US5779697A — Arthroscopic cannula with fluid seals

Claim 1

Independent Claim 251 words

A sealing cannula for enabling passage of elongated instruments therethrough comprising: a tubular housing having an axis, an inner surface and outer surface, a distal end, a proximal end and an axially aligned tubular body extending distally from said distal end; a first proximal elastomeric seal comprising: a first tubular wall having a proximal end and a distal end; a first transverse end wall at the proximal end of said first tubular wall, said first transverse end wall comprising an expandable circular aperture; and floating means for enabling lateral and inclined motion of said circular aperture relative to said axis when an elongated instrument is inserted therethrough; means for securing said first tubular wall to said housing, aligning said circular aperture along said axis and spacing said circular aperture a first predetermined longitudinal distance from said proximal end of said housing; a second distal elastomeric seal comprising: a second tubular wall having a proximal end and a distal end; a second transverse end wall at the distal end of said second tubular wall, said second transverse end wall having proximal and distal sides and a transversely oriented linear slit therethrough; means for securing said second tubular wall within said housing, aligning said slit along said axis and spacing said slit a second predetermined longitudinal distance from said circular aperture; and a generally rectangular primary reinforcing member formed about said slit, and extending distally a predetermined distance from said second transverse end wall on the distally facing side of said end wall.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 251 words

A sealing cannula for enabling passage of elongated instruments therethrough comprising: a tubular housing having an axis, an inner surface and outer surface, a distal end, a proximal end and an axially aligned tubular body extending distally from said distal end; a first proximal elastomeric seal comprising: a first tubular wall having a proximal end and a distal end; a first transverse end wall at the proximal end of said first tubular wall, said first transverse end wall comprising an expandable circular aperture; and floating means for enabling lateral and inclined motion of said circular aperture relative to said axis when an elongated instrument is inserted therethrough; means for securing said first tubular wall to said housing, aligning said circular aperture along said axis and spacing said circular aperture a first predetermined longitudinal distance from said proximal end of said housing; a second distal elastomeric seal comprising: a second tubular wall having a proximal end and a distal end; a second transverse end wall at the distal end of said second tubular wall, said second transverse end wall having proximal and distal sides and a transversely oriented linear slit therethrough; means for securing said second tubular wall within said housing, aligning said slit along said axis and spacing said slit a second predetermined longitudinal distance from said circular aperture; and a generally rectangular primary reinforcing member formed about said slit, and extending distally a predetermined distance from said second transverse end wall on the distally facing side of said end wall.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 44 words

A sealing cannula according to claim 1 further comprising a pair of proximally facing, axially transverse, lead-in planar surfaces bounding said proximal side of said slit and a pair of distally facing, axially transverse lead-in planar surfaces bounding said distal side of said slit.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 44 words

A sealing cannula according to claim 2 further comprising a first pair of opposing conical wall sections joining adjacent ends of said proximally facing planar surfaces and a second pair of opposing conical wall sections joining adjacent ends of said distally facing planar surfaces.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 46 words

A sealing cannula according to claim 1 further comprising a pair of transversely oriented opposing secondary reinforcing members abutting said reinforcing member on opposite lateral sides of said slit, said secondary reinforcing members comprising a radially outer surface for engaging the inner surface of said housing.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 39 words

A sealing cannula according to claim 2 wherein said distally facing lead-in planar surfaces terminate in a peripheral distal-most edge and wherein the distally facing side of said reinforcing member is curved proximally and outwardly from said distal-most edge.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 74 words

A sealing cannula according to claim 1 wherein said floating means comprises an annular wall section formed at said proximal end of said first tubular wall, said annular wall section having a predetermined thickness adapted to enable said first transverse end wall to move relative to said axis, said annular wall section further having a predetermined length to enable said first transverse end wall to be spaced said predetermined longitudinal distance from said housing.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 48 words

A sealing cannula according to claim 1 wherein said first tubular wall is adapted to engage the outer surface of said housing, further comprising an annular rib at said distal end of said first tubular wall for engaging an annular groove on said outer surface of said housing.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 72 words

