Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.

Ethicon, Gmbh

Cilag International Gmbh

Ethican Endo-Surgery, Inc.

Thomas A Gilker

Paul T Franer

Daniel J Mumaw

Cesar E Moreno, Jr

David Keith Norvell

Patrick J Minnelli

Randall J Tanguay

Rebecca J Mollere

Cesar E Moreno

Mark Tsonton

Mark S Zeiner

Geoffrey C Hueil

Daniel H Duke

Brian James Thompson

Aaron C Voegele

Brian J Thompson

Rosemarie Elefante

Sean P Conlon

Michael S Cropper

Thomas Edward Albrecht

Glen A Armstrong

Mark J Bookbinder

Paul H Kistler

Cropper S Michael

A trocar comprising an alignment channel and an instrument seal comprising a bending portion and a base portion. The bending and base portions of the instrument seal are spaced relative the alignment channel such that when a surgical instrument is retracted the bending portion inverts and the lip does not enter the alignment channel.

Trocar seal with retraction induced image

A trocar for performing a procedure on a patient. The trocar has a hollow cannula with a distal end and a proximal end. The trocar also has a housing with a distal end attached to the proximal end of the cannula and a proximal end having a wall attached thereto. The wall has an aperture therethrough. The trocar further includes a seal assembly disposed within the housing. The seal assembly includes a first substantially rigid ring, a second substantially rigid ring, and a plurality of layered elastomeric members compressed therebetween. The first ring has a plurality of distally extending protrusions extending from a distal surface thereof, and the second ring has a plurality of proximally extending protrusions extending from a proximal surface thereof.

Trocar seal assembly

The present invention generally provides methods and devices for removing fluid from a surgical instrument. Surgical access devices and seal systems are generally provided having one or more valves or seal assemblies to create a closed system between the outside environment and the environment in which the surgical access device is being inserted. In one embodiment, a seal assembly is provided and can include a seal having an opening configured to receive a surgical instrument therethrough and a fluid remover in the form of an absorbent element, a scraper element, a wicking element, or any combination thereof can be associated with the seal and configured to remove fluid from the opening and/or a surgical instrument.

Wicking fluid management in a surgical access device

The present invention generally provides methods and devices for removing fluid from a surgical instrument. Surgical access devices and seal systems are generally provided having one or more valves or seal assemblies to create a closed system between the outside environment and the environment in which the surgical access device is being inserted. In one embodiment, a seal assembly is provided and can include a seal having an opening configured to receive a surgical instrument therethrough and a fluid remover in the form of a sorbent element, a scraper element, a wicking element, or any combination thereof can be associated with the seal and configured to remove fluid from the opening and/or a surgical instrument.

Fluid removal in a surgical access device

Scraping fluid removal in a surgical access device

Seal assemblies, generally for use in trocar assemblies, are provided for selectively promoting movement of fluid away from a central portion of the seal assemblies. In one exemplary embodiment, an inner surface of a seal body of the seal assembly is configured to selectively promote such movement of fluid away from the central portion of the seal body toward a peripheral portion of the seal body. While various configurations, geometries, and dimensions are discussed, one example of such a configuration includes locating a central portion of the seal body at a more proximal position than a peripheral portion of the seal body.

Duckbill seal with fluid drainage feature

Seal assemblies or valves, generally for use in trocar assemblies, are provided for reducing the amount of contact between an instrument being passed into and out of a trocar assembly and an inner surface of a sealing wall of such seal assemblies or valves. In one exemplary embodiment a valve includes an activation extension that is formed on the inner surface of the sealing wall of the valve and is configured such that a distal end of the sealing wall is moved to the open position by an instrument contacting the activation extension. In one embodiment the instrument does not come into contact with the inner surface of the sealing wall during the procedure. In another embodiment a distal-most end of the activation extension can be closer to a longitudinal axis extending through the flange than the inner surface of the sealing wall.

Trocar seal with reduced contact area

Absorbing fluids in a surgical access device

The present invention generally provides methods and devices for removing fluid from a surgical instrument. Surgical access devices and seal systems are generally provided having one or more valves or seal assemblies to create a closed system between the outside environment and the environment in which the surgical access device is being inserted. The devices of systems can also include a fluid remover in the form of a sorbent element, a scraper element, a wicking element, or any combination thereof that is configured to remove fluid from a working channel of the device or system and/or from a surgical instrument inserted therethrough.

Surgical access device with sorbents

Trocar seal with retraction induced hinge

A trocar sleeve includes a trocar cannula and a trocar housing having a housing member base and a housing member cover. The trocar cannula and trocar housing are mechanically interfitted to form a trocar sleeve, wherein at least a portion of the trocar cannula sits within the housing member base with the housing member cover sitting over the trocar cannula for securing the at least a portion of the trocar cannula within the housing member base. The trocar sleeve also includes a stop-cock valve mechanically interfitted between the trocar cannula and the trocar housing.

Trocar housing/stop-cock assembly

A trocar for performing a procedure on a patient. The trocar includes a hollow cannula having a distal end and a proximal end. The trocar includes a housing having a distal end attached to the proximal end of the cannula and a proximal end having a wall attached thereto. The wall having an aperture therethrough. The trocar further includes a first seal disposed within the housing comprising a plurality of layered elastomeric members forming conical shape.

Conical trocar seal

Growing community of inventors

Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

Thomas A Gilker