Trocar with safety shield

Claim 2

A retractable safety penetrating instrument for forming a portal communicating with a cavity in the body to allow passage of instruments for performing least invasive medical procedures comprising a portal sleeve for providing a passage through a cavity wall and having a distal end for positioning in the body cavity, a proximal end for positioning externally of the body cavity and a lumen extending between said distal and proximal ends; a penetrating member disposed in said lumen of said portal sleeve and having a sharp distal end for penetrating the cavity wall; a safety shield disposed between said portal sleeve and said penetrating member and having a distal end protruding beyond the sharp distal end of the penetrating member; retracting means for moving said penetrating member proximally relative to said portal sleeve from an extended position where said sharp distal end protrudes beyond said portal sleeve distal end to is a retracted position to prevent contact of said sharp distal end with tissue; and trigger means for automatically actuating said retracting means to move said penetrating member to a retracted position in response to movement of said safety shield distally upon said portal sleeve distal end entering the body cavity whereby said sharp distal end of said penetrating member is protected from inadvertent contact with tissue in the body cavity.

Claim 3

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 1 wherein said retracting means includes means for biasing said penetrating member in a proximal direction.

Claim 4

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 2 further including means engageable with said retracting means for preventing movement of said penetrating member in the proximal direction and said trigger means includes means for automatically disengaging said movement preventing means.

Claim 5

A retractable safety penetrating instrument for forming a portal communicating with a cavity in the body to allow passage of instruments for performing least invasive medical procedures comprising a portal sleeve for providing a passage through a cavity wall and having a distal end for positioning in the body cavity, a proximal end for positioning externally of the body cavity and a lumen extending between said distal and proximal ends; a penetrating member disposed in said lumen of said portal sleeve and having a sharp distal end for penetrating the cavity wall and a hollow proximal end; a safety shield disposed between said portal sleeve and said penetrating member and having a distal end protruding beyond the sharp distal end of the penetrating member; retracting means for moving said penetrating member proximally relative to said portal sleeve from an extended position where said sharp distal end protrudes beyond said portal sleeve distal end to a retracted position to prevent contact of said sharp distal end with tissue, said retracting means including means for biasing said penetrating member in a proximal direction; means engageable with said retracting means for preventing movement of said penetrating member in the proximal direction; trigger means for automatically actuating said retracting means to move said penetrating member to a retracted position in response to movement of said safety shield distally upon said portal sleeve distal end entering the body cavity whereby said sharp distal end of said penetrating member is protected from inadvertent contact with tissue in the body cavity, said trigger means including means for automatically disengaging said movement preventing means; and hub means for mounting said proximal end of said penetrating member and cylindrical member means secured to said hub means and extending into said penetrating member proximal end for guiding proximal movement of said penetrating member.

Claim 6

A retractable safety penetrating instrument for forming a portal communicating with a cavity in the body to allow passage of instruments for performing least invasive medical procedures comprising a portal sleeve for providing a passage through a cavity wall and having a distal end for positioning in the body cavity, a proximal end for positioning externally of the body cavity and a lumen extending between said distal and proximal ends; a penetrating member disposed in said lumen of said portal sleeve and having a sharp distal end for penetrating the cavity wall and a hollow proximal end; a safety shield disposed between said portal sleeve and said penetrating member and having a distal end protruding beyond the sharp distal end of the penetrating member; retracting means for moving said penetrating member proximally relative to said portal sleeve from an extended position where said sharp distal end protrudes beyond said portal sleeve distal end to a retracted position to prevent contact of said sharp distal end with tissue, said retracting means including means for biasing said penetrating member in a proximal direction; means engageable with said retracting means for preventing movement of said penetrating member in the proximal direction; trigger means for automatically actuating said retracting means to move said penetrating member to a retracted position in response to movement of said safety shield distally upon said portal sleeve distal end entering the body cavity whereby said sharp distal end of said penetrating member is protected from inadvertent contact with tissue in the body cavity, said trigger means including means for automatically disengaging said movement preventing means; and hub means for mounting said proximal end of said penetrating member and cylindrical member means secured to said hub means and extending into said penetrating member proximal end for guiding proximal movement of said penetrating member.

Claim 7

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 4 wherein said biasing means includes a spring disposed within said penetrating member proximal end concentrically around said cylindrical member means.

