Interlocking seal components
View Patent ↗Methods and devices are provided to allow for easy customization of a surgical access device by an end user. In one exemplary embodiment a surgical access device is provided that includes a plurality of elongate seal elements that are configured to form a sealed configuration between a surgical site and an outside environment. The seal elements can be disposed in a surgical opening and can mate directly to each other with the outermost seal elements mating directly to tissue of the opening. The seal elements can include one or more mating elements to provide the desired mating. The seal elements can also include sealable openings that are configured to receive surgical instruments for use at the surgical site. The sealable openings maintain the desired seal throughout the course of a surgical procedure. Exemplary methods for providing custom configurations on location are also provided.
1. A surgical access device, comprising:
a plurality of flexible elongate seal elements configured to be placed in a surgical opening to form a seal between a body cavity adjacent to the surgical opening and an outside environment, each seal element having:
two sidewalls that are elongate and approximately parallel to each other;
one or more mating elements disposed on an outer surface of each of the sidewalls and configured to mate directly to at least one of one or more adjacent, separate mating elements of an adjacent seal element, one or more adjacent mating elements of a retractor, and tissue; and
a sealable opening configured to receive a surgical instrument while maintaining the seal between the body cavity adjacent to the surgical opening and the outside environment, the sealable opening being configured to accommodate movement of the surgical instrument while maintaining the seal between the body cavity adjacent to the surgical opening and the outside environment.
2. The surgical access device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more mating elements further comprise cooperating pliable components configured to form a seal therebetween.
3. The surgical access device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more mating elements further comprise cooperating rail and guide components configured to form a seal therebetween.
4. The surgical access device of claim 3 , wherein the rail and guide components are configured to be snap-fit together.
5. The surgical access device of claim 3 , wherein the rail and guide components are configured to slide with respect to each other.
6. The surgical access device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more mating elements further comprise a plurality of voids and tubes for forming the seal between the body cavity and the outside environment.
7. The surgical access device of claim 1 , wherein movement of the surgical instrument can include movement in at least one of a plane parallel to the surgical opening and a plane perpendicular to the surgical opening.
8. The surgical access device of claim 1 , further comprising a retractor configured to be placed in the surgical opening and to receive the plurality of elongate seal elements.
9. A kit for accessing a surgical site, comprising:
a plurality of flexible, interchangeable seal elements configured to removably and replaceably couple to one another to form a seal assembly able to be placed into a surgical opening in tissue, the seal assembly being effective to form a seal between a body cavity adjacent to the surgical opening and an outside environment, each seal element having two sidewalls that are elongate and approximately parallel to each other, a sealable opening formed therein, and each opening being configured to receive at least one surgical instrument such that the at least one surgical instrument is able to move within the opening while maintaining the seal,
wherein each of the plurality of interchangeable seal elements further comprises one or more mating elements disposed on an each of at least one of the sidewalls and configured to mate directly to at least one of one or more adjacent mating elements of a seal element, one or more adjacent mating elements of a retractor, and tissue.
10. The kit of claim 9 , further comprising a retractor configured to be placed in the surgical opening and to receive the plurality of interchangeable seal elements.
11. The kit of claim 9 , wherein the one or more mating elements further comprise a plurality of voids and tubes for forming a seal between an outside environment and a surgical location.
12. A method for accessing a surgical site, comprising:
positioning a first seal element in an opening in tissue by mating the first seal element to the tissue or to a mating element of a retractor using a first mating element protruding from a first portion of an outer surface of the first seal element and configured to mate to and form a seal between the first seal element and the tissue, the first seal element having a second mating element protruding from a second portion of the outer surface thereof and an elongate sealable opening that has a length that is substantially similar to a length of the opening in tissue, the length of the elongate sealable opening and the length of the tissue opening being oriented in approximately the same direction when the first seal element is positioned in the opening in tissue;
positioning at least one additional seal element in the opening in tissue, the additional seal element having a third mating element, a fourth mating element, and an elongate sealable opening, the third mating element protruding from a first portion of an outer surface of the additional seal element and being configure to mate to and form a seal between the second mating element and the third mating element; and the fourth mating element protruding from a second portion of the outer surface of the additional seal element and being configured to mate to and form a seal between fourth mating element and at least one of a mating element of an additional seal element, a mating element of a retractor, and tissue;
inserting at least one surgical instrument into the sealable opening of the first seal element or the sealable opening of the at least one additional seal element; and
manipulating the at least one surgical instrument while maintaining a seal between a body cavity adjacent to the opening in tissue and the outside environment.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising insufflating a surgical site through at least one of the openings in first of the at least one seal element and the at least one additional seal element.
14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising positioning a retractor in the opening in tissue, between the first seal element and the tissue, to form a seal between the retractor and the tissue and a seal between the retractor and the first seal element.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first portion of the outer surface of the first seal element includes a first sidewall and the second portion of the outer surface of the first seal element includes a second sidewall, the first and second sidewalls being elongate and approximately parallel to each other, and the first mating element protrudes from the first sidewall and the second mating element protrudes from the second sidewall, and wherein the first portion of the outer surface of the at least one additional seal element includes a third sidewall and the second portion of the outer surface of the at least one additional seal element includes a fourth sidewall, the third and fourth sidewalls being elongate and approximately parallel to each other, and the third mating element protrudes from the third sidewall and the fourth mating element protrudes from the fourth sidewall.
16. The kit of claim 9 , wherein the one or more mating elements further comprise cooperating pliable component configured to form a seal therebetween.
17. The kit of claim 9 , wherein the one or more mating elements further comprise cooperating rail and guide component configured to form a seal therebeweteen.