Trocar cannula anchor and seal
AssigneeApollo Camera, LLC
InventorsJohn I. Shipp, Jeffrey White
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cannula assembly for use in laproscopic surgery includes a cannula having a proximal end for use in orientating the assembly into an abdominal cavity, a distal end for insertion into a patient, and a passage through which surgical instruments can be inserted. An expandable feature in the form of an anchor is located toward the distal end of the cannula and is selectively expandable and collapsible. The feature in its expanded state prevents withdrawal of the cannula. A collar is pushed distally until it releasably cinches to the outside of the abdominal cavity thereby creating an airtight seal and stabilizing the assembly. The collar has a friction fit with the cannula designed to prevent excessive force against the cavity walls.
Claims7
1-20. (canceled)
A cannula assembly having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis, said cannula assembly comprising:
- an inner sleeve;
- an outer sleeve coaxial with said inner sleeve, said outer sleeve being fixedly attached to said inner sleeve at the distal end of said cannula assembly, said outer sleeve having an exterior surface, said outer sleeve forming an anchor, said anchor being radially expandable from the longitudinal axis from a retracted position to an expanded position to anchor said cannula assembly to the body of a patient;
- and
- a collar having an internal surface adapted to form a friction fit with said exterior surface of said outer sleeve to permit said collar to move a portion of said outer sleeve relative to said inner sleeve and move said anchor from the retracted position to the expanded position when said collar is moved toward the distal end of said cannula assembly, said friction fit being configured to permit said collar to move relative to said outer sleeve only toward the distal end of said cannula assembly when said anchor is in the expanded position.
A method for anchoring and sealing a cannula assembly to the body of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing the cannula assembly having a proximal end, a distal end, a radially expandable anchor toward the distal end, and a longitudinally movable collar;
- inserting the cannula assembly to a depth sufficient to place the anchor in a retracted position within the patient;
- and
- expanding the anchor by moving the collar toward the distal end of the cannula assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.