EP0177177A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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A surgical appliance for forming an opening through the skin
Assignee: Pratt Burnerd International Ltd
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Filing: 1985-09-02
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-09-02
Abstract
Abstract A surgical appliance for forming an opening through the skin of a patient takes the form of a trocar (10) which can be expanded by inserting an expander (12) through the proximal end and moving it towards the distal end. In one aspect of the invention, the trocar is a tube partially divided by cut-away openings in the tube, into two component portions which are preloaded into a closed condition in which they converge towards the distal end, so that the expansion is against the preloading. In a second aspect, the trocar has two or more components and one or more cutting edges at the distal end which extend across substantially the full width of the distal end and the arrangement provides that the cross-section of the trocar does not increase towards the distal end in the open condition. Taken together, the features of the second aspect minimise the danger of tearing the skin.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Fenwick Jackson
- 👤 Steven Streatfield Gill
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:58
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/34; A61B17/3417; A61B17/3421; A61B17/3439
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A surgical appliance for forming an opening through the skin of a patient or animal comprising a trocar (10,110,210) having a distal end (20,120,220) which is intended to penetrate the skin, and an expander (12,112,212) which can be inserted into the trocar from the proximal end towards the distal end, and which, when so inserted, causes the trocar to expand, characterised in that the trocar comprises a generally parallel-sided tube divided through part only of its length from the distal end by two cut-away parts (18,118,218) of the wall of the tube into two component parts or portions (14,16; 114,116; 214,216), which, by virtue of the cut-away openings are adapted to move relatively to each other between a closed condition and an open condition, the two component parts or portions being preloaded into the closed condition, in which they converge towards the distal end as permitted by the openings in the wall of the tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
A surgical appliance for forming an opening through the skin of a patient or animal comprising a trocar (10,110,210) having a distal end (20,120,220) which is intended to penetrate the skin, and an expander (12,112,212) which can be inserted into the trocar from the proximal end towards the distal end, and which, when so inserted, causes the trocar to expand, characterised in that the trocar comprises a generally parallel-sided tube divided through part only of its length from the distal end by two cut-away parts (18,118,218) of the wall of the tube into two component parts or portions (14,16; 114,116; 214,216), which, by virtue of the cut-away openings are adapted to move relatively to each other between a closed condition and an open condition, the two component parts or portions being preloaded into the closed condition, in which they converge towards the distal end as permitted by the openings in the wall of the tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
A surgical appliance as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that a resilient ring or sleeve (28,228) is fitted around the two trocar component parts or portions (14,16; 114,116;214,216) the bore of the ring or sleeve in its free condition being such that the ring or sleeve applies an inward compressive force to the components parts or portions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
A surgical appliance as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the trocar component parts or portions (14,16; 114,116; 214,216) are deformed inwardly (i.e. towards each other) beyond the elastic limit of the material from which the tube is made, so that the component parts or portions adopt a "set" in the closed:condition, and the preloading is then provided by that permanent "set".
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A surgical appliance as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the design of the trocar tube (10,110,210) is such that when it is in the open condition, there is no substantial increase in the cross-section of the trocar towards the distal end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
A surgical appliance as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the distal end (20,120,220) of the trocar is formed with one or more cutting edges adapted to make an incision in the skin as that end of the trocar is forced through the skin, the cutting edge or edges extending across substantially the full width of the distal end of the trocar in the closed condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
A surgical appliance as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the expander (12, 112,212) comprises a rigid tube, the outside diameter of which is equal to the spacing between the trocar component parts or portions (14,16;114,116;214,216) when in the open condition, so that when the expander is inserted through the proximal end of the trocar, it engages with the insides of the trocar component parts or portions and forces them apart.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
A surgical appliance as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the arrangement of the trocar component parts or portions is such that a longitudinal movement of at least two centimetres of the expander is 'required to move the component parts or portions from the closed condition to the open condition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
A surgical appliance as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that a distenable tube is fitted around the parts of the trocar component parts or portions which will not penetrate the skin in use, to prevent ingress of air through the openings formed between the component parts or portions when the latter are moved into the open condition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
176 words
A surgical appliance for forming an opening through the skin of a patient or animal, comprising a trocar (10,110,210) having a distal end (20,120,210) which is intended to penetrate the skin, the trocar comprises two or more components (14,16;114,116;214,216) adapted to move relatively to each other between a closed condition and an open condition, the components being preloaded towards the closed condition, and an expander (12,112,212) which can be inserted into the trocar from the proximal end towards the distal end, and which when so inserted, causes movement of the trocar components to the open condition, characterised in that one or more cutting edges are formed on the distal end of. the trocar components for making an incision in the skin as the distal end is forced through the skin,t he cutting edge or edges extending across substantially the full width of the distal end of the trocar, and the arrangement of the trocar being such that in the open condition, there is no substantial increase in the cross-section of the trocar towards its distal end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
176 words
A surgical appliance for forming an opening through the skin of a patient or animal, comprising a trocar (10,110,210) having a distal end (20,120,210) which is intended to penetrate the skin, the trocar comprises two or more components (14,16;114,116;214,216) adapted to move relatively to each other between a closed condition and an open condition, the components being preloaded towards the closed condition, and an expander (12,112,212) which can be inserted into the trocar from the proximal end towards the distal end, and which when so inserted, causes movement of the trocar components to the open condition, characterised in that one or more cutting edges are formed on the distal end of. the trocar components for making an incision in the skin as the distal end is forced through the skin,t he cutting edge or edges extending across substantially the full width of the distal end of the trocar, and the arrangement of the trocar being such that in the open condition, there is no substantial increase in the cross-section of the trocar towards its distal end.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A surgical appliance as claimed in Claim 9, characterised in that there is a channel through the trocar components when they are in the open condition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
A surgical appliance as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 10, characterised in that the trocar components are parts of a single element, partially divided from each other by a slit or slits (18,118,218).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
70 words
A surgical appliance as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 11, characterised in that the expander (12,112,212) comprises a rigid tube, the outside diameter of which is equal to the spacing between the trocar components (14,16;114,116;214,216) when in the open condition, so that when the expander is inserted through the proximal end of the trocar, it engages with the insides of the trocar components and forces them apart.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
A surgical appliance as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 12, characterised in that each trocar component (14,16;114,116;214,216) has a blade-like configuration, the blades being bowed outwardly as seen in lateral cross-section, so that in their closed condition, the components contact each other along the longitudinal edges,and in the open condition, they approximate in cross-section to parts of an annulus.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
A surgical appliance as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 13, characterised in that a distendable tube (28,128,228) is fitted around the parts of the trocar components which will not penetrate the skin in use, to prevent ingress of air through the openings formed between the components when the latter are moved into the open condition.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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