HK1089070B - Trocar seal assembly - Google Patents

Description

Trocar seal assembly

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a trocar assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to a trocar seal assembly.

Background

A trocar assembly is a surgical instrument used to gain access to a body cavity. Trocar assemblies typically include two main components: a trocar cannula and a trocar obturator which are composed of a trocar shell and a trocar cannula. The trocar cannula is passed directly through the skin to contact the body cavity, and the trocar obturator is inserted in the trocar cannula. Once the body cavity is accessed, laparoscopic or arthroscopic surgery as well as endoscopic procedures may be performed. To pierce the skin, the distal end of the trocar cannula is placed over the skin previously cut with a scalpel. The skin is then pierced with a trocar obturator and into the body cavity. The sharp tip of the trocar obturator is forced through the skin by applying pressure to the proximal end of the trocar obturator until the body cavity is accessed. The trocar cannula is inserted through the puncture formed by the trocar obturator and the trocar obturator is withdrawn leaving the trocar cannula as a path into the body cavity.

The proximal end portion of the trocar cannula is typically coupled to a trocar housing that defines a chamber having an open distal end portion in communication with a lumen defined by the trocar cannula. A trocar obturator or other elongated surgical instrument or tool extends axially into and is withdrawn from the trocar cannula through a proximal end portion of a chamber defined by the trocar housing.

Current trocar assemblies are typically designed with a sealing mechanism that is positioned within the chamber of the trocar housing. The sealing mechanism is typically a sealing washer or gasket through which a trocar obturator or other instrument extends. The sealing mechanism seals the outer surface of the inserted instrument and thereby prevents fluids and insufflation gases from flowing out of or into the body cavity through the trocar cannula and trocar housing. It is desirable that such seals provide excellent tear resistance, puncture resistance (resistance to snagging), and low friction with respect to the inserted device.

The seal assembly is designed to maintain a seal prior to instrument insertion and after instrument removal. As a result, many trocar assemblies provide a dual seal system. That is, a tip or proximal seal is employed to seal around a tool/instrument when inserted therethrough, and a duckbill seal is provided below the tip seal for sealing against the trocar housing when no instrument is present.

In contrast, other trocar assemblies employ a single sealing mechanism. Many of these trocar seal assemblies simply employ silicone seals having a slightly smaller aperture than the smallest tool/instrument used in conjunction with the trocar assembly. This type of seal is often referred to as a lip seal. Surgical instruments of different diameters are passed through the lip seal. As such, these seals are often required to provide a seal for the entire range of instrument sizes. Thus, the opening of these seals is small in diameter relative to the largest diameter instrument.

In fact, it is not uncommon to push the lip seal to a strain of 400%. By forcing these larger diameter instruments through the relatively smaller diameter lip seals, these larger diameter instruments experience a significant increase in the normal force acting on the instrument shaft. These increased forces can cause the surgeon to experience increased drag or pull on the insertion/movement of the instrument. There is also a need for the material properties of the seal to be such that it does not crack or tear when it is stretched to its limit.

Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved trocar seal assembly that overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art. The present invention overcomes these deficiencies by providing a seal assembly that eliminates the circumferential stress/high stress problems associated with prior art seals and provides a seal assembly that can be used with either a single seal assembly (reducing the overall complexity of the trocar assembly) or as an outer gasket in a multiple seal system.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a seal assembly adapted for use in conjunction with a trocar assembly. The seal assembly includes a plurality of sealing sheets, each sealing sheet including a peripheral edge and a seaming edge. Each sealing panel further includes a first portion and a second portion, and the vertical walls connect the first portion and the second portion in a manner that displaces the first portion relative to the second portion such that the first portion of the first sealing panel can be placed over the second portion of the second sealing panel and the first portions of the first and second sealing panels lie in the same plane and the second portions of the first and second sealing panels lie in the same plane. The sealing panels are assembled in an overlapping weave (overlapping woven arrangement) to provide a complete sealing body that does not require a second sealing member.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a trocar assembly comprising: a trocar cannula having a proximal end and a distal end; and a trocar housing coupled to the proximal end of the trocar cannula to receive and guide the obturator therethrough. The trocar housing includes an open proximal end portion defining an opening for the seal assembly.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a trocar assembly including: a trocar cannula having a proximal end and a distal end; and a trocar housing coupled to the proximal end of the trocar cannula to receive and guide the obturator therethrough. The trocar housing includes an open proximal end portion defining an opening for the proximal and distal seal assemblies. The proximal seal assembly includes a plurality of sealing sheets, each sealing sheet having a peripheral edge and a seaming edge. Each sealing panel further includes a first portion and a second portion, and a vertical wall connects the first portion and the second portion in a manner that displaces the first portion relative to the second portion such that the first portion of the first sealing panel can be placed over the second portion of the second sealing panel and such that the first portions of the first and second sealing panels lie in the same plane and the second portions of the first and second sealing panels lie in the same plane. The sealing panels are assembled in an overlapping weave to provide a complete sealing body that does not require a second seal.

