Seal assembly for accommodating introduction of surgical instruments

Abstract

A seal assembly is provided which includes a gimbal-like structure permitting rotation of a mounting member relative to the housing. The rotation of the mounting member allows the seal member to align with an instrument being inserted therethrough. The seal assembly is adapted to be detachably mounted to a cannula assembly for use in endoscopic surgery.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the InventionThis invention relates to seal systems which are adapted to allow the introduction of surgical instrumentation into a patient's body. In particular, the invention is applicable to a cannula assembly wherein a cannula housing includes or is adapted to receive a seal assembly to sealingly accommodate instruments of different diameters inserted through the seal assembly and cannula.2. Description of the Related ArtIn laparoscopic procedures surgery is performed in the interior of the abdomen through a small incision; in endoscopic procedures surgery is performed in any hollow viscus of the body through narrow tubes or cannula inserted through a small entrance incision in the skin. Laparoscopic and endoscopic procedures generally require that any instrumentation inserted into the body be sealed, i.e. provisions must be made to ensure that gases do not enter or exit the body through the incision as, for example, in surgical procedures i...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a seal assembly which will allow a surgeon to efficaciously utilize instruments of varying diameter in a surgical procedure. The seal assembly of the invention obviates the need for multiple adapters to accommodate instruments of varying diameter by providing an apertured resilient seal member which is mounted in a gimbal-like assembly, thereby facilitating alignment of the instrument with the aperture of the seal member.

In accordance with the present invention, a seal assembly is provided which includes a housing that defines a concave ring-like track on its inner face. The seal assembly further includes a mounting member to which a resilient seal member is mounted. The mounting member has a convexly oriented arcuate outer wall that is configured and dimensioned to ride within the ring-like track. An axial cylindrical guide wall is preferably associated with the mounting member to guide surgical instruments into alignment with the aperture of the seal member. A limiter ring is also preferably associated with the housing to limit the range of motion of the mounting member relative to the housing. In a preferred embodiment, the limiter ring limits the angular motion of the mounting member to between 20 to 25 degrees relative to the axis of the housing. Internal structure may also be provided within the housing to ensure a fluid tight seal distal to the resilient seal member, e.g., a flexible bellows member.

The resilient seal member of the invention is configured and dimensioned to provide a fluid-tight seal with instruments of varying diameter. In one embodiment, the resilient seal member is cone shaped and includes an aperture of approximately 4 mm diameter. The resilience of the material from which the seal member is fabricated, e.g., polyisoprene, allows the aperture to expand or stretch to accommodate instruments of greater diameter, e.g., up to 12 mm in diameter. Structure may also be provided adjacent the proximal side of the conical seal member, e.g., multi-lobed seal protector elements, to protect the resilient seal member from puncture or laceration as a surgical instrument aligns itself with the central aperture.

The movement of the mounting member relative to the housing which is accommodated by the gimbal-like structure of the present invention also facilitates seal maintenance once an instrument is being used within the body cavity. In particular, as an instrument is manipulated, the resilient seal member transversely repositions itself through movement of the mounting member relative to the housing, thereby ensuring that the resilient seal member maintains a fluid-tight seal around the instrument shaft.

Problems solved by technology

Moreover, laparoscopic and endoscopic procedures often require the surgeon to act on organs, tissues, and vessels far removed from the incision, thereby requiring that any instruments used in such procedures be relatively long and narrow.

Although attempts have been made to provide a seal assembly as part of or for use in conjunction with a cannula assembly which maintains the integrity of the seal between the body cavity and the atmosphere outside the patient's body, seal systems provided to date have failed to address the full range of surgeons' needs, especially when it is desired to utilize different instruments having different diameters therethrough.

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