Access sealing apparatus and method
AssigneeApplied Medical Resources Corporation
InventorsScott V. Taylor, Henry Kahle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A surgical access device includes a seal housing and a roller disposed in the housing and defining a working channel. The roller may be stationary or moveable within the seal housing to form both a zero seal in the absence of an instrument, and an instrument seal in the presence of an instrument. Rotation of the roller is contemplated and low-friction surfaces are discussed to reduce instrument insertion forces. Multiple rollers, wiper elements, low-friction braid, pivoting elements and idler rollers are contemplated. The rollers will typically be formed of a gel material in order to facilitate the desired compliance, stretchability and elongation desired.
Claims67
A trocar adapted to provide access for a surgical instrument through a body wall and into a body cavity, comprising:
- a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end;
- a seal housing communicating with the cannula to define a working channel;
- a seal assembly disposed within the seal housing;
- at least one roller included in the seal assembly and having an axle supported by the seal housing;
- and
- the roller having properties for forming a zero seal in the absence of the instrument, and an instrument seal in the presence of the instrument.
A surgical combination, comprising:
- an instrument having a diameter of at least about one millimeter;
- an access device adapted to facilitate disposition of the instrument across a body wall;
- a cannula included in the access device and having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end;
- a seal housing communicating with the cannula, to define a working channel with the cannula;
- a seal assembly disposed within the seal housing of the access device;
- a roller included in the seal assembly, the roller being sized and configured to form a zero seal in the absence of the instrument and an instrument seal in the presence of the instrument.
A trocar assembly, including:
- a cannula extending along an axis between a proximal end and a distal end;
- a seal housing communicating with the cannula to define a working channel;
- a roller disposed within the seal housing, the roller being pivotal on an axis;
- a resilient material included in the roller and having properties susceptible to tearing in response to an instrument inserted into the working channel;
- and
- the roller being moveable by the inserted instrument to pivot the resilient material relative to the axis to inhibit tearing of the resilient material.
A trocar assembly, comprising:
- a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end;
- a seal housing communicating with the cannula to define a working channel;
- a roller having an outer surface pivotal on an axis and being disposed in proximity to an inner surface of the seal housing;
- and
- at least one wiper disposed between the outer surface of the roller and the inner surface of the housing.
A trocar assembly, comprising:
- a cannula having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end;
- a seal housing communicating with the cannula to define a working channel;
- a roller having an axle supported by the seal housing, the roller having properties for forming an instrument seal when an instrument is inserted into the working channel;
- a resilient material defining an outer surface of the roller;
- and
- portions of one of the resilient material and the axle defining at least one void.
A trocar assembly, comprising:
- a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end;
- a seal housing having an inner surface and being disposed at one of the proximal end and the distal end of the cannula;
- a roller having a resilient outer surface and an axle for pivoting the outer surface relative to the inner surface of the seal housing;
- and
- portions of the inner surface of the seal housing defining at least one recess configured and arranged to receive the axle.
A trocar assembly, comprising:
- a cannula having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end;
- a valve housing communicating with the cannula to define a working channel;
- a roller valve disposed on an axle in the valve housing and including a compliant material, the valve having properties for forming a zero seal across the working channel in the absence of the instrument, and an instrument seal across the working channel in the presence of the instrument;
- and
- the instrument seal having a diameter in radial cross-section ranging from a lower limit of about zero millimeters to an upper limit greater than about 6 millimeters.
The trocar assembly recited in claim G49, wherein the valve has properties for pivoting relative to the valve housing.
The trocar assembly recited in Clam 47, wherein the compliant material of the valve includes an inflatable bladder.
A seal assembly adapted to provide access for a surgical instrument across the body wall and into a body cavity, comprising:
- a cannula;
- a valve housing defining with the cannula a working channel and having an axis extending between a first end and a second end;
- a valve disposed in the valve housing and being movable within the valve housing between a first position and a second position;
- and
- the valve having first compression characteristics relative to the instrument at the first position, and second compression characteristics relative to the instrument at the second position.
A valve assembly adapted to receive an elongate object and to form an object seal with the object, the assembly comprising:
- a valve housing having a first opening at a first end and a second opening at a second end;
- a valve disposed in the valve housing and forming a housing seal with the valve housing;
- and
- the valve having properties for forming a first object seal when the object is inserted through the first opening at the first end of the valve assembly, and alternatively forming a second object seal when the object is inserted into the second opening at the second end of the valve housing.
A method of sealing a surgical access device, comprising the steps of:
- providing a cannula sized and configured for disposition across a body wall and into a body cavity;
- coupling the cannula to a seal housing to form a working channel;
- and
- sealing the working channel in the seal housing with a gel material to prevent any fluid flow through the working channel both in the presence of an instrument in the working channel and in the absence of an instrument in the working channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.