Trocar having protector with flexible end

An improved surgical trocar comprising a cannula assembly including a sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end and a passageway therethrough and a housing having an opening and being located at said proximal end of said sleeve, said housing opening being aligned with said passageway of said sleeve, an obturator assembly insertable into said cannula assembly and including a handle, an obturator shaft having a proximal end connected to said handle and a distal end opposite said proximal end, and a penetrating tip located at said distal end of said obturator shaft, wherein the improvement comprises:

• a protector having a distal end and slidably disposed around said obturator shaft for covering said penetrating tip of said obturator shaft in a protected position, said protector having an aperture at said distal end for permitting said penetrating tip of said obturator shaft to pass therethrough;
• said protector also having a flexible proximal end movable against said handle for moving said protector to a retracted position from said protected position in order to expose said penetrating tip past said protector aperture and said sleeve distal end upon a proximal force being exerted upon said protector, said protector returning to said protected position when said proximal force is released from said protector.