Claim 8

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 5 further including a rim on said cylindrical member means disposed within said proximal end of said penetrating member and a shoulder on said proximal end of said penetrating member, said spring being mounted in compression between said rim and said shoulder.

Claim 9

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 4 wherein said biasing means is disposed within said hub means externally of said penetrating member proximal end.

Claim 10

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 7 further including rail means mounted externally on said proximal end of said penetrating member and having an abutment wall, and said biasing means includes a spring mounted in compression between said hub means and said abutment wall.

Claim 11

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 8 wherein said safety shield includes a cylindrical body terminating at a proximal end within said hub means and a longitudinal slot in said cylindrical body and further including a plate joined to said rail means and said penetrating member, said plate extending through said slot in said cylindrical body.

Claim 12

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 9 wherein said rail means includes a hollow cylinder having an end closed by said abutment wall and said spring is disposed concentrically within said cylinder.

Claim 13

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 9 wherein said rail means includes a flat side extending perpendicularly from said abutment wall and said spring is disposed laterally between said flat and said penetrating member.

Claim 14

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 4 wherein said biasing means includes a spring disposed concentrically around said penetrating member.

Claim 15

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 12 further including an abutment wall extending outwardly from said proximal end of said penetrating member and an annular skirt disposed concentrically around said proximal end of said penetrating member extending distally from said abutment wall, said spring being disposed concentrically around said penetrating member proximal end within said skirt and maintained in compression between said hub means and said abutment wall.

Claim 16

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 13 wherein said safety shield includes a cylindrical body terminating at a proximal end within said hub means and a longitudinal slot in said cylindrical body, said abutment wall extending through said slot.

Claim 17

A retractable safety penetrating instrument for forming a portal communicating with a cavity in the body to allow passage of instruments for performing least invasive medical procedures comprising a portal sleeve for providing a passage through a cavity wall and having a distal end for positioning in the body cavity, a proximal end for positioning externally of the body cavity and a lumen extending between said distal and proximal ends; a penetrating member disposed in said lumen of said portal sleeve and having a sharp distal end for penetrating the cavity wall; a safety shield disposed between said portal sleeve and said penetrating member and having a distal end protruding beyond said sharp distal end of said penetrating member; retracting means for moving said safety shield and penetrating member proximally relative to said portal sleeve from an extended position where said distal ends of said safety shield and penetrating member protrude beyond said portal sleeve distal end to a retracted position within said portal sleeve; and trigger means including an operating member movable proximally as said penetrating member penetrates the cavity wall and movable distally thereafter, said trigger means being responsive to said distal movement of said operating member to actuate said retracting means to move said safety shield and penetrating member to said retracted position.

Claim 18

A retractable safety penetrating instrument for forming a portal communicating with a cavity in the body to allow passage of instruments for performing least invasive medical procedures comprising a portal sleeve for providing a passage through a cavity wall and having a distal end for positioning in the body cavity, a proximal end for positioning externally of the body cavity and a lumen extending between said distal and proximal ends; a penetrating member disposed in said lumen of said portal sleeve and having a sharp distal end for penetrating the cavity wall; a safety shield disposed between said portal sleeve and said penetrating member and having a distal end protruding beyond said sharp distal end of said penetrating member; retracting means for moving said safety shield and penetrating member proximally relative to said portal sleeve from an extended position where said distal ends of said safety shield and penetrating member protrude beyond said portal sleeve distal end to a retracted position within said portal sleeve; and trigger means including an operating member movable proximally as said penetrating member penetrates the cavity wall and movable distally thereafter, said trigger means being responsive to said distal movement of said operating member to actuate said retracting means to move said safety shield and penetrating member to said retracted position.

Claim 19

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 15 further including means for permitting said safety shield to move proximally as said penetrating member penetrates the cavity wall and wherein said operating member is disposed on said safety shield.

Claim 20

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 16 wherein said penetrating member includes a distal end surface joined to a cylindrical body at a junction, said distal end of said portal sleeve includes a peripheral edge and said distal end of said safety shield includes a trailing edge aligned with said portal sleeve peripheral edge and a peripheral edge aligned with said junction when said safety shield moves proximally as said penetrating member penetrates the cavity wall.

Claim 21

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 16 wherein said means for permitting said safety shield to move proximally includes means for biasing said safety shield in a distal direction.

