Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090270681 | SCRAPING FLUID REMOVAL IN A SURGICAL ACCESS DEVICE - The present invention generally provides methods and devices for removing fluid from a surgical instrument. Surgical access devices and seal systems are generally provided having one or more valves or seal assemblies to create a closed system between the outside environment and the environment in which the surgical access device is being inserted. In one embodiment, a seal assembly is provided and can include a seal having an opening configured to receive a surgical instrument therethrough and a fluid remover in the form of an absorbent element, a scraper element, a wicking element, or any combination thereof can be associated with the seal and configured to remove fluid from the opening and/or a surgical instrument. | 10-29-2009 |
20090270685 | ABSORBING FLUIDS IN A SURGICAL ACCESS DEVICE - The present invention generally provides methods and devices for removing fluid from a surgical instrument. Surgical access devices and seal systems are generally provided having one or more valves or seal assemblies to create a closed system between the outside environment and the environment in which the surgical access device is being inserted. In one embodiment, a seal assembly is provided and can include a seal having an opening configured to receive a surgical instrument therethrough and a fluid remover in the form of an absorbent element, a scraper element, a wicking element, or any combination thereof can be associated with the seal and configured to remove fluid from the opening and/or a surgical instrument. | 10-29-2009 |
20090270686 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR MAINTAINING VISIBILITY DURING SURGICAL PROCEDURES - Methods and devices are provided for maintaining visibility during surgical procedures. In general, the methods and devices can allow for a surgical instrument to maintain visibility during a surgical procedure using a protective element coupled to the surgical instrument. The protective element can protect a viewing element on the surgical instrument while the surgical instrument is being passed through an introducer device into or out of a body cavity (e.g., during insertion and/or withdrawal). The protective element can also optionally protect the surgical instrument's viewing element while at least a portion of the surgical instrument is disposed in a body cavity. | 10-29-2009 |
20090270818 | GAS JET FLUID REMOVAL IN A TROCAR - Devices and methods are provided for removing fluid from a surgical access device and/or from surgical instruments passed therethrough, and for preventing such fluid from accumulating. For example, in one embodiment, an exemplary device can include a body defining a working channel that is configured and sized to allow for passage of a surgical instrument therethrough. A number of seals can be disposed in the working channel so as to contact the inserted surgical instrument. One or more outlets can be oriented to direct gas, such as air or an insufflation gas, into the working channel so as to remove fluid on the seals, or other parts of the surgical access device, as well as the surgical instruments themselves. In some embodiments, constant flows of gases can be arranged to act as shields to help prevent fluid from accumulating on the surgical access device and/or surgical instruments. | 10-29-2009 |
20090281478 | VIBRATORY TROCAR - Devices and methods are provided for removing fluid from a trocar or from surgical instruments passed therethrough, and for preventing such fluid from accumulating. For example, an exemplary method for removing fluid from a trocar can include positioning a trocar to extend into a body cavity and vibrating the trocar to prevent fluid in the trocar from being deposited on surgical instruments passed therethrough. In one embodiment, the trocar can be selectively vibrated by activating a foot pedal or remote control, or according to an output of a sensor. | 11-12-2009 |
20100152609 | SPECIMEN RETRIEVAL DEVICE - A surgical instrument can be used to capture and retrieve tissue, or other specimens, from within the body of a patient through a single trocar port. The surgical instrument can include a grasper, wherein the grasper can be configured to capture a specimen, and a specimen retrieval bag, wherein the specimen retrieval bag can be configured to at least partially surround, or encapsulate, the captured specimen when the specimen retrieval bag is in a deployed position. In certain embodiments, the retrieval bag can be inverted as it is moved between undeployed and deployed positions. In various embodiments, the surgical instrument can further include a snare operably engaged with the specimen retrieval bag, wherein the snare can be configured to at least partially close the bag. A vacuum can be placed in communication with the bag to reduce the size of the bag before it is removed from the surgical site. | 06-17-2010 |
20100228094 | SURGICAL ACCESS DEVICES AND METHODS PROVIDING SEAL MOVEMENT IN PREDEFINED MOVEMENT REGIONS - Various methods and devices are provided for allowing multiple surgical instruments to be inserted into sealing elements of a single surgical access device. The sealing elements can be movable along predefined pathways within the device to allow surgical instruments inserted through the sealing elements to be moved laterally, rotationally, angularly, and vertically relative to a central longitudinal axis of the device for ease of manipulation within a patient's body while maintaining insufflation. | 09-09-2010 |
20100312061 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR PROVIDING ACCESS THROUGH TISSUE TO A SURGICAL SITE - Methods and devices are provided for providing access through tissue to a surgical site. A surgical access device can be configured to be positioned in tissue to provide access through a working channel of the access device to a body cavity underlying the tissue. The access device can include a sealing element positioned at least partially within the working channel. The sealing element can be formed of a puncturable self-sealing material such as a gel and/or a foam configured to provide a channel seal that seals the working channel when no instrument is inserted through the sealing element and configured to provide an instrument seal that provides a seal around one or more surgical instruments inserted through the sealing element. | 12-09-2010 |
20100312063 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR ACCESSING A BODY CAVITY USING A SURGICAL ACCESS DEVICE WITH MODULAR SEAL COMPONENTS - Methods and devices are provided for providing access through tissue to a surgical site. In one embodiment, a surgical access device can include a hollow tubular member and a modular seal member. The modular seal member can be configured to radially span a lumen of the tubular member and can be removably and replaceably matable to a portion of the tubular member. The access device can also include a plurality of access ports, each of which can be configured to mate with the modular seal member at a respective desired location. | 12-09-2010 |
20110087159 | Trocar Assembly - A trocar assembly including a sleeve assembly having a cannula connected to a housing and an obturator assembly including a handle connected to an obturator, wherein the obturator assembly is receivable in the sleeve assembly to define a gripping portion that includes the housing and the handle, the gripping portion having an axial length and a maximum width, and wherein a ratio of the axial length to the maximum width ranges from about 2.5 to about 3.5. | 04-14-2011 |