US 5,743,884 A · Sealing structure for medical instrument

Abstract

A sealing structure for an elongate medical instrument. The sealing structure includes a first sealing member having a first body with oppositely facing first and second surfaces and a peripheral edge and a second sealing member having a second body with oppositely facing third and fourth surfaces and a peripheral edge. A housing has a peripheral wall to surroundingly engage the peripheral edges of the first and second bodies with the first and second sealing members in operative relationship, wherein the second surface on the first body facially abuts to the third surface on the second body. The first body has at least a first portion that is compressible and deformable, with the second body having at least a second portion that is likewise compressible and deformable. There is an opening in the first portion of the first body that extends through the first body from the first surface to the second surface. There is an opening in the second portion of the second body that extends through the second body from the third surface to the fourth surface. The openings in the first and second bodies are expandable to allow the first and second bodies to grippingly engage an elongate medical instrument extended through the openings in the first and second bodies with the first and second sealing members in operative relationship.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A sealing structure for an elongate medical instrument, said sealing structure comprising:

a first sealing member having a first body with oppositely facing first and second surfaces and a peripheral edge;
a second sealing member having a second body with oppositely facing third and fourth surfaces and a peripheral edge;
and
a housing having a peripheral wall to surroundingly engage the peripheral edges of the first and second bodies with the first and second sealing members in operative relationship,
said first body having at least a first portion that is compressible and deformable,
said second body having at least a second portion that is compressible and deformable,
there being an opening in the first portion of the first body that has a central axis extends through the first body from the first surface to the second surface,
there being an opening in the second portion of the second body that has a central axis extends through the second body from the third surface to the fourth surface,
the openings in the first and second bodies being expandable to allow the first and second bodies to grippingly engage an elongate medical instrument extended through the openings in the first and second bodies with the first and second sealing members in operative relationship the second surface on the first body facially abutting to the third surface on the second body with the first and second sealing members in operative relationship with the first and second sealing members substantially undeformed along the central axis of the openings in the first and second bodies.

6 more elements

A sealing structure for an elongate medical instrument, said sealing structure comprising:

a first disc-shaped sealing member having a first body with oppositely facing first and second flat surfaces and a peripheral edge;
a second disc-shaped sealing member having a second body with oppositely facing third and fourth flat surfaces and a peripheral edge;
and
a third disc-shaped sealing member having a third body with oppositely facing fifth and sixth flat surfaces and a peripheral edge,
said first, second and third sealing members in an operative relationship engaging each other,
said first body having at least a first portion that is compressible and deformable with there being an opening through the first portion extending from the first flat surface to the second flat surface,
said second body having at least a second portion that is compressible and deformable with there being an opening through the second portion extending from the third flat surface to the fourth flat surface,
said third body having at least a third portion that is compressible and deformable with there being an opening through the third portion extending from the fifth flat surface to the sixth flat surface,
the openings in the first, second and third portions of the first, second and third bodies being aligned with the first, second and third sealing members in operative relationship so that an elongate medical instrument can be directed through the openings in the first, second and third portions of the first, second, and third bodies to be gippingly engaged by the first, second and third portions of the first, second and third bodies, the second flat surface on the first body facially abutting the third flat surface on the second body and the fourth flat surface on the second body facially abutting the fifth flat surface on the third body with the first, second, and third sealing members in the operative relationship, with the first, second and third sealing members substantially undeformed along the central axes of the openings in the first, second and third sealing members.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Sealing structure for medical instrument

Life of this patent

Sealing structure for medical instrument

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27