Trocar Support
AssigneeCilag GmbH International
InventorAndrew Beckman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various trocars and trocar supports are provided for allowing an insufflation port on the trocar to be coupled through the trocar support to an insufflation fluid. In one embodiment, the trocar includes a housing, a cannula extending through the housing, and an insufflation port projecting from the housing. A trocar support is provided having an opening that receives the insufflation port on the housing such that the insufflation port is unobtrusive during use and can be connected and disconnected rapidly.
Claims20
A method of supporting a trocar during robotic surgery, comprising:
- mounting a carrier to a distal end of a surgical robotic arm, wherein the carrier comprises a trocar support pivotably connected to the carrier;
- seating a trocar in the trocar support such that the trocar is retained in a substantially fixed position relative to the trocar support;
- with the trocar seated in the trocar support, pivoting the trocar support relative to the surgical robotic arm;
- and
- inserting a surgical tool through a tool pathway of the trocar while the trocar support retains the trocar in the substantially fixed position.
A method of supporting a trocar during robotic surgery, comprising:
- mounting a carrier to a distal end of a surgical robotic arm, the carrier comprising a trocar support pivotably connected to the carrier and an insufflation pathway extending through the carrier to the trocar support;
- seating a trocar in the trocar support such that an insufflation port on the trocar is placed in fluid communication with the insufflation pathway;
- with the trocar seated in the trocar support, pivoting the trocar support relative to the surgical robotic arm to position the trocar;
- and
- delivering insufflation fluid through the insufflation pathway and into the trocar while inserting a surgical tool through a tool pathway of the trocar.
A method of mounting a trocar to a surgical robotic arm, comprising:
- mounting a carrier to a distal end of the surgical robotic arm, the carrier including a trocar support having an insufflation pathway extending through the carrier to the trocar support and one or more alignment features provided on the trocar support;
- seating a trocar onto the trocar support by engaging one or more corresponding alignment features on the trocar with the alignment features provided on the trocar support, wherein seating the trocar establishes fluid communication between an insufflation port on the trocar and the insufflation pathway;
- and
- delivering insufflation fluid through the insufflation pathway and into the trocar while inserting a surgical tool through a tool pathway of the trocar.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.