Pneumatic system for deployment of articulating arms for an access port

#1. Technical Field

#The present disclosure relates generally to surgical instruments for use with a seal anchor member. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to articulating surgical instruments usable with a seal anchor member that provides multiple instrument access through a single incision in a minimally invasive surgical procedure.

#2. Description of Related Art

#The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a surgical apparatus in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure illustrating an anchor member with articulating arms positioned relative to a tissue;

#FIG. 1A a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the surgical apparatus of FIG. 1;

#The present disclosure describes a surgical apparatus and methods of deploying articulating arms of a surgical apparatus into a triangulated position with the use of a fluid system such as a pneumatic or hydraulic balloon.

#Particular embodiments of the present disclosure will be described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in the drawings and as described throughout the following description, and as is traditional when referring to relative positioning on an object, the term “proximal” or “trailing” refers to the end of the apparatus that is closer to the user and the term “distal” or “leading” refers to the end of the apparatus that is farther from the user. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the present disclosure in unnecessary detail.

#One type of minimal invasive surgery described herein employs a device that facilitates multiple instrument access through a single incision. This is a minimally invasive surgical procedure, which permits a user to operate through a single entry point, typically the patient's navel. Additionally, the presently disclosed device may be used in a procedure where a naturally occurring orifice (e.g. vagina or anus) is the point of entry to the surgical site. The disclosed procedure involves insufflating the body cavity and positioning a portal member within, e.g., the navel of the patient. Instruments including an endoscope and additional instruments such as graspers, staplers, forceps or the like may be introduced within a portal member to carry out the surgical procedure. An example of such a surgical portal is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/244,024, Pub. No. US 2009/0093752 A1, filed Oct. 2, 2008, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.