Obturator tips
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, comprising:
an elongate obturator member defining a longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal bisecting plane of symmetry, the elongate obturator member having proximal and distal ends; and
an obturator tip at the distal end of the elongate obturator member, the obturator tip including:
a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being a penetrating end;
a pair of opposed planar surfaces extending proximally from the penetrating end and arranged in diametrically opposed relation with respect to the plane of symmetry; and
a series of first, second, and third intersecting surfaces disposed on one side of the plane of symmetry and symmetrically arranged about the longitudinal axis proximal of the planar surfaces, the series of intersecting surfaces including a centrally disposed surface, a first pair of surfaces contiguously disposed on each side of the centrally disposed surface, and a second pair of surfaces contiguously disposed on each side of the first pair of surfaces.
2. The surgical obturator of claim 1 , wherein each of the first, second and third intersecting surfaces is obliquely arranged with respect to the plane of symmetry.
3. The surgical obturator of claim 1 , wherein each of the first, second and third intersecting surfaces is substantially planar.
4. The surgical obturator of claim 1 , wherein each of the first, second and third intersecting surfaces is substantially arcuate.
5. The surgical obturator of claim 1 , wherein each of the first, second and third intersecting surfaces is substantially concave.
6. The surgical obturator of claim 1 , wherein the first intersecting surface has a first surface area, the second intersecting surface has a second surface area, and the third intersecting section has a third surface area, the first, second, and third surface areas being different from each other.
7. An obturator tip comprising:
a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end configured to penetrate tissue;
a pair of opposed planar surfaces extending proximally from the distal end arranged in diametrically opposed relation with respect to the plane of symmetry; and
a series of first, second, and third intersecting surfaces disposed on one side of the plane of symmetry and symmetrically arranged about a longitudinal axis proximal of the planar surfaces, the series of intersecting surfaces including a centrally disposed surface, a first pair of surfaces contiguously disposed on each side of the centrally disposed surface, and a second pair of surfaces contiguously disposed on each side of the first pair of surfaces.
8. The obturator tip of claim 7 , wherein the central surface has a first surface area, the first pair of surfaces have a second surface area, and the pair of opposed planar surfaces have a third surface area, the first, second, and third surface areas being different from each other.