Seal assembly for access device

Claim 2

A surgical device having a longitudinal configuration and an axis extending between a proximal end and an opposing distal end, the device comprising: a housing disposed at the proximal end of the device and having an inner surface defining a chamber; a cannula extending distally of the housing and having at least one lumen communicating with the chamber of the housing; a first valve disposed in the housing and having a plurality of walls forming a first seal with the inner surface of the housing and a second seal; the walls being foldable between a first position wherein the second seal closes the at least one lumen of the cannula and a second position wherein the second seal opens the lumen of the cannula; and a second valve disposed proximally of the first valve and having an aperture therein which is adapted to receive a surgical instrument therethrough and to form a seal about an outer surface of said instrument.

Claim 3

The surgical device recited in claim 1 wherein the walls of the first valve form at least one fold segment including a first wall and a second wall disposed at an acute angle to the first wall.

Claim 4

The surgical device recited in claim 2 wherein each of the first wall and the second wall include an outer surface which faces distally of the first valve.

Claim 5

The surgical device recited in claim 1 wherein the walls of the first valve are biased to the first position.

Claim 6

The surgical device recited in claim 1 wherein the walls of the first valve form a first slit and a second slit which intersects the first slit.

Claim 7

The surgical device recited in claim 5 wherein the first valve has an axis and the first slit intersects the second slit at a particular angle along said valve axis.

Claim 8

The surgical device recited in claim 6 wherein the particular angle is in a range of about 60° to about 120°.

Claim 9

A surgical device adapted to extend into a cavity pressurized with a fluid, the device comprising: a tube having an elongate configuration and an inner surface defining a lumen along the length of the tube; a first valve disposed in the tube and having an axis extending between a proximal end of the first valve and a distal end of the first valve, the first valve forming a seal with the inner surface of the tube; a first pair of walls included in the valve, each of the first pair of walls being disposed in an associated plane which is disposed at an acute angle to the axis of the first valve, the first pair of walls forming a first openable slit; a second pair of walls included in the first valve, each of the second pair of walls being disposed in an associated plane which is disposed at an acute angle to the axis of the first valve, the second pair of walls forming a second openable slit; the first slit being disposed at an angle not greater than 120° to the second slit; and a second valve disposed proximally of the first valve and having an aperture therein which is adapted to receive a surgical instrument therethrough and to form a seal about an outer surface of said instrument.

Claim 10

A surgical device adapted to extend into a cavity pressurized with a fluid, the device comprising: a tube having an elongate configuration and an inner surface defining a lumen along the length of the tube; a first valve disposed in the tube and having an axis extending between a proximal end of the first valve and a distal end of the first valve, the first valve forming a seal with the inner surface of the tube; a first pair of walls included in the valve, each of the first pair of walls being disposed in an associated plane which is disposed at an acute angle to the axis of the first valve, the first pair of walls forming a first openable slit; a second pair of walls included in the first valve, each of the second pair of walls being disposed in an associated plane which is disposed at an acute angle to the axis of the first valve, the second pair of walls forming a second openable slit; the first slit being disposed at an angle not greater than 120° to the second slit; and a second valve disposed proximally of the first valve and having an aperture therein which is adapted to receive a surgical instrument therethrough and to form a seal about an outer surface of said instrument.

Claim 11

The surgical device recited in claim 8 wherein at least one of the first pair of walls faces distally and is adapted to respond to the pressure of the fluid in the cavity to facilitate closure of the first slit.

Claim 12

The surgical device recited in claim 8 wherein at least one of the first pair of walls is disposed to face in a direction such that the force produced on the wall by the pressure of the fluid has a component directed to close the first slit.

Claim 13

The surgical device recited in claim 10 wherein the first slit and the second slit are disposed in a particular plane and the component of force is directed generally parallel to the particular plane.

Claim 14

The surgical device recited in claim 11 wherein the particular plane is a radial plane.

Claim 15

The surgical device of claim 8 wherein the tube forms a housing of a trocar.

Claim 16

A trocar assembly adapted to provide access for a surgical instrument across a body wall and into a body cavity, comprising: a cannula having a distal end and a proximal end, the cannula being adapted to be positioned across the body wall with the distal end extending into the body cavity; a housing disposed at the proximal end of the cannula and forming with the cannula a lumen sized and configured to receive the instrument; a first valve disposed in the housing and across the lumen, the first valve having characteristics for opening the lumen when the instrument is inserted into the trocar and for closing the lumen when the instrument is withdrawn from the trocar assembly; an outer wall included in the first valve and forming a seal with the housing; a plurality of fold sections, each including a pair of walls extending distally inwardly of the outer wall and forming a slit having an open state when the instrument is inserted into the lumen and a closed state when the instrument is withdrawn from the lumen; and a second valve disposed proximally of the first valve and having an aperture therein which is adapted to receive said instrument therethrough and to form a seal about an outer surface of said instrument.

Claim 17

A trocar assembly adapted to provide access for a surgical instrument across a body wall and into a body cavity, comprising: a cannula having a distal end and a proximal end, the cannula being adapted to be positioned across the body wall with the distal end extending into the body cavity; a housing disposed at the proximal end of the cannula and forming with the cannula a lumen sized and configured to receive the instrument; a first valve disposed in the housing and across the lumen, the first valve having characteristics for opening the lumen when the instrument is inserted into the trocar and for closing the lumen when the instrument is withdrawn from the trocar assembly; an outer wall included in the first valve and forming a seal with the housing; a plurality of fold sections, each including a pair of walls extending distally inwardly of the outer wall and forming a slit having an open state when the instrument is inserted into the lumen and a closed state when the instrument is withdrawn from the lumen; and a second valve disposed proximally of the first valve and having an aperture therein which is adapted to receive said instrument therethrough and to form a seal about an outer surface of said instrument.

Claim 18

The trocar assembly recited in claim 14 wherein the outer wall forms a cylinder having an axis.

Claim 19

The trocar assembly recited in claim 15 further comprising at least three of the fold sections each forming a slit wherein all of the slits intersect at point disposed along the axis of the cylinder.

Claim 20

The trocar assembly recited in claim 16 further comprising four of the fold sections each forming a slit wherein the slits of alternate sections are disposed along a line.

Claim 21

The trocar assembly recited in claim 17 wherein the four fold sections form two of the lines and the two lines intersect at the point along the axis of the cylinder.

Claim 22

The trocar assembly recited in claim 18 wherein the two intersecting lines are substantially perpendicular.