers for instruments or hands (access sites for liquids A61M39/0247)} - 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 17/0057: {Implements for plugging an opening in the wall of a hollow or tubular organ, e.g. for sealing a vessel puncture or closing a cardiac septal defect (sutures A61B17/04; closing rectum or urethra near body surface A61F2/0009)} - A61B 17/3474: {Insufflating needles, e.g. Veress needles} - A61B 17/3498: {Valves therefor, e.g. flapper valves, slide valves (haemostasis valves A61M39/06; check valves A61M39/24)} - A61B 17/0218: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)} - A61B 2017/00637: {for sealing trocar wounds through abdominal wall} - A61B 2017/3419: {Sealing means between cannula and body} - A61B 2017/3445: {used as instrument channel for multiple instruments} - A61B 2017/3464: {with means acting on inner surface of valve or seal for expanding or protecting, e.g. inner pivoting fingers} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An access assembly includes an instrument valve housing defining a cavity, and a valve assembly. The valve assembly includes a flange seal member, a seal assembly, a centering mechanism, and a retainer frame assembly. The flange seal member includes an arcuate portion configured to adjustably engage first and second surfaces of the instrument valve housing in a sealing relation. The centering mechanism is configured to bias the valve assembly towards a generally centered position within the cavity. The centering mechanism includes a plurality of coils including inner coil portions operatively secured with the seal assembly, and outer coil portions configured to engage the first surface of the instrument valve housing. The retainer frame assembly includes first and second members. The inner coil portion of the centering mechanism is disposed between seal assembly and the second member of the retainer frame assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An access assembly comprising: an instrument valve housing defining a cavity; and a valve assembly disposed within the cavity of the instrument valve housing, the valve assembly including: a flange seal member including an arcuate portion configured to adjustably engage a lateral surface of the instrument valve housing in a sealing relation; a seal assembly configured to engage a surgical instrument inserted into the access assembly in a sealing relation; a centering mechanism configured to bias the valve assembly towards a generally centered position within the cavity of the instrument valve housing, the centering mechanism including a plurality of coils arranged in a circular configuration and defining a central opening, the plurality of coils including inner coil portions operatively secured with the seal assembly, and outer coil portions configured to engage the lateral surface of the instrument valve housing; and a retainer frame assembly configured to couple the centering mechanism, the flange seal member, and the seal assembly as a single construct, the retainer frame assembly including first and second members, the inner coil portions of the centering mechanism being disposed between the seal assembly and the second member of the retainer frame assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The access assembly according to claim 1, wherein the centering mechanism has a substantially flat profile. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The access assembly according to claim 1, wherein the centering mechanism is formed of a resilient material to transition the centering mechanism between a first state, in which, the central opening of the centering mechanism is disposed in a generally centered position, and a second state, in which, the central opening is radially displaced from the generally centered position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The access assembly according to claim 3, wherein portions of the centering mechanism are compressible when the centering mechanism is in the second state. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The access assembly according to claim 1, wherein each coil of the plurality of coils of the centering mechanism has a circular profile. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The access assembly according to claim 5, wherein a gap is defined between adjacent pins of the first member of the retainer frame assembly and at least one coil of the plurality of coils extends between the lateral surface of the instrument valve housing and the gap. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The access assembly according to claim 1, wherein adjacent inner coil portions define a gap therebetween. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The access assembly according to claim 7, wherein the first member of the retainer frame assembly includes a plurality of pins and the second member of the retainer frame assembly defines an annular groove configured to receive the plurality of pins. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The access assembly according to claim 8, wherein each pin of the plurality of pins of the first member is at least partially disposed in the gap defined between the adjacent inner coil portions such that at least a portion of each inner coil portion is secured between adjacent pins. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The access assembly according to claim 8, wherein the outer coil portions of the centering mechanism are disposed radially outward of the second member of the retainer frame assembly. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The access assembly according to claim 1, wherein the seal assembly includes a plurality of radial protrusions peripherally arranged about a central opening of the seal assembly, each radial protrusion of the plurality of radial protrusions configured to support a corresponding inner coil portion of the centering mechanism. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The access assembly according to claim 1, wherein the valve assembly further includes a guard assembly configured to be secured with the flange seal member, the guard assembly configured to protect the seal assembly during insertion and manipulation of the surgical instrument. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The access assembly according to claim 12, wherein the flange seal member includes opposing first and second surfaces, the guard assembly disposed on the first surface of the flange seal member in a superposed relation and the seal assembly detachably secured with the second surface of the flange seal member. ### Claim 14 An access assembly comprising: an instrument valve housing defining a cavity; and a valve assembly disposed within the cavity of the instrument valve housing, the valve assembly including: a flange seal member including an arcuate portion configured to adjustably engage a lateral surface of the instrument valve housing in a sealing relation; a seal assembly configured to engage a surgical instrument inserted into the access assembly in a sealing relation; a centering mechanism configured to bias the valve assembly towards a generally centered position within the cavity of the instrument valve housing, the centering mechanism including a mesh having a toroidal shape, the mesh configured to be interposed between the lateral surface of the instrument valve housing and the flange seal member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The access assembly according to claim 14, wherein the mesh is disposed distally of the arcuate portion of the flange seal member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The access assembly according to claim 14, wherein the mesh defines a central opening and is transitionable between a first state, in which, the central opening of the mesh is in a generally centered position, and a second state, in which, the central opening of the mesh is radially displaced. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The access assembly according to claim 15, wherein the valve assembly includes a retainer frame assembly including first and second members, the retainer frame assembly configured to couple the flange mechanism, the flange seal member, and the seal assembly as a single construct. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The access assembly according to claim 16, wherein the central opening of the mesh is concentrically disposed with a central opening defined by the seal assembly. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The access assembly according to claim 15, wherein a portion of the arcuate portion of the flange seal member is in superposed relation with the mesh. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The access assembly according to claim 15, wherein the mesh is radially compressible such that a portion of the arcuate portion of the flange seal member engages the lateral surface of the instrument valve housing when at least a portion of the mesh is compressed.