Locking trocar sleeve

Claim 2

An improved assembly used to transport an endoscopic instrument through an incision in a patient's body, while minimizing loss of gas used to inflate the body cavity during endoscopic procedures, the assembly comprising: a housing; an outer sleeve extending from the housing, with a plurality of hinges to expand radially within the cavity to resist withdrawal; an inner sleeve concentric with, and having a portion secured to, the outer sleeve to transport an endoscopic instrument; the outer sleeve having a proximate portion movable relative to the inner sleeve to expand or retract the hinges; actuator means to move one of the sleeves relative to the other, with user detectable detent means to signal a change in the radial position of the hinges by change in user feel; seal means to prevent gas flow through the interior of the assembly from the body cavity; stop means adapted to engage the exterior of the body to cooperate with the hinges when expanded to resist movement of the assembly and to minimize loss of gas between the outer sleeve and the incision.

Claim 3

The invention defined by claim 1 wherein the actuator means comprises a rotatable outer member coupled to an inner member, one of the members being connected to the outer sleeve for movement upward or downward to expand or retract the hinges.

Claim 4

The invention defined by claim 2 wherein the seal means further comprises an O.D. seal to seal against gas flow between the inner sleeve and the endoscopic instrument.

Claim 5

The invention defined by claim 3 wherein the seal means further comprises a closure seal to seal against gas flow through the inner sleeve when the endoscopic instrument is removed from the assembly.

Claim 6

The invention defined by claim 4 wherein the stop means comprises a dense, foam rubber annular ring to movably engage the outer sleeve.

Claim 7

The invention defined by claim 1 which further includes a pin on one of said members to engage and disengage a detent on the assembly to require change in user effort and signal the position of the hinges.

Claim 8

An improved assembly used to transport instruments through an incision in a patient's body, while preventing loss of gas used to inflate the body cavity during endoscopic procedures, the assembly comprising: a housing; an outer sleeve extending from the housing and having a plurality of radially expandable and retractable hinges adapted for insertion through the incision and expansion within the body cavity to prevent withdrawal; an inner sleeve concentric with the outer sleeve, with a portion secured to the outer sleeve distally of the hinges and with a sealed passage for insertion or removal of an endoscopic instrument without loss of gas from the body cavity; the outer sleeve having a proximate portion above the hinges able to move relative to the inner sleeve to expand or retract the hinges; an actuator coupled to at least one of the sleeves to move one of the sleeves relative to the other to retract or expand the hinges, and having position changes to indicate the status of the hinges, including detent that signal position by a change in user feel; at least one seal element disposed in the housing to prevent liquid or gas flow through the inner sleeve from the body cavity; a movable stop member disposed around the outer sleeve and adapted to engage the exterior of the body to cooperate with the expanded hinges to resist movement of the assembly and to prevent loss of gas between the outer sleeve and the incision.

Claim 9

An improved assembly used to transport instruments through an incision in a patient's body, while preventing loss of gas used to inflate the body cavity during endoscopic procedures, the assembly comprising: a housing; an outer sleeve extending from the housing and having a plurality of radially expandable and retractable hinges adapted for insertion through the incision and expansion within the body cavity to prevent withdrawal; an inner sleeve concentric with the outer sleeve, with a portion secured to the outer sleeve distally of the hinges and with a sealed passage for insertion or removal of an endoscopic instrument without loss of gas from the body cavity; the outer sleeve having a proximate portion above the hinges able to move relative to the inner sleeve to expand or retract the hinges; an actuator coupled to at least one of the sleeves to move one of the sleeves relative to the other to retract or expand the hinges, and having position changes to indicate the status of the hinges, including detent that signal position by a change in user feel; at least one seal element disposed in the housing to prevent liquid or gas flow through the inner sleeve from the body cavity; a movable stop member disposed around the outer sleeve and adapted to engage the exterior of the body to cooperate with the expanded hinges to resist movement of the assembly and to prevent loss of gas between the outer sleeve and the incision.

Claim 10

The invention defined by claim 7 wherein the actuator comprises a rotatable outer member threaded to an inner member, one of the members being connected to the outer sleeve for movement upward or downward to expand or retract the hinges and to indicate the status of the hinges.

Claim 11

The invention defined by claim 8 wherein the seal element further comprises an O.D. seal to seal against gas flow between the inner sleeve and the endoscopic instrument.

Claim 12

The invention defined by claim 9 which further comprises a closure seal to seal against gas flow through the inner sleeve when the endoscopic instrument is removed from the assembly.

Claim 13

The invention defined by claim 10 wherein the stop member comprises a dense, foam rubber annular ring to frictionally and slidably engage the outer sleeve.

Claim 14

The invention defined by claim 8 which further includes a pin associated with one of said members and a detent on the assembly that engages or disengages to signal the position of the hinges.