US5261891A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trocar
Assignee: Ethicon Inc
•
Filing: 1992-02-20
•
Granted: 1993-11-16
•
Expires: 2012-02-20
Abstract
Abstract A safety trocar is provided which includes a spring-loaded shield that shields the cutting tip of the obturator after the obturator penetrates tissue. The distal end of the shield is hemispheric in profile and contains slides within cutting tip. The rounded distal end enables the shield to spring forward to shield the cutting tip as soon as the tip perforates the tissue. In other embodiments, positive mechanical means effect shielding.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald J. Brinkerhoff
- 👤 Earl J. Mills
- 👤 Harry C. Parkhurst
- 👤 Bela Vincze
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:41
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/34; A61B17/3494; A61B17/3496; A61B17/3474; A61B90/00; A61B90/08; A61B2090/0801; A61B2090/08021
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A trocar comprising: an obturator having a sharpened tip; a shield for enclosing said tip, said shield connected to said obturator and movable relative to said obturator; said tip urged outside said shield by spring means connected to said shield; placement means comprising a pin and a channel, said pin placed in sliding relationship in said channel; wherein said channel is placed on one of said obturator and said shield, and said pin is placed on the opposite of said obturator and said shield; and wherein said channel contains a longitudinal portion for positively urging said pin away from said spring means, and a closure portion connected to said longitudinal portion operable by rotating said shield about said obturator such that said pin is guided within said closure portion to a position restricting longitudinal movement of said shield relative to said obturator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
A trocar comprising: an obturator having a sharpened tip; a shield for enclosing said tip, said shield connected to said obturator and movable relative to said obturator; said tip urged outside said shield by spring means connected to said shield; placement means comprising a pin and a channel, said pin placed in sliding relationship in said channel; wherein said channel is placed on one of said obturator and said shield, and said pin is placed on the opposite of said obturator and said shield; and wherein said channel contains a longitudinal portion for positively urging said pin away from said spring means, and a closure portion connected to said longitudinal portion operable by rotating said shield about said obturator such that said pin is guided within said closure portion to a position restricting longitudinal movement of said shield relative to said obturator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
The trocar of claim 1 further comprising a laparoscopic cannula, and said obturator and shield insertable into said cannula; and control means connected to said obturator and cannula, and actuable such that said control means cause said obturator tip to be exposed from said shield by motion relative to said shield when said shield and said obturator are placed within said cannula.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The trocar of claim 2 wherein said control means further comprise manually operable means connected to said obturator which cause said obturator to slide relative to said shield to an open position to expose said tip from said shield.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The trocar of claim 2 wherein said control means are further capable of causing said tip to retract from said open position to a closed position where said tip is enclosed by said shield.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
The trocar of claim 4 further comprising handle means connected to said obturator and said shield, said handle means extending from said cannula when said obturator and shield are inserted within said cannula, and said control means further comprise push button means movable with said handle means and capable of causing said obturator to slide within said cannula relative to said shield.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The trocar of claim 2 said control means further comprising sensor means attached to said shield and said obturator, said sensor means capable of sensing pressure on said obturator or said shield and activating said shield to an open position to expose said tip from said shield.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The trocar of claim 6 wherein said control means are further capable of causing said tip to retract from said open position to a closed position where said tip is enclosed by said shield.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The trocar of claim 6 further comprising latch means connected to said sensor and said shield and activated by said sensor to hold said shield in said open portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The trocar of claim 8 wherein said control means, said obturator and said shield are contained within a handle, said handle enabling insertion of said obturator and said shield into said cannula.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The trocar of claim 8 wherein said sensor is electromechanical and attached to said obturator tip to sense pressure on said tip.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The trocar of claim 1 wherein said placement means is capable of maintaining said obturator tip urged outside said shield.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
The trocar of claim 1 wherein said closure portion contains a curved section and a lateral section, said pin movable from said longitudinal portion into said curved section by rotation of said shield and into said lateral section by further rotation of said shield such that motion is restricted longitudinally when said jaw is seated in said lateral section.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The trocar of claim 1 wherein said obturator contains a hollow cross-section, and said shield insertable into said obturator hollow cross-section.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The trocar of claim 13 wherein said shield has a generally blunt end.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The trocar of claim 14 wherein said spring means and said obturator are connected to a handle, said handle holding said spring means in place to urge said shield in spaced apart relation to said obturator tip.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The trocar of claim 15 further comprising a cannula wherein said shield is placed inside said obturator on said handle and is insertable into said cannula.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The trocar of claim 16 wherein said shield is capable of being held by latching means to expose said obturator tip from said cannula.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-11-15 | 1997-05-17 | 1997-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-11-15 | 2001-05-17 | 2001-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-11-15 | 2005-05-17 | 2005-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |