Insufflating optical surgical instrument
An insufflating surgical instrument adapted for movement across an abdominal wall to insufflate an abdominal region of a patient is disclosed. The instrument comprises a shaft having an insufflation channel extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the insufflation channel being adapted for connection to a source of fluid under pressure at the proximal end. A tip is at the distal end and a vent hole is formed in the tip being in connection with the insufflation channel and adapted to expel fluid under pressure to insufflate the abdominal region. The tip is formed of a transparent material to facilitate visualization of the abdominal wall and region. The shaft includes a lumen extending along the axis between the proximal end and the distal end to enable insertion of a laparoscope. The lumen and insufflation channel may be formed as separate channels or as one shared channel.
1. An insufflating surgical instrument adapted for movement across an abdominal wall to insufflate an abdominal region of a patient, comprising:
a cannula comprising a lumen extending along an axis between a proximal end and a distal end; and
a trocar having a proximal end and a distal end, the trocar comprising:
a shaft arranged such that it may be inserted into the cannula, the shaft having an insufflation channel and a diameter sized to enable insertion of a laparoscope;
a tip at a distal end of the shaft and enclosing the distal end of the shaft to prevent instruments from extending through the distal end of the shaft, the tip having a pair of fins on an outer surface of the tip;
a plurality of shaft vents being in connection with the insufflation channel and formed along the shaft;
at least one vent hole formed at the tip between the pair of fins, the vent hole being in connection with the insufflation channel and being adapted to expel gas under pressure to insufflate the abdominal region;
wherein, in an assembled, operational configuration, the trocar is arranged to be insertable into and removable from the lumen of the cannula and the trocar is configured to permit a user to apply a force to the shaft to cause the tip to penetrate tissue ahead of the distal end of the cannula.
2. The insufflating surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the trocar further comprises a laparoscope lock disposed at the proximal end of the shaft.
3. The insufflating surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein the laparoscope lock comprises an elastomeric element and configured to enhance frictional engagement with a laparoscope.
4. The insufflating surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein the laparoscope lock is a silicone O-ring sized with an inside diameter smaller than the outside diameter of a laparoscope.
5. The insufflating surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein the laparoscope lock is freely rotatable.
6. The insufflating surgical instrument of claim 1 , further comprising an optical element disposed at the distal end of the shaft.
7. The insufflating surgical instrument of claim 6 , wherein the optical element is a light.
8. The insufflating surgical instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a duckbill valve positioned at the proximal end of the trocar and arranged to limit gas escape.
9. The insufflating surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein the trocar further comprises a septum seal positioned at the proximal end of the trocar and arranged to provide an instrument seal when a laparoscope is inserted into the insufflating channel.
10. The insufflating surgical instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a seal housing attached to the proximal end of the cannula.
11. The insufflating surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the trocar further comprises outboard tabs at the proximal end of the trocar, the trocar arranged to be released from the seal housing by depressing the outboard tabs of the trocar.
12. The insufflating surgical instrument of claim 10 , further comprising wherein the seal housing has axial keyways.
13. The insufflating surgical instrument of claim 12 wherein the trocar further comprises axial key members configured to mate with the axial keyways on the seal housing, the axial key members being designed to rotationally index the shaft to the seal housing.
14. The insufflating surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein at least one the plurality of shaft vents is positioned near the proximal end of the shaft and another of at least one of the plurality of shaft vents is positioned near the distal end of the shaft and the at least one vent hole formed at the tip.
15. The insufflating surgical instrument of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of shaft vents are equally spaced along the shaft.
16. The insufflating surgical instrument of claim 15 , further comprising a duckbill valve positioned at the proximal end of the cannula and arranged to limit gas escape.
17. The insufflating surgical instrument of claim 16 , wherein the tip and the shaft are formed of a transparent material.
18. The insufflating surgical instrument of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of shaft vents and the at least one vent hole at the tip are round.
19. The insufflating surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the shaft further comprises a scope stop configured to prevent a laparoscope from being inserted too far into the shaft and blocking the at least one vent hole.
20. The insufflating surgical instrument of claim 19 , wherein the scope stop includes a ledge.