Optical trocar

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to an apparatus for penetrating and for observing penetration of body tissue. More particularly, the present invention relates to a trocar assembly having an endoscope or laparoscope inserted therethrough to provide visual observation during penetration of the peritoneum or other body tissue.

#2. Description of the Related Art

#The preferred embodiments of the invention are described hereinbelow with reference to the drawings wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a side elevational view in partial cross-section of the apparatus according to the present invention, illustrating an endoscope positioned within a trocar assembly having a movable cutting blade;

#FIG. 1A is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the distal end of the apparatus of FIG. 1, illustrating the cutting blade in a non-deployed position;

#The apparatus of the present invention is provided to penetrate body tissue, e.g., the abdominal wall, and to provide a simultaneous forward directional view of the body tissue being penetrated. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a trocar assembly 10 having an obturator assembly 12 and a cannula assembly 14, and an endoscope 16 which is positioned within the obturator assembly to provide observation of the body tissue being penetrated. The term obturator assembly as used herein refers to the tissue penetrating assembly of the trocar assembly.

#Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, obturator assembly 12 includes housing 18 and a longitudinally extending obturator sleeve 20. Preferably, obturator housing 18 includes barrel portion 19 and hand grip 21. The proximal end of obturator sleeve 20 is secured within channel 22 of barrel portion 19 so that the obturator sleeve 20 extends outwardly from the obturator housing 18. Hand grip 21 is provided for manual gripping to facilitate penetration of the body tissue. Obturator sleeve 20 has a longitudinal bore 24 which extends between the proximal end and distal end. The longitudinal bore 24 is configured and dimensioned to receive the endoscopic portion 26 of the endoscope 16, as shown in FIG. 1.

#Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, an image passing member 28 is secured to the distal end of obturator sleeve 20 via retaining ring 30. In one embodiment, the image passing member is a transparent optical window fabricated from a variety of materials such as polystyrene, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polyurethane, transparent epoxies and/or glass or other transparent materials. (When made of plastic material, the cost is reduced.) The window, as shown in FIG. 3, includes a set of four substantially flat surfaces 28a, 28b, 28c and 28d. In this embodiment the flat surfaces of the optical window permit passage of the optical image into the longitudinal bore of the obturator sleeve so as to provide a clear image. The image passing member may alternately include a set of two conical surfaces 28f and 28g, shown in FIG. 4, which pass an optical image into the longitudinal bore 24 of obturator sleeve 20.