EP0520296A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Powered trocar
Assignee: United States Surgical Corp
•
Filing: 1992-06-16
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2012-06-16
Abstract
Abstract A pneumatically powered trocar assembly 100 includes a source 128 of compressed gas which releases a metered amount of gas to a chamber. A piston 150 slidably positioned within the chamber is driven forward by the compressed gas introduced therein, and an obturator 122 with a tissue piercing tip 124 are advanced thereby. Optionally, a sensor detects the presence of body tissue within the cutting path of the tip and blocks the passage of compressed gas to the chamber, or alternatively, opens an escape vent to release compressed gas therefrom if insufficient body tissue resistance is encountered. The powered trocar assembly is intended for use in conjunction with a cannula assembly to create a passage to the interior of a body cavity for conducting surgical procedures.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel Shichman
- 👤 David Nicholas
- 👤 Ernie Aranyi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:09
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/34; A61B17/3494; A61B17/3496; A61B17/3476; A61B2017/00535; A61B2017/00544
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
55 words
A surgical apparatus for piercing a body cavity and the like, which comprises: a) frame; b) tissue piercing tip; c) drive means associated with said frame for advancing said tissue piercing tip in response to the application of pneumatic power; and, d) means for applying a predetermined amount of pneumatic power to said drive means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for applying a predetermined amount of pneumatic power includes trigger means for releasing a predetermined quantity of compressed gas from a source thereof, and means for communicating said quantity of compressed gas to a chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said drive means includes a piston movable within said chamber in response to the entry or egress of compressed gas therein, and an obturator shaft mounted to said piston, the tissue piercing tip being mounted to the distal end of said obturator shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein said chamber possesses an escape vent for permitting the release of compressed gas therefrom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said obturator shaft is slidably mounted to said piston and movable between a distal position relative to said piston wherein said escape vent is open and a proximal position relative to said piston wherein said escape vent is closed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 or 5 as dependent on claim 3, wherein said obturator is urged by a biasing force to said distal position, and wherein said apparatus includes means for maintaining said obturator in said proximal position relative to said piston in response to the presence of body tissue in the cutting path of the tissue piercing tip.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said tissue piercing tip is fixedly mounted to the end of said obturator such that tissue resistance encountered by said tissue piercing tip is transmitted to said obturator for opposing said biasing force.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further including sensing means responsive to the presence of body tissue located in the cutting path of the tissue piercing tip.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further including activation means movable betweeen a first position wherein said means for communicating compressed gas to said chamber is obstructed, and a second position wherein said means for communicating compressed gas to said chamber is unobstructed, said activation means being biased to said first position and movable to said second position in response to actuation of said sensing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or 9, as dependent on claim 4, further comprising activation means movable between a first position wherein said escape vent is open and a second position wherein said escape vent is closed, said activation means being biased to said first position and movable to said second position in response to actuation of said sensing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein said sensing means comprises a member movable between a distal position and a proximal position, said member being biased to said distal position, and said proximal position corresponding to the actuated condition of said sensing means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said member is slidably mounted such that a distal end portion of said member extends distally beyond the tissue piercing tip when said member is in the distal position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further including a container of compressed gas for said application of pneumatic power.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, as dependent on claim 12, wherein said container includes means for releasing a predetermined quantity of compressed gas in response to actuation of said trigger means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
66 words
In combination with the apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims a cannula portion which comprises: a) a housing; b) a cannula extending distally from said housing for receiving said tissue piercing tip and at least a portion of said drive means; c) cannula closing means movable between a closed first position to prevent passage of material therethrough, and an open second position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said cannula closing means comprises a flapper valve biased to a closed position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 or 16, as dependent on claim 4 and 9, wherein said activation means is movable between a first position wherein said escape vent is open and a second position wherein said escape vent is closed, said activation means being biased to said first position and movable to said second position in response to combining said cannula portion with said surgical apparatus for piercing tissue.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, 16 or 17, wherein said cannula includes means to facilitate frictional interference between the cannula and body tissue.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, 16, 17 or 18, wherein said cannula is movable between a distal position and a proximal position and said cannula portion includes means for biasing said cannula to said distal position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.