Claim 22

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 18 wherein said penetrating member includes a hollow proximal end and further including hub means for mounting said proximal end of said trocar and cylindrical member means secured to said hub means and extending into said proximal end of said penetrating member, and wherein said safety shield includes a proximal end and said means for biasing includes a spring disposed concentrically around said cylindrical member means and mounted in compression between said safety shield proximal end and said hub means.

Claim 23

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 16 wherein said safety shield includes a proximal end and said operating member includes an arm on said proximal end of said safety shield.

Claim 24

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 16 wherein said safety shield includes a proximal end and said operating member includes a flange mounted on said proximal end of said safety shield.

Claim 25

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 16 wherein said safety shield includes a cylindrical body and said operating member includes a wall of said cylindrical body.

Claim 26

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 22 further including a longitudinal slot in said cylindrical body and wherein said operating member includes an edge on said wall defined by said longitudinal slot.

Claim 27

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 15 wherein said retracting means includes means for biasing said penetrating member proximally and further including locking means engagable with said retracting means for preventing movement of said retracting means proximally, said trigger means further including releasing means for being engaged by said operating member when said operating member moves distally for disengaging said locking means from said retracting means.

Claim 28

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 24 wherein said locking means includes a latch biased into engagement with said retracting means.

Claim 29

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 25 wherein said latch includes a spring.

Claim 30

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 26 wherein said releasing means includes cam means for disengaging said latch from said retracting means.

Claim 31

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 27 wherein said releasing means further includes a trigger on said cam means for being engaged by said operating member when said operating member moves distally.

Claim 32

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 28 wherein said cam means is biased to a rest position wherein said trigger is disposed within the path of distal movement of said operating member.

Claim 33

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 26 wherein said releasing means includes a trigger on said spring biased into the path of distal movement of said operating member.

Claim 34

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 25 wherein said latch includes a locking bar and said releasing means includes spring means for biasing said locking bar into engagement with said retracting means and disengaging said locking bar from said retracting means in response to distal movement of said operating member and a trigger on said spring means biased into the path of distal movement of said operating member.

Claim 35

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 24 wherein said locking means and said releasing means are of integral, unitary construction.

Claim 36

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 24 wherein said locking means and said releasing means are of multi-part construction.

Claim 37

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 33 further including hub means for mounting said penetrating member and said safety shield and housing means for mounting said portal sleeve, said hub means being removably engageable with said housing means allowing said penetrating member and safety shield to be removed form said portal sleeve allowing said portal sleeve to remain in the cavity.

Claim 38

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 34, further including valve means in said housing means for controlling flow through said portal sleeve.

Claim 39

A retractable safety penetrating instrument for forming a portal communicating with a cavity in the body to allow passage of instruments for performing least invasive medical procedures comprising a portal sleeve for providing a passage through a cavity wall and having a distal end for positioning in the body cavity, a proximal end for positioning exteriorly of the body cavity and a lumen extending between said distal and proximal ends; a penetrating member disposed in said lumen of said portal sleeve and having a sharp distal end for penetrating the cavity wall; a safety shield disposed in said lumen of said portal sleeve between said portal sleeve and said penetrating member and having a distal end; means for biasing said safety shield distally within said lumen of said portal sleeve to an extended position where said safety shield distal end protrudes beyond said sharp distal end of said penetrating member; retracting means for moving said penetrating member proximally relative to said portal sleeve to a retracted position within said retractable safety penetrating instrument in response to distal movement of said safety shield upon penetration into the body cavity; and trigger means for automatically actuating said retracting means to move said penetrating member to said retracted position in response to movement of said safety shield distally upon said portal sleeve distal end entering the body cavity whereby said penetrating member is moved to said retracted position prior to said safety shield distal end protruding beyond said sharp distal end of said penetrating member.

