Trocar assembly with spring-loaded mechanism

An obturator assembly, which comprises:

• an obturator housing;
• an obturator sleeve connected to and extending from the obturator housing;
• an elongated obturator portion mounted with respect to the obturator housing, the obturator portion including proximal and distal ends, and having a penetrating tip associated with the distal end for penetrating tissue, the obturator portion longitudinally moveable between a disarmed position wherein the penetrating tip is contained within the obturator sleeve and an armed position wherein the penetrating tip at least partially extends beyond the distal end of the obturator sleeve;
• a releasable locking mechanism associated with the obturator portion, the releasable locking mechanism including a locking member engageable with one of the obturator sleeve and the obturator portion and moveable to an engaged position to releasably retain the obturator portion in the armed position, and a release member engageable with the locking member to move the locking member to a disengaged position thereof such that the locking member is disengaged from the one of the obturator sleeve and the obturator portion to thereby permit movement of the obturator portion to the disarmed position, the release member actuable to move the locking member to the disengaged position in response to forces exerted on the penetrating tip;
• and
• a protective guard coaxially mounted about the penetrating tip and being moveable relative to the penetrating tip between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein in the armed position of the obturator portion the protective guard moves to the retracted position in response to counterforce exerted by tissue on the protective guard during insertion through the tissue to thereby at least partially expose the penetrating tip for tissue penetration.