US5797943A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shielded trocar and trocar shield
Assignee: Covidien AG
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Filing: 1997-03-03
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Granted: 1998-08-25
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Expires: 2017-03-03
Abstract
Abstract A trocar is formed from a cannula and an interfitting obturator for penetrating body cavity walls in laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery. The obturator is provided with an improved piercing tip having a pointed blade and an improved double locking blunt nosed shield design. Hydrophilic coatings or components are also employed on the shield and cannula to facilitate quicker shield action covering the pointed blade and ease of entry of the cannula tube through the body cavity wall. The improved shielded trocar is provided with an improved shield having a dolphin-nose shape at its distal end.
Inventors
- 👤 John K. Danks
- 👤 Richard V. Mazzola
- 👤 Thomas R. Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 23:27
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/34; A61B17/3498; A61B17/3494; A61B17/3496; A61B17/3417; A61B17/3474; A61B2017/0023; A61B2017/00831; A61B2017/0084; A61B2017/3454; A61B2017/346; A61B2017/348; A61B2017/3482; A61B2017/349
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A shielded obturator comprising: (a) an obturator having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end of said obturator forming a handle; (b) a pointed blade on the distal end of the obturator, said pointed blade having a sharpened point at a distal end and sharpened lateral portions; (c) a shield slidably mounted on the obturator and movable relative to the pointed blade between an extended protective position, a partially retracted semi-protective position covering the sharpened point of the pointed blade, while leaving at least a portion of the sharpened lateral portions exposed for cutting tissue and a retracted unprotected position; and (d) biasing means tending to bias the shield into the extended protective position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A shielded obturator comprising: (a) an obturator having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end of said obturator forming a handle; (b) a pointed blade on the distal end of the obturator, said pointed blade having a sharpened point at a distal end and sharpened lateral portions; (c) a shield slidably mounted on the obturator and movable relative to the pointed blade between an extended protective position, a partially retracted semi-protective position covering the sharpened point of the pointed blade, while leaving at least a portion of the sharpened lateral portions exposed for cutting tissue and a retracted unprotected position; and (d) biasing means tending to bias the shield into the extended protective position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The shielded obturator of claim 1 further comprising a latch means engaging with said shield and permitting the shield to be locked in both the extended protective position, and the partially retracted semi-protective position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The shielded obturator of claim 2 wherein the latch means is actuatable to allow the shield to slide from its extended protective position towards its retracted unprotected position when force is applied to said shield.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The shielded obturator of claim 3 wherein said shield has a distal end to cover the pointed blade and a proximate end, and said latch means is comprised of a blocking member, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced detents on the proximate end of the shield which said blocking member may engage to prevent the shield from retracting.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The shielded obturator of claim 1 wherein said shield has a distal end to cover the pointed blade and a proximate end, and said distal end is provided with a hydrophillic coating.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The shielded obturator of claim 1 wherein the pointed blade is substantially planar wherein the sharpened lateral portions comprise a first sharpened edge proceeding from the sharpened point to a first shoulder, and a second sharpened edge proceeding opposite the first sharpened edge to a second shoulder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
The shielded obturator of claim 6 wherein the shield is a cylindrical shape and is slidably mounted on the obturator, said shield having a proximal end received within the obturator handle, and a distal end having a channel of sufficient depth and width to receive the pointed blade within said distal end of the shield.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The shielded obturator of claim 7 in which the distal end of the shield has a blunt end and proceeds along a concave curve to a shoulder portion, said shoulder portion being of at least substantially the same width as the pointed blade.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
The shielded obturator of claim 8 wherein the blunt end of the shield covers the sharpened point when said shield is positioned in the partially retracted semi-protective position, yet the concave curve of the distal end of the shield permits the first and second sharpened edges of the pointed blade adjacent to the shoulders of the pointed blade to remain exposed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The shielded obturator of claim 7 wherein the distal end of the shield is provided with a hydrophillic coating.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
137 words
A trocar comprising: (a) a cannula with a housing and a cannula tube, the canula tube having a lumen of sufficient diameter to receive an obturator; (b) a shielded obturator having a proximal end forming a handle and also having a distal end to which a pointed blade is mounted; the pointed blade including a sharpened point and sharpened lateral portions, and said pointed blade being received within the lumen of the cannula tube; (c) a shield slidably mounted on the obturator and moveable relative to the pointed blade between an extended protective position, a partially extended semi-protective position covering the point while leaving at least a portion of the sharpened lateral portions exposed for cutting tissue and a retracted unprotected position; and (d) a biasing means tending to bias the shield into the extended protective position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
137 words
A trocar comprising: (a) a cannula with a housing and a cannula tube, the canula tube having a lumen of sufficient diameter to receive an obturator; (b) a shielded obturator having a proximal end forming a handle and also having a distal end to which a pointed blade is mounted; the pointed blade including a sharpened point and sharpened lateral portions, and said pointed blade being received within the lumen of the cannula tube; (c) a shield slidably mounted on the obturator and moveable relative to the pointed blade between an extended protective position, a partially extended semi-protective position covering the point while leaving at least a portion of the sharpened lateral portions exposed for cutting tissue and a retracted unprotected position; and (d) a biasing means tending to bias the shield into the extended protective position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The trocar of claim 11 further comprising a latch means engaging with said shield and permitting the shield to be locked in the extended protective position and the partially extended semi-protective position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
