| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080290605 | ACCESS ASSEMBLY WITH WHISKER SEAL - A valve assembly for the sealed reception of a surgical instrument inserted through a cannula assembly includes a valve body defining a central longitudinal axis, and an elongated seal member having a resilient sealing structure defining an aperture in general alignment with the central longitudinal axis. The sealing structure includes a plurality of elongated bristle members positioned to engage the outer surface of the surgical instrument in a fluid-tight manner upon at least partial insertion of the instrument into the valve body. Each bristle member is adapted to be displaced relative to the longitudinal axis to facilitate expansion of the aperture to accommodate variously sized surgical instruments. Bristle members are arranged in a pattern facilitating the reduction of the insertion force required to introduce an instrument while providing robust lateral support for the instrument. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20080294112 | Surgical Access Apparatus With Centering Mechanism - A surgical access apparatus includes a housing member and a portal member extending from the housing member and defining a longitudinal axis. The housing member and the portal member define a longitudinal passage therethrough dimensioned to permit passage of an elongated object. A centering mechanism is mounted relative to the housing member. The centering mechanism includes an annular element mounted for rotational movement within the housing member and about the longitudinal axis and first and second arm elements mounted to the annular element and extending radially inwardly relative to the longitudinal axis. The first and second arm elements are each positioned to intersect the longitudinal passage and are adapted to pivot relative to the housing member. The first and second arm elements are operatively connected whereby pivotal movement of the first arm element upon engagement with the elongated object causes the annular element to rotate in response thereto and effect corresponding pivotal movement of the second arm element. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20080294113 | Access Assembly With Ribbed Seal - A ribbed seal for use in endoscopic surgery is intended to be incorporated into a cannula assembly to limit the escape of insufflation gasses from a body cavity by forming a fluid-tight seal around an instrument inserted through the cannula assembly. The ribbed seal includes a relatively flat, disk shaped elastomeric overmold portion having a central aperture sized slightly smaller than the instrument such that the aperture must expand to accommodate the instrument. Molded together with the elastomeric overmold is an array of slender ribs disposed about the aperture. The ribs are designed to be relatively flexible under lateral loads. This allows the seal to bend easily as the surgical instrument is inserted through the aperture thereby maintaining a low insertion and glide force. On the other hand, the ribs are designed to be relatively rigid when loaded axially. This rigidity provides robust radial support for the instrument inserted through the center of the array of ribs. The seal performs a centering function for the instrument due to its combined elasticity and stiffness. Finally, the seal also allows for an instrument to be removed easily while maintaining the required atmospheric integrity. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20080294125 | SURGICAL ACCESS ASSEMBLY WITH WINEPRESS SEAL - A surgical access apparatus includes a housing, an access member extending from the housing and having a longitudinal passageway for passage of an object and defining trailing and leading ends and an elongated seal mechanism mounted relative to the housing. The elongated seal mechanism includes a trailing hub and a leading hub longitudinally spaced from the trailing hub, and being adapted for relative rotational movement about the longitudinal axis, a plurality of spokes extending between and connected to the trailing hub and the leading hub, and an elongated seal member disposed within the spokes and adapted to establish a sealing relation about the object. The spokes define a first minimum internal dimension in a first condition thereof in the absence of an object and defining a second minimum internal dimension in a second condition thereof upon insertion of the object and relative rotation of the trailing hub and the leading hub. The second minimum internal dimension is greater than the first minimum internal dimension. The at least two of the spokes are generally obliquely arranged at a first angle relative to the longitudinal axis when in the first condition thereof and are adapted to be generally arranged at a second angle relative to the longitudinal axis when in the second condition thereof, the second angle being less than the first angle. