VIBRATING SEAL FOR A SURGICAL TROCAR APPARATUS
A surgical access apparatus for use during a surgical procedure for passing through tissue to an underlying surgical area is provided. The surgical access apparatus includes a vibration source connected to a seal member located in an internal passage of an access member. The seal is configured to form a substantial sealing relation with an inserted surgical instrument and substantially close in the absence of the surgical instrument. The vibration source causes the seal to vibrate, in order to decrease the force needed to insert the surgical instrument. The source of vibration may be one of the following: a rotating eccentric mass, mass moving in a linear path, exciting a piezoelectric, a crystal, or an electro active polymer capable of expanding or contracting.
1 . A surgical access apparatus for passing through tissue to an underlying surgical area, which comprises:
an access member having an internal passage;
a seal member disposed in the internal passage, the seal member being dimensioned to form a substantial sealing relation with a surgical instrument inserted therethrough and substantially closed in the absence of the surgical instrument; and
a vibration source operatively connected to the seal member for effecting vibrations of the seal member.
2 . The surgical access apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a housing defining a longitudinal axis and having a passageway therethrough, the passageway being dimensioned to permit passage of the surgical instrument, wherein the housing is mounted to the access member.
3 . The surgical access apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the vibration source is selected from the group consisting of a rotating eccentric mass, a mass moving in a linear path, an excited piezoelectric material, a crystal, an electro active polymer capable of expanding, and an electro active polymer capable of contracting.
4 . The surgical access apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the crystal is quartz.
5 . The surgical access apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the seal member comprises a lubricious coating.
6 . The surgical access apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the seal member has a proximal surface defining an opening, the opening having a stepped shape.
7 . The surgical access apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a second seal disposed in the internal passage.
8 . The surgical access apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the second seal includes one of a conical seal, a duckbill seal, and a septum seal.
9 . A surgical access apparatus, which comprises:
a housing defining an internal cavity;
an elongate member mounted to the housing and defining a longitudinal axis, and proximal and distal ends, the housing and the elongate member defining a longitudinal passage therethrough adapted to permit passage of a surgical instrument therethough;
a seal unit including a first seal component and a second seal component,
the first seal component mounted across the longitudinal passage, the first component comprising a first material and including an access portion dimensioned to form a substantial sealing relation with the surgical instrument therethrough and substantially close in the absence of the surgical instrument,
the second seal component comprising a second material, the second material being more rigid than the first material, wherein the second seal component is in intimate contact with the first seal component; and
a vibration source operatively connected to the second seal component, the vibration source adapted for effecting vibrations of the seal unit.
10 . The surgical access apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the vibrating source is selected from the group consisting of a rotating eccentric mass, a mass moving in a linear path, an excited piezoelectric material, a crystal, an electro active polymer capable of expanding, and an electro active polymer capable of contracting.
11 . The surgical access apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the crystal is quartz.