초록 ▼

A surgical access device includes a seal housing and a roller disposed in the housing and defining a working channel. The roller may be stationary or moveable within the seal housing to form both a zero seal in the absence of an instrument, and an instrument seal in the presence of an instrument. Ro

A surgical access device includes a seal housing and a roller disposed in the housing and defining a working channel. The roller may be stationary or moveable within the seal housing to form both a zero seal in the absence of an instrument, and an instrument seal in the presence of an instrument. Rotation of the roller is contemplated and low-friction surfaces are discussed to reduce instrument insertion forces. Multiple rollers, wiper elements, low-friction braid, pivoting elements and idler rollers are contemplated. The rollers will typically be formed of a gel material in order to facilitate the desired compliance, stretchability and elongation desired.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A trocar adapted to provide access for a surgical instrument through a body wall and into a body cavity, comprising: a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end; a seal housing, includes an inner surface, communicating with the cannula to define a working channel;

The invention claimed is: 1. A trocar adapted to provide access for a surgical instrument through a body wall and into a body cavity, comprising: a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end; a seal housing, includes an inner surface, communicating with the cannula to define a working channel; a seal assembly disposed within the seal housing; and a first conformable and a second conformable rollers included in the seal assembly, each having a substantially cylindrical outer surface, a pair of end surfaces and an axle supported by the seal housing; wherein the substantially cylindrical outer surface of the conformable rollers is dimensioned and configured for forming a zero seal in the absence of an instrument extending therethrough, and for contacting with and conforming to an instrument, thereby forming an instrument seal in the presence of the instrument extending therethrough, and wherein the substantially cylindrical surfaces and the end surfaces of the conformable rollers form lateral seals and end seals with the inner surface of housing. 2. The trocar recited in claim 1, wherein the roller is pivotal with the axle relative to the seal housing. 3. The trocar recited in claim 1, wherein: the axle has a fixed relationship with the seal housing; and the roller has a pivotal relationship with the axle. 4. The trocar recited in claim 1 wherein the roller in radial cross-section has the configuration of a geometric shape. 5. The trocar recited in claim 4, wherein the geometric shape is a circle. 6. The trocar recited in claim 1, wherein: the first roller has the configuration of a first cylinder with a first radius; the second roller has the configuration of a second cylinder with a second radius; and the first axle is separated from the second axle a distance not greater than the sum of the first radius and the second radius. 7. The trocar recited in claim 1, wherein the roller is sized and configured to form the instrument seal with the instrument, the instrument seal having a diameter with an upper limit in a range between about six millimeters and twelve millimeters. 8. The trocar recited in claim 1, wherein the roller is a first roller rotatable on a first axis and the trocar further comprises at least one second roller rotatable on a second axis different than the first axis. 9. A surgical combination, comprising: an instrument having a diameter of at least about one millimeter; an access device adapted to facilitate disposition of the instrument across a body wall; a cannula included in the access device and having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end; a seal housing, includes an inner surface, communicating with the cannula, to define a working channel with the cannula; a seal assembly disposed within the seal housing of the access device; and a first conformable and a second conformable rollers included in the seal assembly, the roller comprising a substantially cylindrical outer surface sized and configured to form a zero seal in the absence of the instrument, and to contact with and conform to the instrument, thereby forming an instrument seal therewith in the presence of the instrument, each roller further includes a pair of end surfaces, wherein the substantially cylindrical surfaces and the end surfaces of the conformable rollers form lateral seals and end seals with the inner surface of the housing. 10. The surgical combination recited in claim 9, wherein the roller includes a gel material. 11. The surgical combination recited in claim 9, wherein: the roller has an axle with two ends; at least one of the ends of the axle being supported by the housing. 12. The surgical combination recited in claim 9, further comprising: an interior wall disposed within the seal housing; and the roller having properties for forming the zero seal with the interior wall. 13. The surgical combination recited in claim 11, wherein the roller includes a gel material supported on the axle and rotatable with the axle relative to the seal housing. 14. The surgical combination recited in claim 11, wherein the axle has a fixed relationship with the seal housing and the gel material is supported on the axle and rotatable relative to the axle. 15. The surgical combination recited in claim 9, wherein a diameter of the instrument is at least about 5 millimeters. 16. The surgical combination recited in claim 15, wherein the diameter of the instrument is at least about 10 millimeters. 17. The surgical combination recited in claim 9, wherein the seal housing and the roller are formed of translucent materials. 18. A trocar assembly, including: a cannula extending along an axis between a proximal end and a distal end; a seal housing, includes an inner surface, communicating with the cannula to define a working channel; a first and a second rollers disposed within the seal housing, the rollers comprising a substantially cylindrical outer surface and a pair of end surfaces, wherein the roller is pivotal on an axis; and a resilient material included in the roller, wherein the resilient material is susceptible to tearing in response to an instrument inserted into the working channel, the resilient material provides the substantially cylindrical outer surface of the roller with properties for forming a zero seal in the absence of the instrument, an instrument seal in the presence of the instrument and the substantially cylindrical surfaces and the end surfaces of the rollers form lateral seals and end seals with the inner surface of the housing; and the rollers are moveable by the inserted instrument to pivot the resilient material relative to the axis to inhibit tearing of the resilient material. 19. The trocar assembly recited in claim 18, wherein: the roller has an end surface and a circumferential surface; and an instrument inserted into the working channel encounters a frictional resistance associated with the end surface and a rolling resistance associated with the circumferential surface. 20. The trocar assembly of claim 18, wherein the roller is a first roller, the axis is a first axis, and the trocar assembly further comprises: a second roller disposed within the seal housing and being pivotal on a second axis different than the first axis. 21. A trocar assembly, comprising: a cannula having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end; a valve housing, includes an inner surface, communicating with the cannula to define a working channel; and a roller valve disposed on at least one axle in the valve housing, the roller valve comprising a first and a second rollers, each roller comprising a substantially cylindrical outer surface and a pair of end surfaces, wherein the substantially cylindrical outer surface comprising a compliant material having properties for forming a zero seal across the working channel in the absence of the instrument, and an instrument seal across the working channel in the presence of the instrument, wherein the instrument seal has a diameter in radial cross-section ranging from a lower limit of about zero millimeters to an upper limit greater than about 6 millimeters, and wherein the substantially cylindrical surfaces and the end surfaces of the rollers form lateral seals and end seals with the inner surface of the housing. 22. The trocar assembly recited in claim 21, wherein the valve comprises: first portions forming a wall seal with the valve housing; and second portions forming the zero seal in the absence of the instrument in the working channel, and the instrument seal in the presence of the instrument in the working channel. 23. The trocar assembly reciting claim 21, wherein the compliant material includes a gel.