Claim 40

A retractable safety penetrating instrument for forming a portal communicating with a cavity in the body to allow passage of instruments for performing least invasive medical procedures comprising a portal sleeve for providing a passage through a cavity wall and having a distal end for positioning in the body cavity, a proximal end for positioning exteriorly of the body cavity and a lumen extending between said distal and proximal ends; a penetrating member disposed in said lumen of said portal sleeve and having a sharp distal end for penetrating the cavity wall; a safety shield disposed in said lumen of said portal sleeve between said portal sleeve and said penetrating member and having a distal end; means for biasing said safety shield distally within said lumen of said portal sleeve to an extended position where said safety shield distal end protrudes beyond said sharp distal end of said penetrating member; retracting means for moving said penetrating member proximally relative to said portal sleeve to a retracted position within said retractable safety penetrating instrument in response to distal movement of said safety shield upon penetration into the body cavity; and trigger means for automatically actuating said retracting means to move said penetrating member to said retracted position in response to movement of said safety shield distally upon said portal sleeve distal end entering the body cavity whereby said penetrating member is moved to said retracted position prior to said safety shield distal end protruding beyond said sharp distal end of said penetrating member.

Claim 41

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 36 further including means for selectively moving said penetrating member form said retracted position to said extended position.

Claim 42

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 37 further including hub means for mounting said penetrating member and wherein said means for selectively moving includes knob means on said penetrating member and slot means in said hub means for receiving said knob means, said knob means being movable along said slot means to move said penetrating member from said retracted position to said extended position.

Claim 43

A retractable safety penetrating instrument as recited in claim 38 further including means for selectively locking said penetrating member in said extended position.

Claim 44

A retractable safety penetrating instrument for forming a portal communicating with a cavity in the body to allow passage of instruments for performing least invasive medical procedures comprising a portal sleeve for providing a passage through a cavity wall and having a distal end for positioning in the body cavity, a proximal end for positioning exteriorly of the body cavity and a lumen extending between said distal and proximal ends; a penetrating member disposed in said lumen of said portal sleeve and having a sharp distal end for penetrating the cavity wall; a safety shield disposed in said lumen of said portal sleeve between said portal sleeve and said penetrating member and having a distal end; means for biasing said safety shield distally within said lumen of said portal sleeve to an extended position where said safety shield distal end protrudes beyond said sharp distal end of said penetrating member; retracting means for moving said penetrating member proximally relative to said portal sleeve to a retracted position within said retractable safety penetrating instrument in response to distal movement of said safety shield upon penetration into the body cavity; trigger means for automatically actuating said retracting means to move said penetrating member to said retracted position in response to movement of said safety shield distally upon said portal sleeve distal end entering the body cavity whereby said penetrating member to moved to said retracted position prior to said safety shield protruding beyond said sharp distal end of said penetrating member; means for selectively moving said penetrating member form said retracted position to said extended position; hub means for mounting said penetrating member and wherein said means for selectively moving includes knob means on said penetrating member and slot means in said hub means for receiving said knob means, said knob means being movable along said slot means to move said penetrating member form said retracted position to said extended position; and means for selectively locking said penetrating member in said extended position, said means for locking including a locking member pivotally mounted on said hub means for being selectively moved into a position preventing proximal movement of said knob means along said slot means.

Claim 45

A retractable safety penetrating instrument for forming a portal communicating with a cavity in the body to allow passage of instruments for performing least invasive medical procedures comprising a portal sleeve for providing a passage through a cavity wall and having a distal end for positioning in the body cavity, a proximal end for positioning exteriorly of the body cavity and a lumen extending between said distal and proximal ends; a penetrating member disposed in said lumen of said portal sleeve and having a sharp distal end for penetrating the cavity wall; a safety shield disposed in said lumen of said portal sleeve between said portal sleeve and said penetrating member and having a distal end; means for biasing said safety shield distally within said lumen of said portal sleeve to an extended position where said safety shield distal end protrudes beyond said sharp distal end of said penetrating member; retracting means for moving said penetrating member proximally relative to said portal sleeve to a retracted position within said retractable safety penetrating instrument in response to distal movement of said safety shield upon penetration into the body cavity; trigger means for automatically actuating said retracting means to move said penetrating member to said retracted position in response to movement of said safety shield distally upon said portal sleeve distal end entering the body cavity whereby said penetrating member to moved to said retracted position prior to said safety shield protruding beyond said sharp distal end of said penetrating member; means for selectively moving said penetrating member form said retracted position to said extended position; hub means for mounting said penetrating member and wherein said means for selectively moving includes knob means on said penetrating member and slot means in said hub means for receiving said knob means, said knob means being movable along said slot means to move said penetrating member form said retracted position to said extended position; and means for selectively locking said penetrating member in said extended position, said means for locking including a locking member pivotally mounted on said hub means for being selectively moved into a position preventing proximal movement of said knob means along said slot means.