Expanding trocar assembly

Claim 2

An expandable trocar assembly, comprising: a trocar hilt secured to an inner sheath, the inner sheath including an expandable distal end, the distal end being formed of a plurality of ribs which assume a funnel shape when unrestrained; an outer sheath slidably positioned on the inner sheath for movement on the inner sheath while the trocar hilt is secured to the inner sheath, the outer sheath being movable to selectively cover and restrain the expandable distal end of the inner sheath during insertion, the trocar hilt including a main body containing a flapper valve positioned at a proximal end of the main body and resiliently biased to a closed position, and wherein the flapper valve includes a cylindrical support located at the proximal end of the main body and a flapper pivotally supported by the cylindrical support within the main body, and wherein movement of the cylindrical support causes the flapper to move to an opened position.

Claim 3

The trocar assembly according to claim 1, wherein the inner sheath is releasable secured to the trocar hilt.

Claim 4

The trocar assembly according to claim 1, wherein the inner sheath and the outer sheath are made of plastic.

Claim 5

The trocar assembly according to claim 1, wherein the ribs are connected by webbing members.

Claim 6

The trocar assembly according to claim 1, wherein the outer sheath is provided with an integral locking flange for securing the outer sheath to the inner sheath.

Claim 7

The trocar assembly according to claim 1, wherein axial movement or the cylindrical support causes the flapper to move to an opened position.

Claim 8

A laparoscopy method, comprising the steps of: inserting a trocar assembly in through the abdominal wall of a patient, the trocar assembly including a trocar hilt secured to an inner sheath, the inner sheath including an expandable distal end formed of a plurality of ribs which assume a funnel shape when unrestrained, and an outer sheath slidably positioned on the inner sheath for movement on the inner sheath while the trocar hilt is secured to the inner sheath, the outer sheath covering and restraining the expandable distal end of the inner sheath; drawing the outer sheath away from the expandable distal end of the inner sheath and permitting the plurality of ribs to assume the unrestrained funnel shape; severing a tissue sample; and withdrawing the tissue sample and the trocar assembly from the patient, the trocar hilt including a main body containing a flapper valve positioned at a proximal end of the main body and resiliently biased to a closed position, and wherein the flapper valve includes a cylindrical support located at the proximal end of the main body and a flapper pivotally supported by the cylindrical support within the main body, and wherein movement of the cylindrical support causes the flapper to move to an opened positioned.

Claim 9

A laparoscopy method, comprising the steps of: inserting a trocar assembly in through the abdominal wall of a patient, the trocar assembly including a trocar hilt secured to an inner sheath, the inner sheath including an expandable distal end formed of a plurality of ribs which assume a funnel shape when unrestrained, and an outer sheath slidably positioned on the inner sheath for movement on the inner sheath while the trocar hilt is secured to the inner sheath, the outer sheath covering and restraining the expandable distal end of the inner sheath; drawing the outer sheath away from the expandable distal end of the inner sheath and permitting the plurality of ribs to assume the unrestrained funnel shape; severing a tissue sample; and withdrawing the tissue sample and the trocar assembly from the patient, the trocar hilt including a main body containing a flapper valve positioned at a proximal end of the main body and resiliently biased to a closed position, and wherein the flapper valve includes a cylindrical support located at the proximal end of the main body and a flapper pivotally supported by the cylindrical support within the main body, and wherein movement of the cylindrical support causes the flapper to move to an opened positioned.

Claim 10

The method according to claim 7, wherein the inner sheath is releasable secured to the trocar hilt.

Claim 11

The method according to claim 7, wherein the inner sheath and the outer sheath are made of plastic.

Claim 12

The method according to claim 7, wherein the ribs are connected by webbing members.

Claim 13

The method according to claim 7, wherein the outer sheath is provided with an integral locking flange for securing the outer sheath to the inner sheath.

Claim 14

The method according to claim 7, wherein axial movement of the cylindrical support causes the flapper to move to an opened position.