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:
Aug. 11, 1998
Filed:
Dec. 12, 1996
Francis J Kramer, Fort Thomas, KY (US);
Hector Chow, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Ethicon Endo-Surgerym Inc., Cincinnati, OH (US);
Abstract
A universal seal for a trocar is disclosed. The universal seal has a rigid housing with a chamber for receiving a sealing assembly. The sealing assembly is disposed within the chamber and has freedom of movement along the longitudinal axis of the housing in response to a surgical instrument being inserted into or withdrawn from the sealing assembly. The sealing assembly includes first and second rigid rings generally parallel to and spaced from each other. It also includes an inner elastomeric seal for sealing against instruments of varying diameter. The inner elastomeric seal is attached to the second ring, and it has an aperture for passage of an instrument through the elastomeric seal. In response to off-centered insertion of an instrument into the universal seal, the sealing assembly moves longitudinally and assumes a tilted orientation as the radial force on the inner elastomeric seal is applied by the instrument. The aperture of the inner elastomeric seal consequently moves laterally in response to the off-centered insertion, thus preventing the aperture from stretching significantly or tearing. Therefore, the sealing assembly of the universal seal reduces the escape of insufflation gases from the surgical site through the seal when instruments over a very wide range of diameters are inserted into or withdrawn from the seal.