(1) The present invention relates to a seal assembly adapted for use with a trocar assembly, the seal assembly comprising: a plurality of sealing panels, each sealing panel including a peripheral edge and a seaming edge; each sealing panel further comprises a first portion and a second portion, and a vertical wall connects the first portion and the second portion in a manner that displaces the first portion relative to the second portion such that the first portion of the first sealing panel can be placed on the second portion of the second sealing panel and the first portions of the first sealing panel and the second sealing panel lie in the same plane and the second portions of the first sealing panel and the second sealing panel lie in the same plane; wherein the sealing panels are assembled in a lapped weave to provide a complete sealing body without the need for a second sealing member.

(2) The seal assembly of claim (1), wherein four seal sheets are assembled to form the seal assembly.

(3) The seal assembly of item (1), wherein each sealing flap is substantially semicircular.

(4) The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the peripheral edge of each sealing disc defines an arc of about 180 degrees.

(5) The seal assembly of item (1), wherein the peripheral edge of each sealing sheet comprises a series of holes that serve as a means of connecting the sealing sheets and ultimately the seal assembly.

(6) The seal assembly of item (1), wherein the seal assembly comprises four individual sealing panels joined together in a woven arrangement by placing a first portion of a first sealing panel on a second portion of a second sealing panel, the first portion of the second sealing panel on a second portion of a third sealing panel, the first portion of the third sealing panel on a second portion of a fourth sealing panel, the first portion of the fourth sealing panel on the second portion of the first sealing panel.

(7) The seal assembly of claim (1), wherein each sealing flap comprises a curved central portion.

(8) The seal assembly according to item (1), wherein each sealing plate is an elastomer of a crosslinked polymer.

(9) The present invention relates to a trocar assembly comprising: a trocar cannula including a proximal end and a distal end; a trocar housing coupled to the proximal end of the trocar cannula for receiving and guiding the obturator therethrough, the trocar housing including an open proximal portion defining an opening for the sealing assembly; the seal assembly includes: a plurality of sealing panels, each sealing panel including a peripheral edge and a seaming edge; each sealing panel further comprises a first portion and a second portion, and a vertical wall connects the first portion and the second portion in a manner that displaces the first portion relative to the second portion such that the first portion of the first sealing panel can be placed on the second portion of the second sealing panel and the first portions of the first and second sealing panels lie in the same plane and the second portions of the first and second sealing panels lie in the same plane; wherein the sealing panels are assembled in a lapped weave to provide a complete sealing body without the need for a second sealing member.

(10) The trocar assembly of claim 9 wherein four sealing sheets are assembled to form a seal assembly.

(11) The trocar assembly of claim 9 wherein each sealing flap is substantially semicircular.

(12) The trocar assembly of claim 9 wherein the peripheral edge of each sealing flap defines an arc of about 180 degrees.

(13) The trocar assembly of claim 9 wherein the peripheral edge of each sealing plate includes a series of holes that serve as a means of attaching the sealing plate and ultimately the seal assembly.

(14) The trocar assembly of claim (9), wherein the seal assembly includes four individual sealing sheets joined together in a braided arrangement by placing a first portion of the first sealing sheet over a second portion of the second sealing sheet, a first portion of the second sealing sheet over a second portion of the third sealing sheet, a first portion of the third sealing sheet over a second portion of the fourth sealing sheet, and a first portion of the fourth sealing sheet over a second portion of the first sealing sheet.

(15) The trocar assembly of claim 9 wherein each sealing flap includes a curved central portion.

(16) The trocar assembly of claim 9 wherein each sealing disc is an elastomer of a cross-linked polymer.

(17) The present invention relates to a trocar assembly comprising: a trocar cannula including a proximal end and a distal end; a trocar housing coupled to the proximal end of the trocar cannula for receiving and guiding the obturator therethrough, the trocar housing including an open proximal end portion defining an opening for the proximal seal assembly and the distal seal assembly; the proximal seal assembly comprises: a plurality of sealing panels, each sealing panel having a peripheral edge and a seaming edge; each sealing panel further comprises a first portion and a second portion, and a vertical wall connects the first portion and the second portion in a manner that displaces the first portion relative to the second portion such that the first portion of the first sealing panel can be placed on the second portion of the second sealing panel and the first portions of the first and second sealing panels lie in the same plane and the second portions of the first and second sealing panels lie in the same plane; wherein the sealing panels are assembled in a lapped weave to provide a complete sealing body without the need for a second sealing member.

(18) The trocar assembly of claim 17 wherein the peripheral edge of each sealing flap defines an arc of about 180 degrees.

(19) The trocar assembly of claim (17), wherein the seal assembly includes four individual sealing sheets joined together in a braided arrangement by placing a first portion of the first sealing sheet over a second portion of the second sealing sheet, a first portion of the second sealing sheet over a second portion of the third sealing sheet, a first portion of the third sealing sheet over a second portion of the fourth sealing sheet, and a first portion of the fourth sealing sheet over a second portion of the first sealing sheet.

(20) The trocar assembly of claim (17) wherein each sealing flap is substantially semicircular.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate some embodiments of this invention.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a trocar assembly employing a proximal seal in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative trocar housing employing a proximal seal in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a proximal seal in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the proximal seal shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the proximal seal taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative proximal seal in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the proximal seal taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

Detailed Description

Detailed embodiments of the present invention are described herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely illustrative of the invention that may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as the basis for the claims and as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a proximal seal 10 of a trocar device 12 is disclosed. By reducing the likelihood of tenting occurring, the seal assembly 10 provides improved tear resistance. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, bulging occurs when the seal is stretched and thinned, such as by an instrument, through the seal, thereby providing a weakened area that is easily punctured. The seal assembly 10 of the present invention is adapted for use with a variety of trocar assemblies, as will of course be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Additionally, although described as a proximal seal assembly in a dual seal system, the seal assembly 10 of the present invention may be used in a single seal system.

The seal assembly 10 of the present invention is adapted for use with a variety of trocar assemblies (see fig. 1 and 2). For example, the seal assembly 10 is adapted for use with a low cost surgical trocar assembly used for minimally invasive endoscopic surgical procedures, including but not limited to laparoscopic and arthroscopic surgical procedures. Such surgical trocar assemblies are disposable and tend to be used with only one device for each patient.

The conventional structure of the trocar assembly 12 forms no part of the present invention other than the proximal seal assembly 10 according to the present invention. For example, to explain the seal assembly 10 of the present invention, the trocar assembly may take the form disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,827,228, 5,947,930, 4,535,773, 5,224,952, 5,256,149, 5,314,417, 5,387,197, 5,248,298, 5,330,437, 5,399,167, 5,066,288, 5,215,526 and 5,267,965, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

With this in mind, by way of example, the trocar assembly 12 includes a trocar cannula 14, a trocar obturator 16, and a trocar housing (or handle) 18. The trocar cannula 14 defines a lumen having an open distal portion and an open proximal portion. The proximal end portion extends into and is secured within the distal end portion of the trocar housing 18. The trocar housing 18 has an open proximal end portion defining an opening. Disposed within this opening is a proximal seal assembly 10 which will be constructed in accordance with the present invention and described in detail below. Also disposed in the opening is a duckbill seal assembly 20 positioned below the proximal seal assembly 10. The trocar obturator 16 slidably and removably extends within the trocar cannula 14 and is inserted through the openings of the seal assembly 10 and the trocar housing 18 into the trocar housing 18 and the trocar cannula 14. An obturator handle 22 is provided at the proximal end of the trocar obturator 16 and defines a sharp point or blade 23 at its distal end. As is well known in the art, the seal assembly 10 cooperates with a trocar obturator 16 or another surgical instrument extending through the trocar cannula 14 to sealingly engage the outer surface with the trocar cannula, thereby preventing fluid flow through the trocar housing 18.

