Flapper valve for an insufflation cannula assembly

A flapper valve for an insufflation cannula assembly, the cannula assembly including a cannula defining a cannula passage and a housing mounted on one end of the cannula and having an opening formed therein, the flapper valve being mounted in the housing of the assembly, the flapper valve comprising:

• a valve seat formed of a resilient material and situated at the housing opening, said valve seat having an opening formed therein said valve seat opening being in communication with the cannula passage and being adapted to allow a surgical instrument to pass therethrough and into the cannula passage, said valve seat having an annular portion of reduced thickness defining said opening, said annular portion thereby being of greater flexibility than adjacent portions thereof;
• a valve plug having a conically or frusto-conically shaped front face which engages said valve seat, said valve plug being adapted to engage said valve seat at said opening thereof and to form a seal therewith, said plug further having a circular endless ridge at the proximal end defining a recessed reservoir for collection of blood or other body fluids, said ridge being engageable by an instrument inserted into said valve seat opening and the cannula when the valve plug is seated against said valve seat;
• means for mounting said valve plug in the housing and for pivoting said valve plug into and out of engagement with said annular portion of said valve seat;
• and
• biasing means for biasing said valve plug into engagement with said valve seat.

An insufflation cannula assembly which comprises:

• a cannula having opposite end portions;
• a housing mounted on one end of the cannula, said housing having an opening formed therein;
• and
• flapper valve means mounted in the housing, said flapper valve means including a valve seat disposed at the housing opening and having an opening formed therein to allow a surgical instrument to pass therethrough and into the cannula, said valve seat formed of a resilient material and having an annular portion of reduced thickness defining said opening, said annular portion being of greater flexibility than adjacent portions thereof due to said reduced thickness, a valve plug adapted to engage said valve seat at the opening thereof and to form a seal with said valve seat, and means for mounting said valve plug and for pivoting said valve plug into and out of engagement with said valve seat, said valve plug including a circular ridge at the proximal side and defining a recessed reservoir in said valve plug dimensioned and configured for collecting blood or other body fluids, whereby said resilient annular flexible portion of said valve seat provides a substantially gas tight seal and insertion of an endoscope or other instrument into said valve opening and said cannula causes the endoscope to engage said circular ridge at the proximal side of said valve plug.

An insufflation cannula assembly, which comprises:

• a cannula, the cannula having opposite ends;
• a housing mounted on one end of the cannula, the housing having an opening formed therein;
• and
• a flapper valve mounted in the housing, said
• flapper valve comprising a valve seat disposed at the housing opening and having an opening formed therein to allow a surgical instrument to pass therethrough and into the cannula, a valve plug adapted to engage the valve seat at the opening thereof and to form with the valve seat a substantially fluidtight seal, said valve plug being having means on the proximal side to prevent collection of body fluids in a manner which would transfer the body fluid to the distal face of an instrument when an instrument engages said valve plug, and means for mounting the valve plug and for pivoting the plug into and out of engagement with the valve seat, the valve plug being movable on the plug mounting means so as to be self-aligning with the valve seat opening when the plug and valve seat are in engagement.

A flapper valve for an insufflation cannula assembly, the cannula assembly including a cannula defining a cannula passage and a housing mounted at one end of the cannula and having an opening formed therein, the flapper valve being mounted in the housing of the assembly, comprising:

• a valve seat situated at the housing opening, said valve seat having an opening formed therein and being in communication with said cannula passage and being adapted to allow a surgical instrument to pass therethrough and into the cannula passage;
• a valve plug adapted to engage the valve seat at the opening thereof and to form therewith a substantially gas tight seal, the proximal side of said valve plug being engageable by a surgical instrument passing through said valve seat and into the cannula passage when the valve plug is seated in engagement with the valve seat;
• means for mounting said valve plug in said housing an for pivoting said plug into and out of engagement with said valve seat;
• means for biasing said valve plug into engagement with said valve seat;
• and
• means on the proximal side of said valve plug for collecting body fluids which accumulate on said proximal side and to prevent transfer of fluid to a distal surface of the instrument when the instrument engages said valve plug.