US6106539A — Trocar with removable, replaceable tip

Claim 1

Independent Claim 144 words

An obturator having a removable replaceable tip comprising: an obturator tip having a sharpened distal end and a first engagement device on its proximal end; an easily sterilizable tubular, hollow-bodied obturator shaft having a second engagement device on its distal end for lockingly engaging said first engagement device and securing said tip and shaft together; one of said engagement devices borne by one of said tip and shaft including a flexible member biased to engage the other said engagement device; and toolless access means for enabling the use to directly access and flex, toward the radial center of said shaft, said flexible member against its bias to disengage said engagement devices to release said tip from said shaft, said toolless access means operatively sized and shaped to receive the user's finger such that the user can disengage said engagement devices without using any tools.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 144 words

An obturator having a removable replaceable tip comprising: an obturator tip having a sharpened distal end and a first engagement device on its proximal end; an easily sterilizable tubular, hollow-bodied obturator shaft having a second engagement device on its distal end for lockingly engaging said first engagement device and securing said tip and shaft together; one of said engagement devices borne by one of said tip and shaft including a flexible member biased to engage the other said engagement device; and toolless access means for enabling the use to directly access and flex, toward the radial center of said shaft, said flexible member against its bias to disengage said engagement devices to release said tip from said shaft, said toolless access means operatively sized and shaped to receive the user's finger such that the user can disengage said engagement devices without using any tools.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 17 words

The obturator of claim 1 further including alignment means for defining orientation of said tip and shaft.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 28 words

The obturator of claim 2 in which said alignment means includes a salient portion on one of said tips and shafts and a mating recess on the other.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 46 words

The obturator of claim 2 in which one of said engagement devices on one of said tip and shaft is asymmetrical in shape and said alignment means includes a conforming guide recess on the other of said tip and shaft for orienting said tip and shaft.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 14 words

The obturator of claim 1 in which said tip includes a circumferential removal groove.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 13 words

The obturator of claim 5 in which said groove has a circular shape.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 13 words

The obturator of claim 5 in which said groove has a polygonal shape.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 36 words

The obturator of claim 1 further including an indicator surface on one of said tip and shaft and a cover member on the other for covering said indicator surface when said tip and shaft are engaged.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 15 words

The obturator of claim 1 in which said indicator surface includes a contrasting colored region.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 27 words

The obturator of claim 1 in which said flexible member snaps said engagement devices together to make an audible indication that said tip and shaft are secured.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 13 words

The obturator of claim 1 in which said tip is made of plastic.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 19 words

The obturator of claim 11 in which said plastic is from the group consisting of polycarbonate, ABS and polysulfone.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 33 words

The obturator of claim 1 in which one of said engagement devices includes at least one flexible leg with a detent and the other engagement device includes a stop for engaging said detent.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 18 words

The obturator of claim 13 in which said stop means is a stop recess for receiving said detent.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 18 words

The obturator of claim 13 in which said stop means is a stop shoulder for abutting said detent.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 22 words

The obturator of claim 13 in which said access means includes a port which allows for manual manipulation of said flexible leg.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 14 words

The obturator of claim 13 in which said stop means includes a peripheral slot.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 33 words

The obturator of claim 1 in which said flexible leg is included on said first engagement device on said tip and said stop means is on said second engagement device on said shaft.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 33 words

The obturator of claim 1 in which said flexible leg is included on said second engagement device on said shaft and said stop means is on said first engagement device on said tip.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 14 words

The obturator of claim 1 in which said access means is on said shaft.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 14 words

The obturator of claim 1 in which said access means is on said tip.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 104 words

An obturator having a removable, replaceable tip comprising: an obturator tip having a sharpened distal end and a flexible leg extending from the proximal end and having a detent thereon; an tubular, hollow bodied obturator shaft having stop means for engagement with said detent, said flexible leg being biased to engage said detent with said stop means to secure said tip and shaft; and a toolless access port to enable the user to directly access and flex said leg inward toward the radial center of said shaft to overcome its bias, disengage said detent and stop means and release said tip from said shaft.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 104 words

An obturator having a removable, replaceable tip comprising: an obturator tip having a sharpened distal end and a flexible leg extending from the proximal end and having a detent thereon; an tubular, hollow bodied obturator shaft having stop means for engagement with said detent, said flexible leg being biased to engage said detent with said stop means to secure said tip and shaft; and a toolless access port to enable the user to directly access and flex said leg inward toward the radial center of said shaft to overcome its bias, disengage said detent and stop means and release said tip from said shaft.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 18 words

The obturator of claim 22 in which said stop means includes a stop recess for receiving said detent.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 18 words

The obturator of claim 22 in which said stop means includes a stop shoulder for abutting said detent.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 24 words

The obturator of claim 22 in which said access port is in said shaft and said stop recess forms a part of said port.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 114 words

An obturator having a removable, replaceable tip comprising: an obturator tip having a sharpened distal end; an tubular, hollow bodied obturator shaft engaging means for releasably securing said tip and shaft including a flexible leg having a detent on one of said tip and shaft and stop means on the other for engagement with said detent; said flexible leg being biased to engage said detent with said stop means and secure said tip and shaft; and access means for enabling the user to directly access and move said leg inward toward the radial center of said shaft to overcome its bias, disengage said detent and stop means and release said tip from said shaft.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 114 words

An obturator having a removable, replaceable tip comprising: an obturator tip having a sharpened distal end; an tubular, hollow bodied obturator shaft engaging means for releasably securing said tip and shaft including a flexible leg having a detent on one of said tip and shaft and stop means on the other for engagement with said detent; said flexible leg being biased to engage said detent with said stop means and secure said tip and shaft; and access means for enabling the user to directly access and move said leg inward toward the radial center of said shaft to overcome its bias, disengage said detent and stop means and release said tip from said shaft.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 22 words

The obturator of claim 26 in which said flexible leg is on said tip and said stop means is on said shaft.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 22 words

The obturator of claim 26 in which said flexible leg is on said shaft and said stop means is on said tip.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-08-22	2004-02-21	2004-08-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-08-22	2008-02-21	2008-08-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-08-22	2012-02-21	2012-08-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Trocar with removable, replaceable tip

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