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20080294186 | SURGICAL PORTAL APPARATUS WITH ARMATURE ASSEMBLY - A surgical portal apparatus includes a portal housing, an elongated portal member connected to the portal housing and depending therefrom and an armature assembly. The portal housing and the portal member have an axial bore for reception and passage of a surgical object. The armature assembly includes at least two arms disposed within the portal housing and an outer mount. The at least two arms extend at least radially inwardly and are adapted to move, e.g., pivotally move, relative to the longitudinal axis from a rest position to an activated position during passage of the surgical object. The at least two arms are operatively connected whereby movement of a first arm causes corresponding movement of a second arm. The outer mount comprises a resilient material and is disposed within the portal housing. The outer mount is mounted to the at least two arms and imparts a biasing force to the at least two arms toward the rest position thereof. The outer mount has inner portions defining a passage to permit passage of the surgical object. The at least two arms may be at least partially embedded within the outer mount or enclosed within the outer mount. The armature assembly may include a series of arms coaxially arranged about the central longitudinal axis. Adjacent arms of the armature assembly may be interconnected by a gear. The outer mount may define a generally tapered configuration, e.g., a frustum. The inner portions of the outer mount may be adapted to establish a substantial seal about the surgical object. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20100286706 | SURGICAL ACCESS APPARATUS WITH CENTERING MECHANISM - A surgical access apparatus includes a housing member and a portal member extending from the housing member and defining a longitudinal axis. The housing member and the portal member define a longitudinal passage therethrough dimensioned to permit passage of an elongated object. A centering mechanism is mounted relative to the housing member. The centering mechanism includes an annular element mounted for rotational movement within the housing member and about the longitudinal axis and first and second arm elements mounted to the annular element and extending radially inwardly relative to the longitudinal axis. The first and second arm elements are each positioned to intersect the longitudinal passage and are adapted to pivot relative to the housing member. The first and second arm elements are operatively connected whereby pivotal movement of the first arm element upon engagement with the elongated object causes the annular element to rotate in response thereto and effect corresponding pivotal movement of the second arm element. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20110062189 | DEVICE FOR DELIVERING ADHESIVE - This document relates to delivery devices for dispensing fluid materials, including high viscosity fluids such as high viscosity surgical adhesives. For example, methods and materials for an integrated system of containing and permitting point of use delivery of a high viscosity adhesive fluid onto a planar surface of tissue during a surgical procedure are provided. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110144445 | ACCESS ASSEMBLY WITH RIBBED SEAL - A ribbed seal for use in endoscopic surgery is intended to be incorporated into a cannula assembly to limit the escape of insufflation gasses from a body cavity by forming a fluid-tight seal around an instrument inserted through the cannula assembly. The ribbed seal includes a relatively flat, disk shaped elastomeric overmold portion having a central aperture sized slightly smaller than the instrument such that the aperture must expand to accommodate the instrument. Molded together with the elastomeric overmold is an array of slender ribs disposed about the aperture. The ribs are designed to be relatively flexible under lateral loads. This allows the seal to bend easily as the surgical instrument is inserted through the aperture thereby maintaining a low insertion and glide force. On the other hand, the ribs are designed to be relatively rigid when loaded axially. This rigidity provides robust radial support for the instrument inserted through the center of the array of ribs. The seal performs a centering function for the instrument due to its combined elasticity and stiffness. Finally, the seal also allows for an instrument to be removed easily while maintaining the required atmospheric integrity. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110152622 | SURGICAL ACCESS APPARATUS WITH CONSTRAINING MECHANISM - A surgical access apparatus includes a housing member, a portal member extending from the housing member and defining a central longitudinal axis, and defining a longitudinal passage therethrough dimensioned to permit passage of an surgical object and a constraining mechanism associated with at least one of the housing member and the portal member. The constraining mechanism includes a constraining member dimensioned and positioned to intersect the longitudinal passage. The constraining member is adapted to engage the surgical object and bias the surgical object toward a position radially displaced relative to the central longitudinal axis. The constraining member is adapted to transition from an initial condition in the absence of the surgical object to a stressed condition in the presence of the surgical object. The constraining member may be normally biased toward the initial condition. | 06-23-2011 |
