Introducer seal assembly
AssigneeTyco Healthcare Group LP
InventorThomas Wenchell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A unique surgical system and method of use includes a seal assembly which is initially mountable about a surgical instrument. The surgical instrument with mounted seal assembly is thereafter positioned within a cannula assembly. The seal assembly forms a fluid tight seal within the interior of the cannula assembly while also forming a fluid tight seal about the surgical instrument. The seal assembly and the cannula assembly cooperate to permit angulation of the surgical instrument. A magnetic coupling assists in retaining the seal assembly within the cannula assembly.
Claims15
A surgical method, which comprises:
- accessing a body cavity with a surgical portal having a longitudinal passage extending therethrough;
- mounting a seal apparatus onto an instrument shaft of a surgical instrument whereby the instrument shaft is received within an aperture of the seal apparatus with inner seal portions defining the aperture forming a substantial seal about the instrument shaft;
- subsequent to the step of mounting the seal apparatus onto the instrument, at least partially positioning the instrument shaft within the longitudinal passage of the surgical portal;
- and
- establishing, with the seal apparatus, a substantial seal within the longitudinal passage of the surgical portal, wherein the step of establishing includes introducing the seal apparatus within a pair of resilient external mounting legs of the surgical portal whereby the mounting legs secure the seal apparatus.
A surgical kit, which comprises:
- a cannula including a cannula housing and a cannula sleeve distally extending from the housing, the cannula defining a longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal passage extending between the cannula housing and the cannula sleeve, the cannula sleeve adapted to access an underlying body cavity insufflated with gases;
- a pair of internal mounting legs at least partially disposed within the cannula housing and depending therefrom, the mounting legs adapted to move from an initial position to a radial outward position relative to the longitudinal axis, each mounting leg defining an inner mounting surface adjacent the longitudinal passage within the cannula housing, and a seal apparatus adapted to be received within the internal mounting legs, the seal apparatus including an outer seal segment and an inner seal segment defining a passage for sealed reception of a surgical instrument, the outer seal segment including an outer mounting surface and being dimensioncd whereby, upon positioning of the seal apparatus within the internal mounting legs, the mounting legs move from the initial position to the radial outward position to permit passage of the seal apparatus and, thereafter, return to the initial position, to thereby permit the inner mounting surfaces of the mounting legs to cooperatively engage the outer mounting surface of the outer seal segment to releasably retain the seal apparatus within the mounting legs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.