US 5,752,938 A · Seal for surgical instruments

Abstract

An adaptable seal for use in a trocar or trocar converter is provided. The seal comprises a membrane having a radially proximal edge and a radially distal edge, at least one lobe terminating at said band, and preferably a band located at the radially proximal edge. The seal is thus able to adaptably receive surgical instruments of various diameters. The seal may further comprise means for forming a fluid-tight seal between the upper surface and the lower surface of the seal when an elongated object is received through an aperture in the seal, and at least one trough or wall. A seal according to the present invention is able to accommodate radial movement of the surgical instrument within the cannula of a trocar. A trocar and a trocar converter also fall within the purview of the present invention.

Claims34

Dependent claims

An adaptable seal for sealably receiving elongated surgical objects of various diameters, said adaptable seal comprising:

a membrane, said membrane having an aperture adapted to receive said elongated surgical object, said aperture being defined by a perimeter edge having a normal non-sealing position when said surgical instrument is absent and a sealing position against said surgical instrument when said surgical instrument is present, and
at least one lobe in said membrane, said lobe originating at said aperture providing accumulated material allowing said perimeter edge to expand as said surgical instrument is inserted without stretching the perimeter edge;
wherein said band defines an adjustable aperture which expands for various sizes of surgical instruments without excessive friction against said instrument for receiving said elongated objects without undue frictional contact.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Seal for surgical instruments

Life of this patent

Seal for surgical instruments

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims34