초록 ▼

A surgical trocar assembly includes a disposable valve assembly, a cannula assembly, and a trocar with a handle. The cannula assembly includes a cannula base having a valve assembly coupling device at its proximal end, and a cannula extending from its distal end. The disposable valve assembly has a

A surgical trocar assembly includes a disposable valve assembly, a cannula assembly, and a trocar with a handle. The cannula assembly includes a cannula base having a valve assembly coupling device at its proximal end, and a cannula extending from its distal end. The disposable valve assembly has a coupling device for removably coupling it with the cannula base. The valve assembly also includes a valve body with a fluid passage communicating with the hollow cannula when it is coupled to the cannula base. A slit or flapper valve and a universal washer are mounted within the valve body and allow the insertion of the trocar or other endoscopic instruments therethrough while providing a fluid sealing of the fluid passage. The valve assembly may be provided with a side port which optionally contains an automatic valve actuated by a luer coupling. Several different valve assembly-cannula base couplings are disclosed as well as several different types of trocars.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A valve assembly for use in a trocar assembly where the trocar assembly includes a cannula assembly having a first coupling means and a hollow cannula, and a trocar having a proximal handle and an elongate element with the elongate element extending through the valve assembly and hollow cannula,

1. A valve assembly for use in a trocar assembly where the trocar assembly includes a cannula assembly having a first coupling means and a hollow cannula, and a trocar having a proximal handle and an elongate element with the elongate element extending through the valve assembly and hollow cannula, said valve assembly comprising: a) a valve body defining a fluid passage dimensioned to permit the trocar to extend therethrough; b) an automatic valve means in fluid communication with said fluid passage, said automatic valve means for permitting the trocar to be inserted through said automatic valve means and for automatically closing said fluid passage when said trocar is removed from said automatic valve means; and c) a fluid seal means, wherein said valve body has a distal portion and said fluid seal means surrounds said distal portion of said valve body. said valve body includes valve body coupling means for removably coupling said valve assembly with the first coupling means of the cannula assembly to effect a fluid coupling of said fluid passage with said cannula, and said valve body coupling means comprises one of a threaded portion, a bayonet locking mechanism, and a latch mechanism on said valve body which mates with the first coupling means of the cannula assembly. 2. A valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein: said distal portion of said valve body has a circumferential groove, and said fluid seal means comprises an O-ring sitting in said circumferential groove. 3. A valve assembly according to claim 2, wherein: said valve body includes a well for receiving said automatic valve means, and said valve assembly further includes a valve cap for covering said well, said valve cap having a central opening dimensioned to receive the trocar. 4. A valve assembly according to claim 3, wherein: said valve body and said valve cap have second and third coupling means for coupling with each other and holding said automatic valve means in place. 5. A valve assembly according to claim 4, wherein: said second coupling means comprises a plurality of ramped teeth, and said third coupling means comprises a plurality of radial openings in said valve cap, wherein said plurality of ramped teeth mate with and fit inside said plurality of radial openings. 6. A valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein: said valve body coupling means is on an external surface of said valve body, and comprises one of an external thread, a bayonet groove, a bayonet knob, and a circumferential groove on said valve body. 7. A valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein: said valve body coupling means is on an internal surface of said valve body, and comprises one of an internal thread, a bayonet groove, and a bayonet knob. 8. A valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein: said latch mechanism comprises a resilient tongue having a protrusion extending outward from said resilient tongue. 9. A valve assembly according to claim 8, wherein: said resilient tongue comprises a cantilevered cut-out in a wall of said valve body. 10. A valve assembly according to claim 9, wherein: said resilient tongue further includes a release mechanism extending outward from said resilient tongue, wherein upon squeezing said release mechanism, said protrusion disengages from the first coupling means of the cannula assembly. 11. A valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein: said automatic valve means comprises a flapper valve and an elastic washer, said elastic washer having an annular opening providing a first contact surface and a circumferential portion which provides a second contact surface, said elastic washer being mounted in said fluid passage within said valve body. 12. A valve assembly according to claim 11, wherein: said flapper valve comprises a resilient arm member and a contact member coupled to said resilient arm member, wherein, in a first closed position, said resilient arm member is bent to provide a force which pushes said contact member into contact with said second contact surface of said elastic washer. 