The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 22, 1994
Filed:
Jul. 27, 1993
Ronald J Brinkerhoff, New Richmond, OH (US);
Ramesh S Candadai, Loveland, OH (US);
John A Cartmill, Cleveland, OH (US);
Jack B Stubbs, Waynesville, OH (US);
Ethicon, Inc., Somerville, NJ (US);
Abstract
A sealing device for endoscopic surgical procedures is disclosed. In one embodiment, the device has two inflatable toroidal sections connected by a transition section. The device is partially inserted into an abdominal opening in a deflated state, and then inflated to provide a seal for obstructing the passage of gas from the abdominal cavity during endoscopic surgery. Endoscopic instruments, or alternatively, the surgeon's hand, can penetrate through the lumen of the toroidal sections of the device. The lumen then conforms to the shape of the instrument or hand passed through it to maintain an adequate seal. In another embodiment, a sealing device to seal a trocar is disclosed. The device is an inflatable toroid shaped to fit securely within the housing of the trocar. Means are provided to selectively inflate or deflate the device to perform its intended sealing function, and instruments can be passed through the lumen of the toroid to access the surgical site without destroying the integrity of the seal.