The trocar of claim 11 in which the pointed blade is substantially planar; said sharpened lateral portions comprising a first sharpened edge proceeding from the point a shoulder, and a second sharpened edge proceeding opposite the first sharpened edge to a second shoulder.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
The trocar of claim 13 wherein said shield has a distal shield end to cover the pointed blade and a proximate shield end, and the latch means is comprised of a blocking member, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced detents on the proximate shield end which said blocking member may engage to prevent the shield from retracting.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
The trocar of claim 13 in which the shield is of generally cylindrical shape, said shield having a proximal end received within the obturator handle, and a blunt distal end having a channel of sufficient depth and width to receive the pointed blade within the distal end of the shield.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The trocar of claim 15 in which the distal end of the shield proceeds along a concave curve to a shoulder portion, said shoulder portion being of substantially the same width as an interior of the obturator sheath.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
60 words
The trocar of claim 16 wherein the distal end of the shield covers the point when said shield is positioned in the partially retracted semi-protective position, yet the concave curve of the blunt distal end of the shield permits the first and second sharpened edges of the pointed blade adjacent to the shoulders of the pointed blade to remain exposed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The trocar of claim 15 wherein the distal end of the shield is provided with a hydrophillic coating.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The trocar of claim 11 wherein said shield has a distal end to cover the pointed blade and a proximate end, and said distal end is provided with a hydrophillic coating.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
356 words
A method of using a trocar to penetrate a body wall comprising the steps of: i) providing a trocar having: (a) a cannula with a housing and a cannula tube containing a lumen of sufficient diameter to receive an obturator; (b) a shielded obturator having a proximal end forming a handle and also having a distal end to which a pointed blade is mounted; the pointed blade including a sharpened point and sharpened lateral portions, and said pointed blade being received within the lumen of the cannula tube; (c) a shield slidably mounted on the obturator and moveable relative to the pointed blade between an extended protective position, a partially extended semi-protective position covering the point while leaving at least a portion of the sharpened lateral portions exposed for cutting tissue and a retracted unprotected position; and (d) a biasing means tending to bias the shield into said extended position at least partially covering the pointed blade; (e) a latch means having at least two locked positions in which the shield is locked in either the extended position or the partially extended semi-protective position, and having an actuated position which permits the shield to be forced into its retracted position; ii) actuating said latch means; iii) urging said cannula tube and pointed blade against the body wall to be penetrated, whereby said shield is pushed into said partially extended semi-protective position by the body wall to expose said pointed blade to penetrate the body wall and said latch means is biased to automatically resume a locking position upon return of the shield to either said partially extended semi-protective position or said extended protective position; iv) urging said cannula tube and pointed blade against the body wall until the sharpened tip penetrates the body wall and the shield locks in the partially extended semi-protective position; v) urging said cannula tube and pointed blade against the body wall until the pointed blade has completely penetrated the body wall and the shield locks in the extended protective position; vi) urging said cannula tube against the body wall until the lumen of the cannula tube communicates through the body wall.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
356 words
A method of using a trocar to penetrate a body wall comprising the steps of: i) providing a trocar having: (a) a cannula with a housing and a cannula tube containing a lumen of sufficient diameter to receive an obturator; (b) a shielded obturator having a proximal end forming a handle and also having a distal end to which a pointed blade is mounted; the pointed blade including a sharpened point and sharpened lateral portions, and said pointed blade being received within the lumen of the cannula tube; (c) a shield slidably mounted on the obturator and moveable relative to the pointed blade between an extended protective position, a partially extended semi-protective position covering the point while leaving at least a portion of the sharpened lateral portions exposed for cutting tissue and a retracted unprotected position; and (d) a biasing means tending to bias the shield into said extended position at least partially covering the pointed blade; (e) a latch means having at least two locked positions in which the shield is locked in either the extended position or the partially extended semi-protective position, and having an actuated position which permits the shield to be forced into its retracted position; ii) actuating said latch means; iii) urging said cannula tube and pointed blade against the body wall to be penetrated, whereby said shield is pushed into said partially extended semi-protective position by the body wall to expose said pointed blade to penetrate the body wall and said latch means is biased to automatically resume a locking position upon return of the shield to either said partially extended semi-protective position or said extended protective position; iv) urging said cannula tube and pointed blade against the body wall until the sharpened tip penetrates the body wall and the shield locks in the partially extended semi-protective position; v) urging said cannula tube and pointed blade against the body wall until the pointed blade has completely penetrated the body wall and the shield locks in the extended protective position; vi) urging said cannula tube against the body wall until the lumen of the cannula tube communicates through the body wall.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
69 words
An obturator having: a proximal end forming a handle, and a distal end; a pointed blade at the distal end of the obturator; and a shield slidably mounted to the obturator and biased to slide toward the distal end of the obturator and thereby cover the pointed blade with a blade covering portion of said shield; wherein, said blade covering portion of the shield has a dolphin nose shape.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
69 words
An obturator having: a proximal end forming a handle, and a distal end; a pointed blade at the distal end of the obturator; and a shield slidably mounted to the obturator and biased to slide toward the distal end of the obturator and thereby cover the pointed blade with a blade covering portion of said shield; wherein, said blade covering portion of the shield has a dolphin nose shape.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
An obturator according to claim 21 wherein the blade covering portion of the shield has a channel of sufficient depth and width to receive the pointed blade therein.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-24 | 2002-02-23 | 2002-08-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-24 | 2006-02-23 | 2006-08-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-24 | 2010-02-23 | 2010-08-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |