SEAL ANCHOR FOR USE IN SURGICAL PROCEDURES
A surgical apparatus for positioning within a tissue tract accessing an underlying body cavity includes a seal anchor member comprising a compressible material and being adapted to transition between a first expanded condition to facilitate securing of the seal anchor member within the tissue tract and in substantial sealed relation with tissue surfaces defining the tissue tract and a second compressed condition to facilitate at least partial insertion of the seal anchor member within the tissue tract. The seal anchor member defines a longitudinal axis, and has leading and trailing ends with at least one longitudinal port extending therebetween adapted for reception of an object whereby compressible material defining the at least one port is adapted to deform to establish a substantial sealed relation with the object. The seal anchor member may comprise a memory foam material and may include a plurality of longitudinal ports.
1 . A surgical apparatus for positioning within a tissue tract accessing an underlying body cavity, which comprises:
a seal anchor member comprising a compressible material and being adapted to transition between a first expanded condition to facilitate securing of the seal anchor member within the tissue tract and in substantial sealed relation with tissue surfaces defining the tissue tract and a second compressed condition to facilitate at least partial insertion of the seal anchor member within the tissue tract, the seal anchor member defining a longitudinal axis and having leading and trailing ends, and at least one longitudinal port extending between the leading and trailing ends and being adapted for reception of an object whereby compressible material defining the at least one port is adapted to deform to establish a substantial sealed relation with the object, at least one of the leading and trailing ends exhibit an arcuate configuration to facilitate insertion of the seal anchor member within the tissue tract.
2 . The surgical apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of the leading and trailing ends exhibit an arcuate configuration.
3 . The surgical apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the arcuate configuration is concave.
4 . The surgical apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the arcuate configuration is convex.
5 . The surgical apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the seal anchor member is formed of a foam material.
6 . The surgical apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the foam material is at least partially constituted of a material selected from the group consisting of polyisoprene, urethane, and silicone.
7 . The surgical apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the seal anchor member is formed of a gel material.
8 . The surgical apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one longitudinal port includes a plurality of longitudinal ports.
9 . The surgical apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the plurality of longitudinal ports are configured symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis.
10 . The surgical apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the plurality of longitudinal ports are spaced equidistant from the longitudinal axis.
11 . The surgical apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the plurality of longitudinal ports are spaced equally from one another.
12 . The surgical apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the seal anchor member includes a plurality of generally tubular port segments, the port segments defining respective longitudinal ports.
13 . The surgical apparatus according to claim 8 including a fluid conveying instrument positioned within one of the longitudinal ports to permit conveyance of fluid to or from the operative site.
14 . The surgical apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the fluid conveying instrument is adapted to at least one of introduce insufflation gases to an underlying body cavity and evacuate gases from the underlying cavity.
15 . The surgical apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the fluid conveying instrument includes a stop cock valve.
16 . The surgical access apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the stop cock valve includes first and second ports for fluid coupling to an insufflation instrument and an evacuator, the stock cock valve further defining an opening, the stop cock valve being selectively movable to align the opening with either of the first and second ports.
17 . The surgical apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the fluid conveying instrument includes a peripheral anchor, the anchor dimensioned to facilitate retention of the fluid conveying instrument within the one of the longitudinal ports through engagement with the seal anchor.
18 . The surgical apparatus according to claim 8 including at least one cannula, the cannula positionable within one of the longitudinal ports of the seal anchor member.
19 . The surgical apparatus according to claim 18 including a plurality of cannulas, each cannula positionable within one of the longitudinal ports of the seal anchor member.