Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
An endoscopic portal for establishing communication with an anatomical cavity through a wall of the cavity comprising; an elongate tubular portal sleeve for insertion through the cavity wall and having an open distal end for positioning within the cavity and an open proximal end for positioning externally of the cavity; and a valve assembly disposed adjacent said portal sleeve proximal end and including a bladder having a passage therethrough for permitting insertion of instruments of various sizes in said portal sleeve through said passage and means in said bladder for compressing said passage to cause said bladder to sealingly contact instruments inserted through said passage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
An endoscopic portal for establishing communication with an anatomical cavity through a wall of the cavity comprising; an elongate tubular portal sleeve for insertion through the cavity wall and having an open distal end for positioning within the cavity and an open proximal end for positioning externally of the cavity; and a valve assembly disposed adjacent said portal sleeve proximal end and including a bladder having a passage therethrough for permitting insertion of instruments of various sizes in said portal sleeve through said passage and means in said bladder for compressing said passage to cause said bladder to sealingly contact instruments inserted through said passage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 1 wherein said passage includes a longitudinal axis and said means for compressing includes means for compressing said passage in a direction transverse to said axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 2 wherein said means for compressing includes a spine member in said bladder for biasing said bladder to sealingly contact the instruments.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 2 wherein said means for compressing includes a compressible material in said bladder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 3 wherein said spine member is made of a compressible material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 3 wherein said spine member includes a spring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 4 wherein said compressible material includes a compressible fluid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 4 wherein said compressible material includes a solid compressible material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 4 and further including means disposed externally around said bladder for biasing said bladder to compress said passage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 4 and further including a spine member in said bladder for guiding said bladder to compress said passage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 4 and further including means connected with said bladder for supplying said bladder with said compressible material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 4 wherein said bladder includes a portion defining said passage and at least said passage defining portion of said bladder is made of an expandable, tearing-resistant materials.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 4 wherein said bladder includes a portion defining said passage and said passage defining portion is made up of a plurality of concentrically arranged membranes of expandable material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 9 wherein said external biasing means includes at least one band of stretchable material disposed around said bladder.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 10 wherein said spine member is made of a compressible material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 10 wherein said spine member includes a spring.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 11 wherein said compressible material includes air and said means for supplying includes a squeeze bulb.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 13 wherein a normally close said passage and to permit said passage to be opened incrementally in the direction transverse to said axis upon insertion of the instruments therethrough.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 16 wherein said spring includes a plurality of spring arms biased to compress said passage.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
118 words
An endoscopic portal for establishing communication with an anatomical cavity through a wall of the cavity comprising; an elongate tubular portal sleeve for being inserted through the cavity wall and having an open distal end for being positioned within the cavity and an open proximal end for being positioned externally of the cavity; and a valve assembly disposed adjacent said portal sleeve proximal end and including a bladder having a passage therethrough permitting instruments of various sizes to be inserted through said valve assembly, said bladder being filled with a compressible material to cause said passage to conform to the size of the instruments inserted through said valve assembly to prevent passage of fluid through said valve assembly.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
118 words
An endoscopic portal for establishing communication with an anatomical cavity through a wall of the cavity comprising; an elongate tubular portal sleeve for being inserted through the cavity wall and having an open distal end for being positioned within the cavity and an open proximal end for being positioned externally of the cavity; and a valve assembly disposed adjacent said portal sleeve proximal end and including a bladder having a passage therethrough permitting instruments of various sizes to be inserted through said valve assembly, said bladder being filled with a compressible material to cause said passage to conform to the size of the instruments inserted through said valve assembly to prevent passage of fluid through said valve assembly.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 20 and further including means for removing at least some of said material from said bladder.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 20 Wherein said bladder has a configuration when filled with said material for being grasped by a surgeon.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 20 and further including a housing mounting said portal sleeve proximal end and wherein said bladder is disposed in said housing.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 20 wherein said bladder has a toroidal external configuration when filled with said material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 20 wherein said bladder has a nipple-shaped external configuration wren filled with said material.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
47 words
An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 20 wherein said bladder has an external configuration when filled with said material to normally close said passage and said external configuration defines a recess tapering to said passage when closed to facilitate, insertion of instruments through said valve assembly.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 26 wherein said bladder has a heart-shaped external configuration when filled with said material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 20 wherein said bladder is made up of a length of spirally wound tubing.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 20 wherein said portal sleeve has a longitudinal axis and a lumen therethrough expandable in a direction transverse to said axis.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of inserting an instrument through an endoscopic portal passing through a wall of an anatomical cavity including the steps of; inserting an instrument through a passage of a bladder filled with compressible material adjacent a proximal end of the endoscopic portal disposed externally of the anatomical cavity; and compressing the passage with the compressible material to cause the bladder to contact the instrument in sealing relation.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of inserting an instrument through an endoscopic portal passing through a wall of an anatomical cavity including the steps of; inserting an instrument through a passage of a bladder filled with compressible material adjacent a proximal end of the endoscopic portal disposed externally of the anatomical cavity; and compressing the passage with the compressible material to cause the bladder to contact the instrument in sealing relation.