Apparatus for locating body cavities having signaling indicator

Claim 1

An apparatus for locating a body cavity having a fluctuating fluid pressure and transporting fluid either into or out of the cavity, comprising: a conduit for entering the cavity; means, in communication with said conduit, for signaling the fluctuation of the fluid pressure in the cavity when said conduit enters the body cavity, said signalling means comprising a dome-shaped elastomeric element having a wall thickness gradually tapering from its base to its apex which pulsates in response to the fluctuating fluid pressure in the body cavity; and means, in communication with said conduit, for transporting fluid either into or out of the cavity.

Claim 2

An apparatus for locating a body cavity having a fluctuating fluid pressure and transporting fluid either into or out of the cavity, comprising: a conduit for entering the cavity; means, in communication with said conduit, for signaling the fluctuation of the fluid pressure in the cavity when said conduit enters the body cavity, said signalling means comprising a dome-shaped elastomeric element having a wall thickness gradually tapering from its base to its apex which pulsates in response to the fluctuating fluid pressure in the body cavity; and means, in communication with said conduit, for transporting fluid either into or out of the cavity.

Claim 3

An apparatus for locating a body cavity having a fluctuating fluid pressure and transporting fluid either into or out of the cavity, comprising: a conduit, a housing having an inlet chamber and a discharge chamber, said housing supporting said conduit in sealed fluid communication with said inlet chamber; an inlet port in said housing having inlet port sealing means for reversibly receiving a trocar and enabling at least a portion of a trocar to pass through said inlet chamber and said conduit, said inlet port sealing means being adapted for sealing said chamber both in the absence of a trocar and upon insertion and withdrawal of a trocar. anti-reflux valve means mounted in said housing, coupling said inlet chamber with said discharge chamber, for permitting fluid entering said inlet chamber to pass into said discharge chamber while preventing fluid from flowing from said discharge chamber into said inlet chamber, and means for signaling the fluctuating fluid pressure in the body cavity upon entry of the conduit into the body cavity comprising an elastomeric element which pulsates in response to the fluctuating fluid pressure in the body cavity, wherein said elastomeric element is dome-shaped and the thickness of the wall of said dome-shaped elastomeric element gradually tapers to its apex.

Claim 4

An apparatus for locating a body cavity having a fluctuating fluid pressure and transporting fluid either into or out of the cavity, comprising: a conduit, a housing having an inlet chamber and a discharge chamber, said housing supporting said conduit in sealed fluid communication with said inlet chamber; an inlet port in said housing having inlet port sealing means for reversibly receiving a trocar and enabling at least a portion of a trocar to pass through said inlet chamber and said conduit, said inlet port sealing means being adapted for sealing said chamber both in the absence of a trocar and upon insertion and withdrawal of a trocar. anti-reflux valve means mounted in said housing, coupling said inlet chamber with said discharge chamber, for permitting fluid entering said inlet chamber to pass into said discharge chamber while preventing fluid from flowing from said discharge chamber into said inlet chamber, and means for signaling the fluctuating fluid pressure in the body cavity upon entry of the conduit into the body cavity comprising an elastomeric element which pulsates in response to the fluctuating fluid pressure in the body cavity, wherein said elastomeric element is dome-shaped and the thickness of the wall of said dome-shaped elastomeric element gradually tapers to its apex.

Claim 5

An apparatus for locating a body cavity having a fluctuating fluid pressure and transporting fluid either into or out of the cavity comprising: a conduit, a resilient cuff provided at the base of said conduit to seal against the body, a housing having an inlet chamber and a discharge chamber, said housing supporting said conduit in sealed fluid communication with said inlet chamber; an inlet port in said housing having inlet port sealing means for reversibly receiving a trocar and enabling at least a portion of a trocar to pass through said inlet chamber and said conduit, said inlet port sealing means being adapted for sealing said chamber both in the absence of a trocar and upon insertion and withdrawal of a trocar, anti-reflux valve means mounted in said housing, coupling said inlet chamber with said discharge chamber, for permitting fluid entering said inlet chamber to pass into said discharge chamber while preventing fluid from flowing from said discharge chamber into said inlet chamber, and means for signaling the fluctuating fluid pressure in the body cavity upon entry of the conduit into the body cavity.

Claim 6

An apparatus for locating a body cavity having a fluctuating fluid pressure and transporting fluid either into or out of the cavity comprising: a conduit, a resilient cuff provided at the base of said conduit to seal against the body, a housing having an inlet chamber and a discharge chamber, said housing supporting said conduit in sealed fluid communication with said inlet chamber; an inlet port in said housing having inlet port sealing means for reversibly receiving a trocar and enabling at least a portion of a trocar to pass through said inlet chamber and said conduit, said inlet port sealing means being adapted for sealing said chamber both in the absence of a trocar and upon insertion and withdrawal of a trocar, anti-reflux valve means mounted in said housing, coupling said inlet chamber with said discharge chamber, for permitting fluid entering said inlet chamber to pass into said discharge chamber while preventing fluid from flowing from said discharge chamber into said inlet chamber, and means for signaling the fluctuating fluid pressure in the body cavity upon entry of the conduit into the body cavity.

Claim 7

An apparatus for locating a body cavity having a fluctuating fluid pressure and transporting fluid either into or out of the cavity comprising: a conduit, a housing having an inlet chamber and a discharge chamber, said housing supporting said conduit in sealed fluid communication with said inlet chamber, an inlet port in said housing having inlet port sealing means for reversibly receiving a trocar and enabling at least a portion of a trocar to pass through said inlet chamber and said conduit, said inlet port sealing means being adapted for sealing said chamber both in the absence of a trocar and upon insertion and withdrawal of a trocar, anti-reflux valve means mounted in said housing, coupling said inlet chamber with said discharge chamber, for permitting fluid entering said inlet chamber to pass into said discharge chamber while preventing fluid from flowing from said discharge chamber into said inlet chamber, said anti-reflux valve means comprising a film valve comprising two pieces of plastic film with closed edges having a tortuous profile; and means for signaling the fluctuating fluid pressure in the body cavity upon entry of the conduit into a body cavity.

Claim 8

An apparatus for locating a body cavity having a fluctuating fluid pressure and transporting fluid either into or out of the cavity comprising: a conduit, a housing having an inlet chamber and a discharge chamber, said housing supporting said conduit in sealed fluid communication with said inlet chamber, an inlet port in said housing having inlet port sealing means for reversibly receiving a trocar and enabling at least a portion of a trocar to pass through said inlet chamber and said conduit, said inlet port sealing means being adapted for sealing said chamber both in the absence of a trocar and upon insertion and withdrawal of a trocar, anti-reflux valve means mounted in said housing, coupling said inlet chamber with said discharge chamber, for permitting fluid entering said inlet chamber to pass into said discharge chamber while preventing fluid from flowing from said discharge chamber into said inlet chamber, said anti-reflux valve means comprising a film valve comprising two pieces of plastic film with closed edges having a tortuous profile; and means for signaling the fluctuating fluid pressure in the body cavity upon entry of the conduit into a body cavity.