Referring to fig. 3, 4 and 5, a preferred embodiment of the seal assembly 10 is disclosed. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the seal assembly 10 is assembled from a plurality of overlapping sealing panels 24 in a braided arrangement to provide a complete sealing body without the need for a secondary seal. The seal assembly 10 of the present invention also minimizes leakage between the seal assembly 10 and the inserted instrument by providing a plurality of stacked seal sheets 24. As discussed above, the seal assembly 10 is disclosed herein as the proximal seal assembly of a dual seal system, but the seal assembly of the present invention is readily adapted for use in a single seal system.

In particular, four sealing sheets 24 are arranged to form a sealing body 26 of the seal assembly 10. Although four sealing plates 24 are utilized in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the seal body 26 may ultimately be formed from a different number of sealing plates without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Each sealing flap 24 is semicircular. Each of the sealing panels 24 includes a substantially circular peripheral edge 28 and a straight edge 30 that ultimately defines a seam edge 32. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the peripheral edge 28 of each seal segment 24 defines an arc of about 180 degrees. The peripheral edge 28 also includes a ridge adapted to be positioned in the trocar housing 18. The peripheral edge 28 also includes a series of holes 31 that cooperate with upper and lower clamping members (not shown) to securely connect the sealing piece 24 and ultimately complete the seal assembly 10. As will be apparent based upon the following disclosure, the use of a plurality of sealing sheets 24 defining an approximately 180 degree arc results in a reduction in circumferential stress by providing a seal assembly 10 employing a plurality of expanded and contracted sealing sheets 24 to seal around a trocar obturator 16 or other instrument inserted therethrough.

Each sealing disc 24 includes a first portion 38 and a second portion 40. A vertical wall 42 connects the first and second portions 38, 40. More particularly, the first portion 38 and the second portion 40 of each sealing fin 24 are offset in such a way that the first portion 38 of the first sealing fin 24 can rest on the second portion 40 of the second sealing fin 24, and the first portions 38 of the first and second sealing fins 24 lie substantially in the same plane, as well as the second portions 40 of the first and second sealing fins.

In this manner, the four individual sealing panels 24a-d are joined together in a braided arrangement to form a completely sealed, complete sealing body 26 without the need for a second sealing member. That is, the seal body 26 is assembled by placing the first portion 38 of the first seal piece 24a on the second portion 40 of the second seal piece 24 b. Subsequently, the first portion 38 of the second seal segment 24b is placed on the second portion 40 of the third seal segment 24c, the first portion 38 of the third seal segment 24c is placed on the second portion 40 of the fourth seal segment 24d, and the first portion 38 of the fourth seal segment 24d is placed on the second portion 40 of the first seal segment 24 a.

Vertical walls 42 incorporated into each seal 24 allow for expansion. In particular, the vertical wall 42 provides an extension from the central access opening of the seal assembly 10. This allows greater expansion of the sealing material and ultimately of the central opening. The use of the vertical wall 42 with the first and second portions 38, 40 creates two separate sealing surfaces that are separated from each other by a hollow air space; that is, the overlapping first and second portions 38, 40 serve as two distinct sealing surfaces, despite the fact that all of the sealing panels 24 are woven together to form a single sealing body 26. Each sealing fin 24 overlaps the next sealing fin such that each sealing fin 24 exposes only a 90 ° surface area when viewed from the top or bottom side of the seal assembly 10.

According to an alternative embodiment, referring to fig. 6 and 7, the sealing body 110 is slightly modified to form a conical lead-in surface 111 at the center of the sealing body 110. The conical lead-in surface 111 provides a guide to assist instruments into the center of the seal assembly 110.

