Endoscopic portal having multiple universal seals and method of introducing instruments therethrough

An endoscopic portal for establishing communication with a body cavity for the introduction of instruments through the endoscopic portal comprising

• a first seal having a variable size passage to permit instruments of varying sizes to be passed therethrough, said first seal being disposed in a closed position wherein said variable size passage is closed and being movable to an open position wherein said variable size passage is open;
• a second seal disposed distally of said first seal and having a variable size passage axially aligned with said variable size passage of said first seal to permit instruments of varying sizes to be passed therethrough, said second seal being disposed in a closed position wherein said variable size passage of said second seal is closed and being movable to an open position wherein said variable size passage of said second seal is open;
• a tubular expander disposed between said first seal and said second seal in alignment with said variable size passages and including proximal and distal ends;
• a housing mounting said first and second seals and said tubular expander, said tubular expander being movable relative to said housing to be insertable in said seals to move said seals from said closed position to said open position such that instruments of various sizes can be introduced through said tubular expander and said seals, said tubular expander being withdrawable from said seals such that said seals are biased toward said closed positions to contact instruments of various sizes in said variable size passages to form a seal therewith;
• and
• a bias member biasing said tubular expander toward a rest position between said first and second seals where said proximal and distal ends of said tubular expander are axially spaced from respective variable size passages of said first and second seals so that said seals will normally be in said respective closed positions said tubular expander being movable proximally relative to said housing to cause said proximal end to be inserted into said first seal and distally relative to said housing to cause said distal end to be inserted into said second seal.

An endoscopic portal for establishing communication with a body cavity for the introduction of instruments through the endoscopic portal comprising

• a first seal having a variable size passage to permit instruments of varying sizes to be passed therethrough, said first seal being disposed in a closed position wherein said variable size passage is closed and being movable to an open position wherein said variable size passage is open;
• a second seal disposed distally of said first seal and having a variable size passage axially aligned with said variable size passage of said first seal to permit instruments of varying sizes to be passed therethrough, said second seal being disposed in a closed position wherein said variable size passage of said second seal is closed and being movable to an open position wherein said variable size passage of said second seal is open;
• a tubular expander disposed between said first seal and said second seal in alignment with said variable size passages and including proximal and distal ends, said tubular expander being insertable in at least one of said seals to move said at least one seal from said closed position to said open position such that instruments of various sizes can be introduced through said tubular expander and said at least one seal, said tubular expander being withdrawable from said at least one seal such that said at least one seal is biased toward said closed position to contact instruments of various sizes in said variable size passage of said at least one seal to form a seal therewith;
• a housing mounting said first and second seals and said tubular expander, at least one of said seals being movable relative to said housing to receive said tubular expander in a manner to move said at least one seal from said closed position to said open position such that instruments of various sizes can be introduced through said tubular expander and said at least one seal, said first seal being movable distally relative to said tubular expander to cause said proximal end of said tubular expander to be inserted therethrough, and said second seal being movable proximally relative to said tubular expander to cause said distal end of said tubular expander to be inserted therethrough.

An endoscopic portal for establishing communication with a body cavity for the introduction of instruments through the endoscopic portal comprising

• a first seal having a variable size passage to permit instruments of varying sizes to be passed therethrough, said first seal being disposed in a closed position wherein said variable size passage is closed and being movable to an open position wherein said variable size passage is open;
• a second seal disposed distaly of said first seal and having a variable size passage axially aligned with said variable size passage of said first seal to permit instruments of varying sizes to be passed therethrough, said second seal being disposed in a closed position wherein said variable size passage of said second seal is closed and being movable to an open position wherein said variable size passage of said second seal is open;
• a first tubular expander disposed proximally of said first seal in alignment with said variable size passage of said first seal and being insertable in said first seal to move said first seal from said closed position to said open position such that instruments of various sizes can be introduced through said first tubular expander and said first seal, said first tubular expander being withdrawable from said first seal such that said first seal is biased toward said closed position to contact instruments of various sizes in said variable size passage of said first seal to form a seal therewith;
• and
• a second tubular expander disposed distally of said second seal in alignment with said variable size passage of said second seal, said second tubular expander being insertable in said second seal to move said second seal from said closed position to said open position such that instruments of various sizes can be introduced through said second tubular expander and said second seal, said second tubular expander being withdrawable from said second seal such that said second seal is biased toward said closed position to contact instruments of various sizes in said variable size passage of said second seal to form a seal therewith.