A sealing cannula according to claim 1 wherein said floating means comprises a distally tapered conical wall section surrounding said circular aperture and further comprising resilient means secured to said first transverse end wall for enabling proximal, everting motion of said conical wall section upon removal of an instrument therefrom and for returning said first conical wall section to its distally tapered configuration after said instrument is disengaged from said circular aperture.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 34 words

A sealing cannula according to claim 8 wherein said resilient means comprises a plurality of radially extending reinforcing ribs joining said first transverse end wall, said conical wall section and said first tubular wall.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 20 words

A sealing cannula according to claim 9 wherein each of said radially extending ribs further comprise a flat planar body.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 76 words

A sealing cannula according to claim 1 further comprising a limitation means interposed between said first and second elastomeric seals for limiting the angular deviation of an elongated instrument from said cannula axis to a range between a first direction aligned with said cannula axis and a second direction lying on the conical surface of an imaginary cone having its axis aligned with said cannula axis and having a predetermined apex angle about said cannula axis.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 49 words

A sealing cannula according to claim 11 wherein said limitation means comprises an annular member having an axially aligned clearance aperture for receiving an instrument shaft therethrough, said clearance aperture surrounded by a radially outwardly and proximally extending annular surface having a predetermined arcuate profile in an axial plane.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 270 words

A sealing cannula for providing a passageway for enabling passage of elongated instruments therethrough from an ambient, non-fluid filled area into a fluid filled surgical field while sealingly separating one portion of the cannula from the other comprising: a hollow cylindrical housing having an axis, a distal end, a proximal end and an axially aligned tubular body extending distally from said distal end; a first proximal sealing cap means for preventing fluid transmission from said housing when an instrument shaft is inserted therethrough comprising: a first cylindrical elastomeric wall having an axis, a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end having a first predetermined thickness over a predetermined distal axial length portion thereof and said proximal end having a second predetermined thickness over a predetermined proximal axial length portion thereof, said predetermined first thickness greater than said predetermined second thickness; a first transverse end wall enclosing the proximal end of said first cylindrical wall, said end wall comprising an axially aligned circular aperture; means for spacing said first end wall a predetermined longitudinal distance from said proximal end of said housing; a second distal seal comprising: a second cylindrical wall having a proximal end and a distal end; a second end wall enclosing the distal end of said second cylindrical wall, said second end wall having a transverse linear slit therethrough; and a generally rectangular reinforcing member formed in said end wall about said slit and extending distally a predetermined distance from said end wall on the distally facing side of said end wall, said slit bounded by a pair of proximally and distally facing, lead-in linear surfaces.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 270 words

A sealing cannula for providing a passageway for enabling passage of elongated instruments therethrough from an ambient, non-fluid filled area into a fluid filled surgical field while sealingly separating one portion of the cannula from the other comprising: a hollow cylindrical housing having an axis, a distal end, a proximal end and an axially aligned tubular body extending distally from said distal end; a first proximal sealing cap means for preventing fluid transmission from said housing when an instrument shaft is inserted therethrough comprising: a first cylindrical elastomeric wall having an axis, a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end having a first predetermined thickness over a predetermined distal axial length portion thereof and said proximal end having a second predetermined thickness over a predetermined proximal axial length portion thereof, said predetermined first thickness greater than said predetermined second thickness; a first transverse end wall enclosing the proximal end of said first cylindrical wall, said end wall comprising an axially aligned circular aperture; means for spacing said first end wall a predetermined longitudinal distance from said proximal end of said housing; a second distal seal comprising: a second cylindrical wall having a proximal end and a distal end; a second end wall enclosing the distal end of said second cylindrical wall, said second end wall having a transverse linear slit therethrough; and a generally rectangular reinforcing member formed in said end wall about said slit and extending distally a predetermined distance from said end wall on the distally facing side of said end wall, said slit bounded by a pair of proximally and distally facing, lead-in linear surfaces.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 28 words

