Granted Patent B2

US 7,112,185 · App. 10/948,383 · Granted Sep 26, 2006

Abstract

Claims (74)

1. A trocar seal adapted to form a seal around a surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end and forming a working channel sized and configured to receive the surgical instrument;

an elastomeric septum seal having a proximal face and a distal face, the septum seal being disposed in the housing and extending transverse to the axis of the housing across the working channel;

portions of the septum seal defining a hole having a diameter less than or equal to the diameter of the surgical instrument so that during insertion of the instrument along the working channel the septum seal forms a seal with the instrument; and

at least one structure formed integrally with or proximate to the septum seal to prevent inversion of the septum seal upon withdrawal of the surgical instrument;

wherein the structure is integrally formed on the proximal face of the septum seal to reinforce the seal.

2. A trocar seal adapted to form a seal around a surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end and forming a working channel sized and configured to receive the surgical instrument;

an elastomeric septum seal having a proximal face and a distal face, the septum seal being disposed in the housing and extending transverse to the axis of the housing across the working channel;

portions of the septum seal defining a hole having a diameter less than or equal to the diameter of the surgical instrument so that during insertion of the instrument along the working channel the septum seal forms a seal with the instrument; and

at least one structure formed integrally with or proximate to the septum seal to prevent inversion of the septum seal upon withdrawal of the surgical instrument;

wherein the structure is integrally formed on the distal face of the septum seal to tether the distal face of the seal downward.

3. The trocar seal of claim 2 , wherein the structure is an annular reinforcement.

4. The trocar seal of claim 3 , wherein the annular reinforcement is formed so as not to prevent side-to-side movement or floatation of the seal.

5. The trocar seal of claim 1 , wherein the structure is an annular reinforcement.

6. The trocar seal of claim 2 , wherein the structure is an annular rib.

7. The trocar seal of claim 6 , wherein the annular rib is formed so as not to prevent floatation of the seal.

8. The trocar seal of claim 1 , wherein the structure is an annular rib.

9. The trocar seal of claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of radially extending ribs formed on the distal face of the septum seal to reinforce the seal.

10. The trocar seal of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of radially extending ribs are formed so as not to prevent floatation of the seal.

11. The trocar seal of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of radially extending ribs formed on the proximal face of the septum seal to reinforce the seal.

12. The trocar seal of claim 2 , further comprising a tensile element formed on the distal face of the septum seal.

13. The trocar seal of claim 12 , wherein the tensile element is formed from surgical suture, an elastomer, a thermoplastic, or a metal wire.

14. A trocar seal adapted to form a seal around a surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end and forming a working channel sized and configured to receive the surgical instrument;

an elastomeric septum seal having a proximal face and a distal face, the septum seal being disposed in the housing and extending transverse to the axis of the housing across the working channel;

portions of the septum seal defining a hole having a diameter less than or equal to the diameter of the surgical instrument so that during insertion of the instrument along the working channel the septum seal forms a seal with the instrument; and

at least one structure formed integrally with or proximate to the septum seal to prevent inversion of the septum seal upon withdrawal of the surgical instrument;

wherein the structure includes any structure disposed distally of the septum seal and is placed in tension when the seal is moved proximally.

15. A trocar seal adapted to form a seal around a surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end and forming a working channel sized and configured to receive the surgical instrument;

an elastomeric septum seal having a proximal face and a distal face, the septum seal being disposed in the housing and extending transverse to the axis of the housing across the working channel;

portions of the septum seal defining a hole having a diameter less than or equal to the diameter of the surgical instrument so that during insertion of the instrument along the working channel the septum seal forms a seal with the instrument; and

at least one structure formed integrally with or proximate to the septum seal to prevent inversion of the septum seal upon withdrawal of the surgical instrument;

wherein the structure includes any structure disposed proximally of the septum seal and is placed in compression when the seal is moved proximally.

