Valve assembly for introducing instruments into body cavities
AssigneeUnited States Surgical Corporation
InventorsRoy D. Gravener, Alex Ianniruberto, Michael Ciccolella
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Abstract
A valve assembly adapted for introduction of surgical instruments into a patient's body includes a valve body formed of a flexibly resilient material which defines an aperture for reception of the instrument. The aperture is configured and dimensioned such that insertion of the instrument into the aperture will cause the resilient material of the valve body to resiliently engage the outer surface of the instrument in a substantially gas tight manner. The valve assembly includes a biasing member for closing the valve body to form a gas tight seal prior to inserting the instrument therethrough.
Claims20
In a cannula subassembly which includes a cannula housing, a cannula mounted to said cannula housing, and a valve body mounted within said cannula housing, said valve body defining an opening for receipt of a surgical instrument, the improvement comprising:
- a plurality of projecting members monolithically formed on and projecting from said valve body surrounding said opening.
A cannula subassembly including a cannula housing and a cannula mounted to said housing, said cannula subassembly comprising:
- a valve body positioned within said cannula housing formed of a flexibly resilient material and defining a first substantially round aperture;
- and
- at least one ridge member monolithically formed on and protruding from said valve body within said substantially round aperture,
- wherein said ridge member permits said valve body to define a second, substantially round aperture of a lesser cross-section than said first substantially round aperture.
A cannula subassembly including a cannula housing and a cannula mounted to said cannula housing, comprising:
- a valve body formed of a resilient material mounted in said cannula housing, said valve body tapering from a proximal end having a circular opening of a first diameter to a cylindrical portion defining a circular opening having a second diameter, said first diameter being greater than said second diameter, and
- at least one ridge member on said valve body within said cylindrical portion, said ridge member permitting said valve body to define a substantially round aperture of a third diameter, said third diameter being less than said second diameter.
A cannula subassembly including a cannula housing and a cannula mounted to said cannula housing, comprising:
- a valve body formed of a resilient material mounted in said cannula housing, said valve body defining a tapered portion which tapers from a proximal end having a circular opening of a first diameter to a cylindrical portion defining a circular opening having a second diameter, said first diameter being greater than said second diameter, and
- a plurality of inwardly protruding members on said tapered portion of said valve body,
- wherein said protruding members guide an element passed through said circular opening of said first diameter toward said cylindrical portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.