A sealing cannula according to claim 13 wherein said proximally and distally facing lead-in linear surfaces are each joined at their adjacent ends by respective conical wall sections.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 29 words

A sealing cannula according to claim 13 wherein said proximally and distally facing lead-in linear surfaces are oriented relative to each other at angles between approximately 60° and 90°.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 131 words

A sealing cannula according to claim 13 wherein said means for spacing said first end wall comprises lateral motion enabling means for enabling said circular aperture to be laterally movable relative to said axis, said lateral-motion enabling means comprising: a unitary cylindrical body having a proximal wall section and a distal wall section, said proximal wall section having a first predetermined rigidity and said distal wall section having a second predetermined rigidity, said first predetermined rigidity being less than said second predetermined rigidity, said proximal and distal wall sections adapted for lateral movement relative to each other; and attachment means for releasably attaching said distal wall section to said housing so as to hold said first end wall spaced from the proximal end of said housing to permit lateral movement therebetween.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 175 words

A method for sealing a cannula which provides a passageway for elongated surgical instruments to pass therethrough from an ambient non-fluid filled area to a fluid filled surgical work site, the method comprising the steps of: providing an elongated cannula body having a tubular passageway having a proximal end and a distal end; providing at the proximal end of the tubular passageway a distal seal means for sealing the work site from ambient when no instrument is present in the cannula; providing proximally of said distal seal means a proximal circular aperture seal means for sealingly engaging an instrument shaft of an instrument inserted through the cannula; providing a floating means associated with said proximal circular aperture seal means for enabling said proximal circular aperture seal means to move in a lateral and inclined direction relative to the axis of said cannula to maintain engagement between said proximal circular aperture seal means and the instrument shaft within a predetermined range of misalignment of the axis of the instrument shaft with the axis of the cannula.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 175 words

A method for sealing a cannula which provides a passageway for elongated surgical instruments to pass therethrough from an ambient non-fluid filled area to a fluid filled surgical work site, the method comprising the steps of: providing an elongated cannula body having a tubular passageway having a proximal end and a distal end; providing at the proximal end of the tubular passageway a distal seal means for sealing the work site from ambient when no instrument is present in the cannula; providing proximally of said distal seal means a proximal circular aperture seal means for sealingly engaging an instrument shaft of an instrument inserted through the cannula; providing a floating means associated with said proximal circular aperture seal means for enabling said proximal circular aperture seal means to move in a lateral and inclined direction relative to the axis of said cannula to maintain engagement between said proximal circular aperture seal means and the instrument shaft within a predetermined range of misalignment of the axis of the instrument shaft with the axis of the cannula.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 95 words

A method according to claim 17 wherein said step of providing a floating means comprises the steps of: providing in said proximal circular aperture seal means an expandable, circular aperture and aligning the axis of said circular aperture with the axis of the cannula; interposing between said distal seal means and said proximal circular aperture seal means an annular cylindrical wall section having a predetermined axial length; and attaching said expandable circular aperture to said annular cylindrical wall section at a position spaced a predetermined axial distance from said proximal end of said tubular passageway.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 82 words

A method according to claim 18 further comprising the step of interposing, between said distal seal means and said circular aperture seal means, a limitation means for limiting the angular deviation of an elongated instrument from said cannula axis to a range between a first direction aligned with said cannula axis and a second direction lying on the conical surface of an imaginary cone having its axis aligned with said cannula axis and having a predetermined apex angle about said cannula axis.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 44 words

A method according to claim 19 wherein said limitation means comprises an axially aligned clearance aperture for receiving an instrument shaft therethrough, said clearance aperture surrounded by a radially outwardly and proximally extending annular surface having a predetermined arcuate profile in an axial plane.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-07-13	2002-01-12	2002-07-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-07-13	2006-01-12	2006-07-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-07-13	2010-01-12	2010-07-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Arthroscopic cannula with fluid seals

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