초록 ▼

A valve assembly and diameter reduction structure for trocar employing a movable diameter reduction structure. The diameter reduction structure is positioned in proximity to a first seal and includes a plurality of stand off members movable between a first position, a second position, and a third po

A valve assembly and diameter reduction structure for trocar employing a movable diameter reduction structure. The diameter reduction structure is positioned in proximity to a first seal and includes a plurality of stand off members movable between a first position, a second position, and a third position. The diameter reduction structure in the first position reduces the likelihood of the first seal losing its integrity by limiting excessive off-axis and angular movements of small diameter surgical instruments. When large diameter surgical instruments are positioned through the trocar, the diameter reduction structure pivots to accommodate the passage of larger diameter surgical instruments without any operational adjustments.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A value assembly for use with a trocar to form a substantially fluid tight seal about instruments therein, which comprises: a housing defining a longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal passageway extending therethrough; a valve member mounted within the housing, the valve

What is claimed is: 1. A value assembly for use with a trocar to form a substantially fluid tight seal about instruments therein, which comprises: a housing defining a longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal passageway extending therethrough; a valve member mounted within the housing, the valve member having an opening therein adapted to sealingly engage an instrument introduced through the housing; and at least two stand-off elements mounted within the housing distal of the valve member, the stand-off elements adapted for pivotal movement between an initial position intersecting the longitudinal passageway of the housing and a pivoted position to permit passage of the instrument, the stand-off elements operatively connected to each other whereby pivotal movement of a first stand-off element causes corresponding and concurrent pivotal movement of a second stand-off element, the stand-off elements being normally biased to the initial position to engage the instrument to urge the instrument toward a generally aligned position with respect to an axis of the valve member. 2. The valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein the stand-off elements are coaxially arranged with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing. 3. The valve assembly according to claim 1 including a gear linkage mechanism for operatively connecting the stand-off elements, the gear linkage mechanism including at least one gear link disposed between adjacent stand-off elements. 4. The valve assembly according to claim 1 including an elastomeric flange disposed distal of the valve member, the elastomeric flange having the stand-off elements integrally formed therewith. 5. The valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein the stand-off elements are adapted to pivotally move between the initial position, and first and second pivoted positions, the stand-off elements moving to the first pivoted position during insertion of the instrument through the longitudinal passageway of the housing, the stand-off elements moving to the second pivoted position during withdrawal of the instrument from the longitudinal passageway. 6. The valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein the valve member includes a peripheral portion and an inner seal portion defining the opening, the inner seal portion extending in a distal direction to facilitate introduction of the instrument therewithin. 7. A valve assembly for use with a trocar to form a substantially fluid tight seal about instruments therein, which comprises: a housing defining a longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal passageway extending therethroug; a valve member mounted within the housing, the valve member having an opening therein adapted to sealingly engage an instrument introduced through the housing; and at least two stand-off elements mounted within the housing distal of the valve member and being arranged relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing in radial spaced relation, the stand-off elements adapted for pivotal movement between an initial position intersecting the longitudinal passageway of the housing and a pivoted position to permit passage of the instrument, the stand-off elements operatively coupled whereby pivotal movement of a first stand-off element causes corresponding pivotal movement of a second stand-off element, the stand-off elements being normally biased to the initial position to engage the instrument to urge the instrument toward a generally aligned position with respect to an axis of the valve member. 8. A valve assembly for use with a trocar to form a substantially fluid tight seal about instruments therein, which comprises: a housing defining a longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal passageway extending therethrough; a valve member mounted within the housing, the valve member having an opening therein adapted to sealingly engage an instrument introduced through the housing; and at least two stand-off elements mounted within the housing distal of the valve member and being arranged relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing whereby adjacent stand-off elements are in non-overlapping relation, the stand-off elements adapted for pivotal movement between an initial position intersecting the longitudinal passageway of the housing and a pivoted position to permit passage of the instrument, the stand-off elements operatively coupled whereby pivotal movement of a first stand-off element causes corresponding pivotal movement of a second stand-off element, the stand-off elements being normally biased to the initial position to engage the instrument to urge the instrument toward a generally aligned position with respect to an axis of the valve member. 9. A surgical access apparatus, which comprises: an access housing defining a longitudinal axis and having a general longitudinal passageway extending therethrough, and proximal and distal ends; a valve member mounted across the passageway and being adapted to engage an object introduced within the passageway in substantial sealed relation therewith; at least two centering elements mounted within the access housing and being adapted to bias the object into general longitudinal alignment with the longitudinal axis of the access housing, the at least two centering elements movable within the passageway between an initial position and an activated position thereof upon engagement of at least one of the centering elements with the object introduced within the passageway, the at least two centering elements tending to move the object toward a position centered with the longitudinal axis; and at least one gear operatively coupling the at least two centering elements. 10. The surgical access apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the at least two centering elements are adapted to pivot between the initial position and the actuated position. 11. The surgical access apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the at least two centering elements are spring biased to normally assume the initial position thereof. 12. The surgical access apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the at least two centering elements are arranged within the access housing to intersect the passageway when in the initial position. 13. The surgical access apparatus according to claim 10 including at least three centering elements, the at least three centering elements arranged within the access housing to generally define a first opening between the at least three centering elements having a first internal dimension when in the initial position thereof, and to generally define a second opening between the at least three centering elements having a second internal dimension when in the actuated position thereof, the second internal dimension being greater than the first internal dimension. 14. The surgical access apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the at least two centering elements are mounted distal of the valve member. 15. The surgical access apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the at least two centering elements are mounted proximal of the valve member. 16. The surgical access apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the at least two centering elements are operatively coupled such that movement of the at least one centering element causes corresponding movement of the other centering element. 17. A surgical access apparatus, which comprises: an access housing defining a longitudinal axis and having a general longitudinal passageway extending therethrough; a valve member mounted across the passageway and being adapted to engage an object introduced within the passageway in substantial sealed relation therewith; and a plurality of centering elements mounted within the access housing and being adapted to bias the object into general longitudinal alignment with the longitudinal axis of the access housing, the centering elements being adapted for pivotal movement within the passageway between an initial position and a pivoted position upon engagement with the object, and having at least one gear operatively coupling adjacent centering elements whereby the adjacent centering elements pivotally move in a general synchronized relation between the initial and pivoted positions thereof. 18. The surgical access apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the centering elements are operatively coupled by a plurality of gears whereby the centering elements pivotally move in general synchronized relation between the initial and pivoted positions thereof.