13. A valve assembly according to claim 12, wherein: said resilient arm member is made of silicone rubber, and said contact member is made of a polymeric material. 14. A valve assembly according to claim 11, wherein: said flapper valve comprises a spring loaded arm member coupled to a circumferential contact member, said circumferential contact member being in contact with said second contact portion of said elastic washer when said spring loaded arm member is in a first spring loaded position. 15. A valve assembly according to claim 14, wherein: said flapper valve includes a fixed pin, and said spring loaded arm member comprises a spring and a first arm coupled to said spring, at least one of said spring and said first arm extending and rotating around said fixed pin. 16. A valve assembly according to claim 15, wherein: said spring loaded arm member further comprises a second arm which includes said circumferential contact member, and one of said first arm and said second arm has a rounded protrusion extending therefrom towards the other of said first arm and said second arm, and the other of said first arm and second arm includes a socket for receiving said rounded protrusion. 17. A valve assembly according to claim 16, wherein: said protrusion and said socket are shaped to cause said first arm to be coupled to said second arm, but to allow some movement of said first arm relative to said second arm so that said circumferential contact member properly seats against said second contact portion of said elastic washer. 18. A valve assembly according to claim 15, wherein: said valve body includes a side insufflation port in fluid contact with said fluid passage, and said spring has a first end anchored in said insufflation port and a second end anchored in said first arm. 19. A valve assembly according to claim 14, wherein: said arm member has a curved end portion which curves away from said elastic washer and which protects said arm member from contact with an instrument inserted through said disposable valve assembly except along a top surface of said arm member when said spring loaded arm member is in a second opened position where said circumferential contact member is not in contact with said second contact portion of said elastic washer. 20. A valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein: said valve body includes a side port means for coupling with a fluid conduit, said side port in fluid communication with said fluid passage of said valve assembly. 21. A trocar assembly according to claim 20, wherein: said side port comprises a luer means with a spring biased valve member. 22. A valve assembly for use in a trocar assembly where the trocar assembly includes a cannula assembly having a first coupling means and a hollow cannula, and a trocar having a proximal handle And an elongate element with the elongate element extending through the valve assembly and hollow cannula, said valve assembly comprising: a) a valve body defining a fluid passage dimensioned to permit the trocar to extend therethrough; and b) an automatic valve means in fluid communication with said fluid passage, said automatic valve means for permitting the trocar to be inserted through said automatic valve means and for automatically closing said fluid passage when said trocar is removed from said automatic valve means, wherein said valve body includes valve body coupling means for removably coupling said valve assembly with the first coupling means of the cannula assembly to effect a fluid coupling of said fluid passage with said cannula. said valve body coupling means comprises one of a threaded portion, a bayonet locking mechanism, and a latch mechanism on said valve body which mates with the first coupling means of the cannula assembly, and said automatic valve means comprises a slit valve having a plurality of trocar engaging protrusions which protrude axially from and which are spaced around said slit valve. 23. A valve assembly according to claim 22, wherein: said slit valve is a tricuspid valve, and said plurality of trocar engaging protrusions comprises at least three trocar engaging protrusions. 24. A valve assembly for use with a medical instrument and a tubular assembly having a first coupling means, said valve assembly comprising: a) a valve body defining a fluid passage; b) an automatic valve means in fluid communication with said fluid passage, said automatic valve means for permitting the medical instrument to be inserted through said automatic valve means and for automatically closing said fluid passage when the medical instrument is removed from said automatic valve means; and c) a fluid seal means, wherein said valve body has a distal portion and said fluid seal means surrounds said distal portion of said valve body, said valve body includes valve body coupling means for removably coupling said valve assembly with the first coupling means of the tubular assembly to effect a fluid coupling of said fluid passage with said tubular assembly, and said valve body coupling means comprises one of a threaded portion, a bayonet locking mechanism, and a latch mechanism on said valve body which mates with the first coupling means of the tubular assembly.