Patent ID: 6656160
Filing Date: 2003-12-02
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An insufflation apparatus adapted to insufflate a body conduit or cavity in a surgical procedure, including:a needle having an axis and a first cylindrical wall defining a first lumen extending along the axis of the needle, the first cylindrical wall defining an internal radius r2; an obturator disposed coaxially of the needle within the first lumen of the needle, the obturator having a second cylindrical wall defining a second lumen between a proximal end and a distal end of the obturator; portions of the second cylindrical wall defining: a first void extending from the proximal end of the obturator to a particular location short of the distal end of the obturator, and a second void diametrically opposed to the first void and extending only along a distal section of the obturator, the second cylindrical wall defining an external radius r3 and an internal radius r1, the portions of the second cylindrical wall comprising a fractional portion &bgr; of a radial circumference of the second cylindrical wall; and the needle and the obturator defining an insufflation channel along the second lumen and the first and second voids of the obturator, to facilitate gas flow distally in order to inflate and enlarge the body conduit or cavity, the insufflation channel defining a cross section area AS that is about: As=Î [r22âˆ’&bgr;(r32âˆ’r12)], wherein &bgr; is between Â½ and &frac23;.