Safety trocar penetrating instrument with safety shield having resilient distal end

Claim 1

A safety trocar penetrating instrument comprising an elongate, tubular portal sleeve having a distal end and a proximal end; a housing coupled with said proximal end of said portal sleeve and having a valve therein for controlling fluid flow through said housing and said portal sleeve and for allowing passage of instruments therethrough; a trocar disposed within said portal sleeve and having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a solid distal end terminating at a sharp tip beyond said distal end of said portal sleeve for penetrating tissue; a safety shield disposed between said portal sleeve and said trocar and having a proximal end and a distal end and being movable between an extended position with said safety shield distal end protruding distally of said trocar tip and a retracted position with said safety shield distal end disposed proximally of said trocar tip to expose said trocar tip; a hub abutting said housing for receiving said proximal end of said trocar said trocar passing through said valve in said housing; bias means for biasing said safety shield toward said extended position and for permitting said safety shield to move proximally to said retracted position in response to a proximally directed force applied to said safety shield distal end, said bias means returning said safety shield to said extended position when the force applied to said safety shield distal end is removed; and stop means for limiting proximal movement of said safety shield; wherein said safety shield distal end is resilient to permit said safety shield distal end to be moved to said retracted position in response to forces from contact of said safety shield distal end with tissue and to permit said safety shield distal end to resiliently return to said extended position upon removal of the forces from tissue contact.