Pleated trocar seal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9814491-B2
Application number	US-201414255592-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 17, 2014
Priority date	Apr 18, 2006
Publication date	Nov 14, 2017
Grant date	Nov 14, 2017

Abstract

A trocar seal comprising an elastomeric membrane having an opening adapted to receive a surgical instrument. The membrane is configured with a plurality of pleats circumscribing the opening and extending laterally from opening. The pleats comprise a plurality of pleat walls increasing in height as the pleats extend laterally from the opening. In one embodiment, the pleats are conically arranged.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seal for endoscopic instruments, comprising an elastomeric membrane having an opening adapted to receive a surgical instrument, said membrane being configured with a plurality of pleats circumscribing the opening and extending laterally away from the opening, each of said plurality of pleats comprising a plurality of pleat walls defining a height between a peak and an adjacent valley, wherein each of the plurality of pleat walls increase in height as the plurality of pleats extend laterally away from the opening.

2. The seal of claim 1 , wherein the pleats are conically arranged.

3. The seal of claim 1 , further comprising a wall section circumscribing and connected to the pleats.

4. The seal of claim 3 , wherein the wall section is cylindrical.

5. The seal of claim 3 , further comprising a radial flange extending laterally from the wall section.

6. The seal of claim 3 , further comprising bellows circumscribing and connected to the wall section.

7. The seal of claim 1 , further complising a lip defining the opening.

8. The seal of claim 1 , comprising only eight pleats.

9. A trocar comprising the seal of claim 1 .

10. A method for processing a trocar for surgery, comprising:
a) obtaining the trocar of claim 9 ;
b) sterilizing the trocar; and
c) storing the trocar in a sterile container.

11. A trocar seal comprising: a) a lip defining and an opening, said lip being adapted to sealingly engage an endoscopic surgical instrument; and b) a plurality of conically arranged linear pleats circumscribing the lip and extending radially away from lip, said plurality of conically arranged linear pleats comprising a plurality of medical tapering walls defining a height between a peak and a valley, wherein each of the plurality of medical tapering walls increase in height as the plurality of conically arranged linear pleats extend radially away from the lip.

12. A trocar comprising the seal of claim 11 positioned in a seal housing.

13. A method for processing a trocar for surgery, comprising:
a) obtaining the trocar of claim 12 ;
b) sterilizing the trocar; and
c) storing the trocar in a sterile container.

14. The trocar seal of claim 11 , further comprising a wall section circumscribing the pleats.

15. The trocar seal of claim 14 , further comprising bellows circumscribing the wail section.

16. The trocar seal of claim 14 , wherein the wall section has a cylindrical portion.

Assignees

• Ethicon Endo Surgery Llc
• Ethicon Llc

Inventors

• Franer Paul T

Classifications

• A61B17/3478

  Endoscopic needles, e.g. for infusion (biopsy needles A61B10/0233; catheters with injection needles A61M25/0067) · CPC title

• B65B55/12

  Sterilising contents prior to, or during, packaging · CPC title

• A61B2017/3464

  with means acting on inner surface of valve or seal for expanding or protecting, e.g. inner pivoting fingers · CPC title

• A61B17/3462 Primary

  with means for changing the diameter or the orientation of the entrance port of the cannula, e.g. for use with different-sized instruments, reduction ports, adapter seals (expandable cannulas A61B17/3417) · CPC title

• A61B17/3498 Primary

  Valves therefor, e.g. flapper valves, slide valves (haemostasis valves A61M39/06; check valves A61M39/24) · CPC title