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. 31, 2004
Filed:
Nov. 13, 2001
Peter T. O'Heeron, Houston, TX (US);
Patrick C. Newlin, Houston, TX (US);
NeoSurg Technologies, Inc., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A trocar is disclosed which comprises a housing assembly having an upper end and a lower end and a cannula assembly attached to the lower end of the housing assembly to define an axial bore therethrough. The disclosed trocar also includes an obturator for sliding engagement in the bore. The housing assembly includes an access port formed on the upper end which is axially aligned with the bore of the trocar. Communication via the access port of the housing is regulated by a flapper valve having a closed position and a range of open positions. The flapper valve comprises a metal flapper door having a male/female configuration formed around the protrusion. In the closed position, the protrusion of the flapper door engages the male/female configuration of both door and port mesh resulting in a metal-to-metal seal across the access port. The metal-to-metal seal provides enhanced resistance to mechanical, heat, and chemical wear encountered during surgical and sterilization operations.