An endoscopic portal for establishing communication with a body cavity for the introduction of instruments through the endoscopic portal comprising

• a first seal having a variable size passage to permit instruments of varying sizes to be passed therethrough, said first seal being disposed in a closed position wherein said variable size passage is closed and being movable to an open position wherein said variable size passage is open;
• a second seal disposed distally of said first seal and having a variable size passage axially aligned with said variable size passage of said first seal to permit instruments of varying sizes to be passed therethrough, said second seal being dispose d in a closed position wherein said variable size passage of said second seal is closed and being movable to an open position wherein said variable size passage of said second seal is open;
• a tubular expander disposed between said first seal and said second seal in alignment with said variable size passages and being insertable in at least one of said seals to move said at least one seal from said closed position to said open position such that instruments of various sizes can be introduced through said tubular expander and said at least one seal, said tubular expander being withdrawable from said at least one seal such that said at least one seal is biased toward said closed position to contact instruments of various sizes in said variable size passage of said at least one seal to form a seal therewith;
• and
• a housing mounting said first and second seals and said tubular expander, at least one of said seals being movable relative to said housing to receive said tubular expander therein in a manner to move said at least one seal from said closed position to said open position such that instruments of various sizes can be introduced through said tubular expander and said at least one seal, said housing including first and second endcaps slidably mounted at axially opposed ends of said housing, said first seal being mounted in said first endcap and said second seal mounted in said second endcap and said tubular expander being fixedly mounted in said housing between said endcaps.

An endoscopic portal for establishing communication with a body cavity for the introduction of instruments through the endoscopic portal comprising

• a first seal having a variable size passage to permit instruments of varying sizes to be passed therethrough, said first seal being disposed in a closed position wherein said variable size passage is closed and being movable to an open position wherein said variable size passage is open;
• a second seal disposed distally of said first seal and having a variable size passage axially aligned with said variable size passage of said first seal to permit instruments of varying sizes to be passed therethrough, said second seal being disposed in a closed position wherein said variable size passage of said second seal is closed and being movable to an open position wherein said variable size passage of said second seal is open;
• a tubular expander disposed between said first seal and said second seal in alignment with said variable size passages and being insertable in at least one of said seals to move said at least one seal from said closed position to said open position such that instruments of various sizes can be introduced through said tubular expander and said at least one seal, said tubular expander being withdrawable from said at least one seal such that said at least one seal is biased toward said closed position to contact instruments of various sizes in said variable size passage of said at least one seal to form a seal therewith;
• a housing mounting said first and second seals and said tubular expander, said tubular expander being movable relative to said housing to be insertable in at least one of said seals;
• and
• a handle extending through a slot in said housing to couple with said tubular expander.

A method of introducing an instrument in a body cavity using a sleeve having a distal end, a proximal end and a lumen between the distal and proximal ends, a first seal having a variable size passage, a second seal disposed distally of the first seal and having a variable size passage axially aligned with the variable size passage of the first seal, and a tubular expander longitudinally aligned with the variable size passages and being insertable in at least one of the seals, said method comprising the steps of

• introducing the distal end of the sleeve in a body cavity;
• moving the tubular expander into the variable size passage of the first seal to enlarge the variable size passage to receive an instrument;
• introducing the instrument through the tubular expander such that the instrument extends through the first seal;
• withdrawing the tubular expander from the variable size passage of the first seal to allow the first seal to resiliently engage the instrument and form a seal therewith;
• moving the tubular expander into the variable size passage of the second seal to enlarge the variable size passage to receive the instrument;
• advancing the instrument distally through the tubular expander such that the instrument extends through the second seal;
• and
• withdrawing the tubular expander from the variable size passage of the second seal such that the second seal resiliently engages the instrument and forms a seal therewith.

An endoscopic portal for establishing communication with a body cavity for the introduction of instruments through the endoscopic portal comprising

• a first seal having a variable size passage to permit instruments of varying sizes to be passed therethrough, said first seal being disposed in a closed position wherein said variable size passage is closed and being movable to an open position wherein said variable size passage is open;
• a second seal disposed distally of said first seal and having a variable size passage axially aligned with said variable size passage of said first seal to permit instruments of varying sizes to be passed therethrough, said second seal being disposed in a closed position wherein said variable size passage of said second seal is closed and being movable to an open position wherein said variable size passage of said second seal is open;
• a tubular expander aligned with said variable size passages and being insertable in at least one of said seals to move said at least one seal from said closed position to said open position such that instruments of various sizes can be introduced through said tubular expander and said at least one seal, said tubular expander being withdrawable from said at least one seal such that said at least one seal is biased toward said closed position to contact instruments of various sizes in said variable size passage of said at least one seal to form a seal therewith;
• a housing mounting said first and second seals and said tubular expander;
• and
• a bias member disposed in said housing and maintaining said tubular expander in a position of withdrawal from said at least one seal such that said at least one seal is biased toward said closed position, said bias member permitting movement of said tubular expander to a position of insertion in said at least one seal such that said at least one seal is moved to said open position.