16. A trocar adapted to form a seal around a surgical instrument, comprising:

a cannula having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end;

a housing disposed at the proximal of the cannula and forming with the cannula a working channel sized and configured to receive the surgical instrument;

an elastomeric septum seal having a proximal face and a distal face, the septum seal being disposed in the housing and extending transverse to the axis of the cannula across the working channel;

portions of the septum seal defining a hole having a diameter less than or equal to the diameter of the surgical instrument so that during insertion of the instrument along the working channel the septum seal forms a seal with the instrument; and

at least one structure formed integrally with or proximate to the septum seal to prevent inversion of the septum seal upon withdrawal of the surgical instrument;

wherein the structure is integrally formed on the proximal face of the septum seal to reinforce the seal.

17. A trocar adapted to form a seal around a surgical instrument, comprising:

a cannula having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end;

a housing disposed at the proximal of the cannula and forming with the cannula a working channel sized and configured to receive the surgical instrument;

an elastomeric septum seal having a proximal face and a distal face, the septum seal being disposed in the housing and extending transverse to the axis of the cannula across the working channel;

portions of the septum seal defining a hole having a diameter less than or equal to the diameter of the surgical instrument so that during insertion of the instrument along the working channel the septum seal forms a seal with the instrument; and

at least one structure formed integrally with or proximate to the septum seal to prevent inversion of the septum seal upon withdrawal of the surgical instrument;

wherein the structure is integrally formed on the distal face of the septum seal to tether the distal face of the seal downward.

18. The trocar of claim 17 , wherein the structure is an annular reinforcement.

19. The trocar of claim 18 , wherein the annular reinforcement is formed so as not to prevent side-to-side movement or floatation of the seal.

20. The trocar of claim 16 , wherein the structure is an annular reinforcement.

21. The trocar of claim 17 , wherein the structure is an annular rib.

22. The trocar of claim 21 , wherein the annular rib is formed so as not to prevent side-to-side movement or floatation of the seal.

23. The trocar of claim 16 , wherein the structure is an annular rib.

24. The trocar of claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of radially extending ribs formed on the distal face of the septum seal to reinforce the seal.

25. The trocar of claim 24 , wherein the plurality of radially extending ribs are formed so as not to prevent side-to-side movement or floatation of the seal.

26. The trocar of claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of radially extending ribs formed on the proximal face of the septum seal to reinforce the seal.

27. The trocar of claim 17 , further comprising a tensile element formed on the distal face of the septum seal.

28. The trocar of claim 27 , wherein the tensile element is formed from surgical suture, an elastomer, a thermoplastic, or a metal wire.

29. A trocar adapted to form a seal around a surgical instrument, comprising:

a cannula having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end;

a housing disposed at the proximal of the cannula and forming with the cannula a working channel sized and configured to receive the surgical instrument;

an elastomeric septum seal having a proximal face and a distal face, the septum seal being disposed in the housing and extending transverse to the axis of the cannula across the working channel;

portions of the septum seal defining a hole having a diameter less than or equal to the diameter of the surgical instrument so that during insertion of the instrument along the working channel the septum seal forms a seal with the instrument; and

at least one structure formed integrally with or proximate to the septum seal to prevent inversion of the septum seal upon withdrawal of the surgical instrument;

wherein the structure includes any structure disposed distally of the septum seal and is placed in tension when the seal is moved proximally.

30. A trocar adapted to form a seal around a surgical instrument, comprising:

a cannula having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end;

a housing disposed at the proximal of the cannula and forming with the cannula a working channel sized and configured to receive the surgical instrument;

an elastomeric septum seal having a proximal face and a distal face, the septum seal being disposed in the housing and extending transverse to the axis of the cannula across the working channel;

portions of the septum seal defining a hole having a diameter less than or equal to the diameter of the surgical instrument so that during insertion of the instrument along the working channel the septum seal forms a seal with the instrument; and

at least one structure formed integrally with or proximate to the septum seal to prevent inversion of the septum seal upon withdrawal of the surgical instrument;

wherein the structure includes any structure disposed proximally of the septum seal and is placed in compression when the seal is moved proximally.

Assignments (7)