Patent ID: 7785294
Filing Date: 2010-08-31
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A seal assembly for use in conjunction with a trocar assembly, the seal assembly comprising: a seal body adapted for sealing about an instrument inserted through the trocar assembly; a protector adjacent the seal body for protecting the seal body from instruments passing through the seal body, the protector comprising a plurality of flexible, elastomeric protector segments woven together in a non-planar arrangement, wherein each protector segment includes an integrally formed peripheral edge, which is substantially round and is secured directly to a housing of the trocar assembly, a flexible, elastomeric protector member, and a support wall connecting the peripheral edge to the protector member, each protector segment further includes a first section and a second section on opposite sides of the protector segment, wherein the protector segments are assembled in an overlapping woven arrangement to provide a complete protector with the first section lying over the second section of an adjacent protector segment; and wherein the peripheral edge, when viewed from above, defines an arc extending between a first lateral edge of the peripheral edge and a second lateral edge of the peripheral edge, the support wall, when viewed from above, defines an arc extending between a first lateral edge of the support wall and a second lateral edge of the support wall, and wherein the protector member, when viewed from above, defines an arc extending between a first lateral edge of the protector member and a second lateral edge of the protector member, and wherein the arc defined by the protector member is larger than the arc defined by either the peripheral edge or the support wall.