Obturator tips
View Patent ↗A surgical instrument for use with a surgical portal apparatus is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes an elongate shaft and a dilating member disposed at the distal end of the elongate shaft. The elongate shaft has proximal and distal ends and defines a longitudinal axis. The dilating member has an outer surface that includes at least one atraumatic edge member. The at least one atraumatic edge member extends proximally from a tip of the dilating member. The dilating member has a first substantially triangular cross-section disposed transverse to the longitudinal axis.
1. A surgical instrument for use with a surgical portal apparatus comprising:
an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends and defining a longitudinal axis; and
a dilating member disposed at the distal end of the elongate shaft and including a tip, wherein an entire outer surface of the tip is atraumatic and includes:
a first portion having a transverse cross-sectional configuration including three curvate sides curving away from the central longitudinal axis;
a second portion extending distally from the first portion, the second portion having a transverse cross-sectional configuration including three substantially planar sides;
a third portion extending distally from the second portion, the third portion having a transverse cross-sectional configuration including three curvate sides curving towards the central longitudinal axis.
2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the elongate shaft defines a central longitudinal axis.
3. The surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein the tip of the dilating member is aligned with the central longitudinal axis.
4. The surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein the tip of the dilating member is offset with respect to the central longitudinal axis.
5. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the dilating member has a substantially tapered profile.
6. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the tip of the dilating member is substantially blunt.
7. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein an entirety of the dilating member includes an atraumatic configuration free of any surfaces configured and dimensioned to sever tissue.
8. A surgical instrument for use with a surgical portal apparatus, comprising:
an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends and defining a central longitudinal axis; and
a dilating member disposed at the distal end of the elongate shaft, the dilating member tapered distally to a curvate tip, an entirety of the dilating member being atraumatic, the dilating member including:
a first portion having a transverse cross-sectional configuration including three sides curved away from the longitudinal axis;
a second portion extending distally from the first portion and having a triangular transverse cross-sectional configuration including three sides; and
a third portion extending distally from the second portion and having a transverse cross-sectional configuration including three sides, each of the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion having a different transverse cross-sectional configuration.
9. The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein the three sides of the third portion are curved with respect to the central longitudinal axis.
10. The surgical instrument of claim 9 , wherein the three sides of the third portion are curved towards the central longitudinal axis.
11. The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein the dilating member includes an outer surface free of any surfaces configured and dimensioned to sever tissue.
12. A surgical instrument for use with a surgical portal apparatus, comprising:
an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends and defining a central longitudinal axis; and
an atraumatic dilating member disposed at the distal end of the elongate shaft, the dilating member tapered distally to a curvate tip, the dilating member including:
a first portion having a transverse cross-sectional configuration including three curvate sides curved away from the longitudinal axis;
a second portion extending distally from the first portion and having a transverse cross-sectional configuration including three planar sides, each planar side being joined to an adjacent planar side by a convex connecting segment; and
a third portion extending distally from the third portion and having a transverse cross-sectional configuration including three curvate sides.
13. The surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein the three sides of the third portion are curved with respect to the central longitudinal axis.
14. The surgical instrument of claim 13 , wherein the three sides of the third portion are curved towards the central longitudinal axis.
15. The surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein an entirety of the dilating member includes an outer surface free of any surfaces configured and dimensioned to sever tissue.