A trocar assembly for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures includes a cannula subassembly and an obturator subassembly. The obturator assembly includes an obturator shaft member defining a longitudinal axis and an obturator tip configured to be removable from the obturator shaft member or, alternatively, constructed with the obturator member as a single unit. Various designs of the obturator tip are contemplated.
1. A surgical obturator for use in penetrating tissue, which comprises:
an elongate obturator member defining a longitudinal obturator axis, and proximal and distal ends;
an obturator tip connected to the obturator member, the obturator tip including from distal to proximal:
a penetrating end;
a substantially planar surface extending from the penetrating end and contiguous therewith; and
a series of intersecting surfaces superposed on the planar surface and being symmetrically arranged about the longitudinal axis, the series of intersecting surfaces including from distal to proximal:
a centrally disposed surface in general alignment with the longitudinal axis and contiguous with the planar surface;
first side surfaces obliquely arranged on respective opposed sides of the centrally disposed surface in intersecting relation therewith; and
second side surfaces obliquely arranged on respective opposed sides of the first side surfaces in intersecting relation therewith,
wherein at least one of the series of intersecting surfaces is generally concave and wherein each of the first, second, and centrally disposed surfaces define an arcuate proximal edge.
2. The surgical obturator according to claim 1 wherein the obturator tip further includes:
a second planar surface in opposed relation with the first-mentioned planar surface and in general parallel relation therewith; and
a second series of intersecting surfaces extending from the second planar surface and being symmetrically arranged about the longitudinal axis, the second series of intersecting surfaces including:
a centrally disposed surface in general alignment with the longitudinal axis and contiguous with the planar surface;
first side surfaces on respective opposed sides of the centrally disposed surface in intersecting relation therewith; and
second side surfaces on respective opposed sides of the first side surfaces in intersecting relation therewith.
3. The surgical obturator according to claim 2 wherein each of the surfaces of the series of surfaces is generally arcuate.
4. The surgical obturator according to claim 3 wherein each of the surfaces of the series of surfaces is generally concave.
5. The surgical obturator according to claim 2 wherein at least one of the surfaces of the series of surfaces is generally planar.
6. The surgical obturator according to claim 5 wherein each of the surfaces of the series of surfaces is generally planar.
7. The obturator according to claim 2 wherein the obturator tip is releasably mountable to the obturator member.
8. A surgical obturator for use in penetrating tissue, which comprises:
an elongate obturator member;
an obturator tip coupled with the obturator member, the obturator tip including a substantially planar member extending distally therefrom, the substantially planar member defining a pair of opposed planar surfaces and a distal penetrating end;
first and second series of intersecting surfaces superposed on respective opposed planar surfaces of the substantially planar member, each of the first and second series of intersecting surfaces including, from proximal to distal:
a centrally disposed surface extending in parallel relation to the respective planar surface;
a pair of first side surfaces extending distally from an oblique intersection on opposed sides of the centrally disposed surface; and
a pair of second side surfaces extending distally from an oblique intersection on opposed sides of the first side surfaces, wherein each of the first, second, and centrally disposed surfaces define an arcuate proximal edge and each of the respective arcuate proximal edges have a similar radius of curvature.
9. The surgical obturator according to claim 8 , wherein the first and second series of intersecting surfaces are spaced laterally apart by the substantially planar member.
10. The surgical obturator according to claim 8 , wherein the substantially planar member extends laterally outward from each of the second side surfaces.
11. The surgical obturator according to claim 8 , wherein the first and second series of intersecting surfaces are symmetric about an axis defined by the substantially planar member.