US 2003/0195472 A1 · Valve assembly for introducing instruments into body cavities

Abstract

A valve assembly is provided for permitting the introduction of a surgical instrument into a patient's body while providing a substantial seal about the instrument. The valve assembly includes a sealing gasket assembly providing a fluid tight seal before instrument insertion, and is configured and dimensioned for accommodating an instrument and providing a substantial fluid tight seal after insertion of an instrument. The valve assembly may further include a deformable sealing member having a substantially central aperture for accommodating the instrument. The sealing member provides a substantial seal about the instrument when the instrument is passed therethrough impeding the egress of fluids and gasses through the valve assembly.

Claims47

Dependent claims

A valve assembly for maintaining a substantial fluid tight seal between an internal portion of a patient's body and an outside atmosphere during introduction of a surgical instrument into the patient's body, which comprises:

at least one sealing gasket assembly including at least a pair of overlapping elements defining a passageway therethrough, said elements forming a substantial gas tight seal prior to inserting an instrument therethrough, said elements being constructed of a flexible material to allow passage of said instrument through said passageway;
and
at least one deformable sealing element fabricated at least in part from a flexibly resilient material and defining a substantially central aperture for accommodating said instrument such that said flexibly resilient material defining said aperture engages the surface of the instrument to provide a substantially fluid tight seal for preventing passage of fluids past said deformable sealing element.

A cannula assembly for a trocar assembly, said cannula assembly adapted to maintain a substantial seal between a cavity inside of a patient's body and an outside atmosphere, said cannula assembly comprising:

a tubular body portion;
a cannula valve housing positioned at a proximal end of said tubular body portion of said cannula;
sealing structure comprising at least one sealing gasket assembly having first and second overlapping elements defining a passageway therethrough, said elements forming a substantial fluid and gas tight seal prior to inserting an instrument therethrough, said elements being constructed of a flexible material to allow passage of said instrument through said passageway;
and
said sealing gasket assembly being couplable to a frame such that said first and second overlapping elements are tensioned for biasing said overlapping elements in a closed position prior to an instrument passing therethrough.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Valve assembly for introducing instruments into body cavities

Life of this patent

Valve assembly for introducing instruments into body cavities

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims47