Trocar insertion apparatus

An apparatus for facilitating the insertion of an expansion assembly distally through a radially expandable dilation assembly into a body cavity of a patient, the apparatus comprising:

• a handle;
• a trigger operatively coupled to the handle, the trigger being pivotable between a first position, spaced a distance from the handle, and a second position, in close proximity to the handle;
• a spine member having a proximal end and a distal end, the spine member being slidably received within the handle, the spine member being axially moveable relative to the handle upon a manipulation of the trigger from the open position to the closed position;
• an actuation mechanism in operative engagement with the handle, the trigger and the spine member, the actuation mechanism being releasably engagable with the spine member and, when engaged with the spine member, axially moves the spine member relative to the handle upon movement of the trigger to the closed position;
• an expansion assembly retaining structure operatively coupled to the handle, the expansion assembly retaining structure being configured and dimensioned to selectively receive the expansion assembly to substantially inhibit axial movement of the expansion assembly relative to the handle;
• and
• a yoke provided at the distal end of the spine member, the yoke being configured and dimensioned to selectively receive the dilation assembly to substantially inhibit axial movement of the dilation assembly relative to the spine member, wherein the handle and the spine member are configured to maintain axial alignment between the expansion assembly and the dilation assembly.

A kit for providing access to a target surgical site, comprising:

• a radially expandable dilation assembly;
• a pneumoperitoneum needle assembly;
• a stylet;
• an expansion assembly;
• an obturator;
• an expansion assembly insertion apparatus for forming and enlarging a percutaneous penetration, the expansion assembly insertion apparatus including a first arm and a second arm, wherein the first arm is configured and dimensioned to selectively receive the dilation assembly to substantially inhibit axial movement of the dilation assembly relative to the first arm and the second arm is configured and dimensioned to selectively receive the expansion assembly to substantially inhibit axial movement of the expansion assembly relative to the second arm, wherein the first arm and the second arm are configured to maintain alignment between the dilation assembly and the expansion assembly;
• and
• a package for enclosing the radially expandable dilation assembly, the pneumoperitoneum needle assembly, the stylet, the expansion assembly, the obturator, and the expansion assembly insertion apparatus.