Exchanger surgical access port and methods of use

1. An access port assembly, comprising:

an obturator having a longitudinally extending obturator shaft including a sharp tip disposed at a distal end of the obturator shaft and a handle disposed at a proximal end of the obturator shaft, the handle including at least one finger extending spaced laterally from the handle and is configured to flex laterally inward towards a central axis of the obturator; and

a surgical access port having a cannula defining a hollow cannula shaft, and a tapered hub attached to a proximal end of the cannula, the tapered hub including at least one inner ring extending inwardly from a tapered surface of the tapered hub towards a central axis of the tapered hub and being configured to abut against a proximal end of the at least one finger while the obturator is inserted within the cannula of the surgical access port.

2. The access port assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one inner ring of the surgical access port is an O-ring, and wherein the O-ring is disposed between an inner wall of the surgical access port and an outer wall of the obturator to prevent leakage of gas between the surgical access port and the obturator.

3. The access port assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism for securing the surgical access port to a patient, the locking mechanism being attached to at least an outer surface of the cannula of the surgical access port.

4. The access port assembly of claim 3 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a lock base with a central ring, a locking member defining an aperture, and a ball disposed between the lock base and the locking member.

5. The access port assembly of claim 4 , wherein the locking member includes at least one engagement finger, and wherein the central ring of the lock base defines at least one ramp for axially and rotationally guiding the at least one engagement finger.

6. The access port assembly of claim 4 , wherein the central ring of the lock base defines a frustoconical inner surface for at least partially supporting the ball.

7. The access port assembly of claim 4 , wherein the ball of the locking member defines a circular opening configured to receive the cannula of the surgical access port.

8. The access port assembly of claim 7 , wherein the ball defines a plurality of slits and the ball is configured to deform inwardly to increase a gripping force around the cannula of the surgical access port.

9. A surgical instrument access port assembly, comprising:

a surgical instrument having a needle lumen extending in a longitudinal direction including a needle tip at a distal end, and a body portion at a proximal end, the body portion including at least one lateral recess; and

a surgical access port having a cannula defining a hollow cannula shaft, and a tapered hub attached to a proximal end of the cannula, the tapered hub including at least one inner ring extending inwardly from a tapered surface of the tapered hub towards a central axis of the tapered hub and being configured to abut against the at least one lateral recess while the surgical instrument is inserted into the cannula of the surgical access port.

10. The surgical instrument access port assembly of claim 9 , wherein the needle lumen is secured to a handle and trigger assembly of the surgical instrument.

11. The surgical instrument access port assembly of claim 9 , wherein the at least one inner ring of the surgical access port is an O-ring, and wherein the O-ring is disposed between an inner wall of the surgical access port and an outer wall of the needle lumen to prevent leakage of gas between the surgical access port and the needle lumen of the surgical instrument.

12. The surgical instrument access port assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a locking mechanism for securing the surgical access port to a patient, the locking mechanism being attach to at least an outer surface of the cannula of the surgical access port.

13. The surgical instrument access port assembly of claim 12 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a lock base with a central ring, a locking member defining an aperture, and a ball disposed between the lock base and the locking member, wherein the ball of the locking member defines a circular opening configured to receive the cannula of the surgical access port, and wherein the ball defines a plurality of slits and the ball is configured to deform inwardly to increase a gripping force around the cannula of the surgical access port.

14. A method of using a surgical instrument access port assembly comprising a surgical instrument having a needle lumen extending in a longitudinal direction including a needle tip at a distal end, and a body portion at a proximal end, the body portion including at least one recess or finger, and including a surgical access port having a cannula defining a hollow cannula shaft, and a tapered hub attached to a proximal end of the cannula, the tapered hub including at least one inner ring extending inwardly from a tapered surface of the tapered hub towards a central axis of the tapered hub and being configured to abut against a proximal end of the at least one recess or finger while the surgical instrument is inserted into the cannula of the surgical access port, the method comprising:

piercing a hole in a body wall with the needle tip of the needle lumen;

inserting at least a portion of the needle lumen through the hole into a body cavity;

advancing the surgical access port along the needle lumen in a distal direction towards the hole after the portion of the needle lumen has been inserted into the body cavity;

inserting the cannula of the surgical access port through the hole into the body cavity, and

advancing the needle lumen into the surgical access port, while maintaining a position of the surgical access port relative to the hole of the body wall, such that the at least one recess or finger of the surgical instrument abuts against the at least one inner ring of the surgical access port.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising withdrawing the surgical instrument from the body cavity by passing the needle lumen through the cannula of the surgical access port in a proximal direction away from the body cavity.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the withdrawing the surgical instrument includes maintaining a position of the surgical access port relative to the hole of the body wall.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising attaching a cap to an open end portion of the surgical access port.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising reinserting the surgical instrument by passing the needle lumen through the cannula of the surgical access port in the distal direction toward the body cavity.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising withdrawing both the surgical instrument and the surgical access port from the body cavity while the surgical access port is secured to the surgical instrument via the at least one recess or finger abutting against the at least one inner ring.

20. The method of claim 14 , further comprising advancing the surgical access port along the needle lumen in a proximal direction, prior to the piercing the hole, to secure the at least one recess or finger of the surgical instrument by abutting against the at least one inner ring of the surgical access port.