In particular, this embodiment includes four overlapping sealing panels 124 assembled in a woven arrangement to form a complete sealing body 126 without the need for a second sealing member. As with the previous embodiment, each sealing flap 124 is semi-circular. Each sealing flap 124 includes a substantially circular peripheral edge 128 and a straight edge 130 defining a seam edge 132. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the peripheral edge 128 of each sealing disc 124 defines an arc of approximately 180 degrees. The peripheral edge 128 also includes a ridge adapted to be positioned within the inner housing of the trocar housing 118. The peripheral edge 128 also includes a series of holes 131 that serve as a means for attaching the sealing sheet 124 and ultimately the seal assembly 110. As will be apparent based on the following disclosure, the use of a sealing fin 124 that defines an arc of approximately 180 degrees results in a reduction in circumferential stress.

Each sealing flap 124 includes a first portion 138 and a second portion 140. A vertical wall 142 connects the first and second portions 138, 140. More particularly, the first portion 138 and the second portion 140 of each sealing fin 124 are offset in such a way that the first portion 138 of the first sealing fin 124 can rest on the second portion 140 of the second sealing fin 124, and the first portions 138 of the first and second sealing fins 124 lie in the same plane, as well as the second portions 140 of the first and second sealing fins 124.

The first and second portions 138, 140 of each sealing panel include a central curved portion 139, 141. In particular, the first portion 138 includes a curved portion 139, and the curved portion 139 curves toward the second portion 140 as the first portion 138 extends from the peripheral edge 128 toward the point where the vertical wall 142 meets the straight edge 130 of the sealing disc 124. Similarly, the second portion 140 includes a curved portion 141, the curved portion 141 curving toward the first portion 138 as the second portion 140 extends from the peripheral edge 128 toward the point where the vertical wall 142 meets the straight edge 130 of the sealing disc 124.

In use, as in the previous embodiment, when an instrument is inserted into the center of the seal assembly 110, the seal material is displaced to one side. However, the curved portions of the first and second portions 138, 140 serve to guide the instrument toward the center of the seal assembly 110.

Both of the above embodiments are ultimately held together by the use of clamping members (not shown) on the top and bottom surfaces of the assembled sealing body 26, 126. Clamping members are well known to those skilled in the art and a variety of clamping members may be employed within the spirit of the present invention.

As briefly mentioned above, by providing a seal assembly 10, 110 in accordance with the present invention, a secondary seal (i.e., a flapper or duckbill) is not required. In addition, the seal assembly 10, 110 of the present invention requires less stringent materials, eliminates circumferential stress around larger tools, reduces seal tearing problems and provides for the introduction of tools/instruments (when embodiments employing conical surfaces).

While the preferred embodiment has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, is intended to cover all structural modifications and variations falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (8)

1. A seal assembly capable of use with a trocar assembly, the seal assembly comprising:

a plurality of sealing panels, each sealing panel including a peripheral edge and a seaming edge;

each sealing panel further comprises a first portion and a second portion, and a vertical wall connects the first portion and the second portion in a manner that displaces the first portion relative to the second portion, such that the first portion of the first sealing panel can be placed on the second portion of the second sealing panel, and the first portions of the first sealing panel and the second sealing panel lie in the same plane, and the second portions of the first sealing panel and the second sealing panel lie in the same plane;

wherein the plurality of sealing panels are assembled in an overlapping weave to provide a complete sealing body without the need for a second sealing member.

2. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of seal segments is four, the four seal segments being assembled to form the seal assembly.

3. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein each sealing flap is semi-circular.

4. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the peripheral edge of each sealing disc defines an arc of approximately 180 degrees.

5. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the peripheral edge of each sealing sheet includes a series of holes that serve as a means of attaching the sealing sheets and ultimately the seal assembly.

6. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the seal assembly comprises four individual sealing panels joined together in a woven arrangement by placing a first portion of a first sealing panel on a second portion of a second sealing panel, the first portion of the second sealing panel on a second portion of a third sealing panel, the first portion of the third sealing panel on a second portion of a fourth sealing panel, the first portion of the fourth sealing panel on the second portion of the first sealing panel.

7. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein each sealing flap includes a curved central portion.

8. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein each sealing disc is an elastomer comprised of a cross-linked polymer.