Patent US5118667A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0627233A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Improved seal members for surgical trocars
Assignee: Ethicon Endo Surgery LLC
•
Filing: 1994-04-11
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2014-04-11
Abstract
Abstract Trocar assembly devices (100) are disclosed that include an improved elastomeric seal member (134) to maintain sealing engagement during off-centering or radial motion of instruments extending therethrough. The seal members (134) include an inner section (144) and an outer section (146). The inner section (144) has an opening formed therein (148) to permit an elongate instrument to pass therethrough in sealing engagement therewith. In accordance with certain embodiments, a corrugated portion (150) is formed in the outer section (146). In accordance with certain embodiments an annular floating ring separates the inner section from the outer section.
Inventors
- 👤 Randy R. Stephens
- 👤 Michael S. Banik
- 👤 Leslie R. Ashmore
- 👤 C. Daniel Rowe
- 👤 George E. Selecman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:38
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/34; A61B17/3417; A61B17/3462; A61M; A61M39/00; A61M39/02; A61M39/06; A61B2017/3464; A61M2039/0626; A61M2039/0633; A61M2039/0653; A61M2039/0666; A61M2039/0686
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A trocar assembly for providing communication into an anatomical cavity, comprising: (a) a trocar tube defining an interior lumen having an open distal end portion and an open proximal end portion for accommodating axial movement of an elongate instrument of lesser cross-sectional dimension therethrough; (b) housing means adjoining said proximal end portion of said trocar tube defining a chamber having open distal and proximal end portions that communicate with said lumen and permit axial movement of an elongate instrument therethrough; and (c) an elastomeric seal member positioned in said chamber for sealing said proximal end portion of said chamber, said seal member having an inner section and an outer section, said inner section having an opening formed therein for permitting an elongate instrument to pass therethrough in sealing engagement therewith, said seal member having a corrugated portion formed in said outer section in surrounding relationship with said opening so as to maintain the sealing engagement with an elongate instrument during off-centering of an instrument with respect to said seal member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
30 words
The trocar assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said outer section of said seal member has a peripheral flange portion that is in sealing engagement with said housing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The trocar assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said outer section includes a peripheral wall portion having a groove formed therein that receives an annular tongue portion associated with said housing means in sealing engagement therewith.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The trocar assembly as defined in any preceding claim wherein a plurality of spaced apart projections extend outwardly from a proximally facing surface of said inner section to reduce surface contact with an elongate instrument inserted into said housing means through said opening in said seal member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The trocar assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said projections are a plurality of spaced apart radially extending ribs formed integrally in said inner section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The trocar assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said radial ribs extend from at least a portion of said corrugated portion of said seal member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The trocar assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein a plurality of spaced apart radially extending ribs extend outwardly from a distally facing surface of said inner section to reduce surface contact with an elongate instrument withdrawn from said housing means through said opening in said seal member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The trocar assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein said ribs formed in said proximally facing surface are not in axial alignment with said ribs formed in said distally facing surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The trocar assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein said ribs have inner end portions that are spaced a short distance from said opening in said seal member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The trocar assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein said inner end portions of said ribs are bevelled outwardly and away from said inner portion of said seal member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The trocar assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said ribs is oriented to form about a 45 degree angle with an immediately adjacent rib.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The trocar assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein said ribs extending from said distally facing surface of said seal member have inner end portions that are spaced a short distance from said opening in said seal member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The trocar assembly as defined in claim 12 wherein said inner end portions of said ribs extending from said distally facing surface of said seal member are bevelled outwardly and away from said inner surface of said seal member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The trocar assembly as defined in claim 13 wherein said outer end portions of said ribs extending from said distally facing surface of said seal member terminate immediately adjacent said corrugated portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The trocar assembly as defined in any preceding claim wherein said corrugated portion is located adjacent the peripheral edge of said seal member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The trocar assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said flange portion is substantially in axial alignment with said corrugated portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The trocar assembly as defined in any preceding claim wherein said inner section has a greater thickness than said corrugated portion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The trocar assembly as defined in any preceding claim wherein said outer section includes a generally flat annular portion that extends outwardly from said corrugated portion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The trocar assembly as defined in any preceding claim wherein said corrugated portion extends proximally from a plane passing through said inner section.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The trocar assembly as defined in any preceding claim wherein said corrugated portion includes an inner corrugation and an outer corrugation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The trocar assembly as defined in claim 20 wherein said inner corrugation extends distally from a plane passing through said inner section and said outer corrugation extends proximally of said plane.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The trocar assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said inner section has pleats formed therein that extend radially outward from said opening in said seal member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
54 words
A trocar assembly according to any preceding claim, said seal member having an annular floating ring separating said inner section from said outer section so that off-center movement of an elongate instrument extending through said opening causes lateral movement of said outer section while maintaining said inner section in sealing engagement with the instrument.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
176 words
A trocar assembly for providing communication into an anatomical cavity, comprising: (a) a trocar tube defining an interior lumen having an open distal end portion and an open proximal end portion for accommodating axial movement of an elongate instrument of lesser cross-sectional dimension therethrough; (b) housing means adjoining said proximal end portion of said trocar tube defining a chamber having open distal and proximal end portions that communicate with said lumen and permit axial movement of an elongate instrument therethrough; and (c) an elastomeric seal member positioned in said chamber for sealing said proximal end portion of said chamber, said seal member having an inner section and an outer section, said inner section having an opening formed therein for permitting an elongate instrument to pass therethrough in sealing engagement therewith, said seal member having an annular floating ring separating said inner section from said outer section so that off-center movement of an elongate instrument extending through said opening causes lateral movement of said outer section while maintaining said inner section in sealing engagement with the instrument.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The trocar assembly as defined in claim 23 or claim 24 wherein said ring is a rigid material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The trocar assembly as defined in claim 23 or claim 24 wherein said ring is a semi-rigid material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The trocar assembly as defined in claim 23 or claim 24 wherein said ring is integrally formed as an annular area of increased thickness.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The trocar assembly as defined in claim 23 or claim 24 wherein said ring is an annular plastic member molded into said seal member.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
The trocar assembly as defined in claim 23 or claim 24 wherein said ring includes a first substantially rigid annular member secured to one of the surfaces of said seal member.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The trocar assembly as defined in claim 29 wherein said ring further includes a second rigid annular member secured to the other surface of said seal member.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The trocar assembly as defined in claim 30 wherein said first and second annular members are secured to each other.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.