Abstract:
A surgical portal apparatus is provided. The surgical portal apparatus includes a portal member defining a longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal opening therethrough for receiving a surgical object, a seal member positioned along the longitudinal opening for receiving a surgical object in a sealing manner, and a centering mechanism maintained within the portal member, wherein the centering mechanism including a pair of rollers arranged in general diametrical opposed relation, the rollers movable relative to the longitudinal axis from a radial inward position to a radial outward position to permit passage of the surgical object, the rollers being biased toward the radial inward direction to correspondingly bias the surgical object in general alignment with the longitudinal axis.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/077,300 filed on Jul. 1, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates generally to a surgical portal apparatus for accessing the body, and more particularly, relates to a surgical portal apparatus having a centering mechanism for maintaining endoscopic instruments aligned within one or more seals. 
         [0004]    2. Background of Related Art 
         [0005]    Trocar assemblies and other surgical portal apparatuses are used by surgeons to operate on a patient without having to create large incisions that may become infected and may cause major scarring. Portal apparatuses are known in the art, as are the instruments inserted therethrough for operating within the body cavity. Typically a surgical portal apparatus includes a housing and a cannula. Either or both of the housing and the cannula may include one or more seals for preventing the leakage of insufflation gas through the surgical portal apparatus as an instrument is inserted therethrough and/or in the absence of an instrument. Proper operation of many of these seals may be improved when the instrument being inserted through the surgical portal apparatus are maintained in the center of the seal. Thus, in addition to manipulating the instrument inserted through the surgical portal apparatus to performing a procedure, it may be desirable to maintain the instrument centered within the seal. 
         [0006]    Therefore, it would be beneficial to have a surgical portal apparatus that includes a centering mechanism for maintaining an instrument aligned within a seal. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    A surgical portal apparatus is provided. The surgical portal apparatus includes a portal member defining a longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal opening therethrough for receiving a surgical object, a seal member positioned along the longitudinal opening for receiving a surgical object in a sealing manner, and a centering mechanism maintained within the portal member, wherein the centering mechanism including a pair of rollers arranged in general diametrical opposed relation, the rollers movable relative to the longitudinal axis from a radial inward position to a radial outward position to permit passage of the surgical object, the rollers being biased toward the radial inward direction to correspondingly bias the surgical object in general alignment with the longitudinal axis. 
         [0008]    The rollers may each include a groove for at least partial reception of the surgical object. Each of the pair of rollers may include an outer tube and an axle. The outer tube may be rotatably received on the axle. The centering mechanism may further include a pair of support members for slidably receiving each of the pair of rollers. The centering mechanism may also include two pairs of springs for biasing the pair of rollers towards one another. 
         [0009]    The surgical portal apparatus may further include a second support mechanism. The seal member of the surgical portal apparatus may include at least one of a septum seal, a gel seal, a slit seal valve, an expandable bladder and a zero-closure seal. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended figures. For the purpose of illustrating the present disclosure, various embodiments are shown. It is understood, however, that the present disclosure is not limited to the precise arrangement and instrumentalities shown. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a side cross-section view of a surgical portal apparatus according an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged top cross-section view of the surgical portal apparatus of  FIG. 1 , taken along line  2 - 2 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a side cross-sectional view illustrating the centering mechanism of the surgical portal apparatus of  FIG. 2 , taken along line  3 - 3 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a side cross-sectional view of the surgical portal apparatus of  FIGS. 1-3  illustrating endoscopic instruments of various sizes inserted therethrough; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged top cross-sectional view of the surgical portal apparatus of  FIG. 4 , taken along line  5 - 5 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a side cross-sectional view illustrating the centering mechanism of the surgical portal apparatus of  FIG. 5 , taken along line  6 - 6 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a side cross-sectional view of a surgical portal apparatus according to an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure; and, 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a side cross-section view of the surgical portal apparatus of  FIG. 7 , including an instrument inserted therethrough. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals illustrate similar components throughout the several views, there is illustrated the surgical portal apparatus  100  in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. As shown in the drawings and as described throughout the following description, as is traditional when referring to relative positioning on an object, the term “proximal” refers to the end of the apparatus which is closer to the user and the term “distal” refers to the end of the apparatus which is further from the user. 
         [0020]    Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , surgical portal apparatus  100  is shown in the form of a cannula assembly. Surgical portal apparatus  100  includes a housing or portal member  102  and a cannula sleeve  104  extending distally from housing  102  and defines a longitudinal axis “k”. Surgical portal apparatus  100  may be configured for use with any known endoscopic or laparoscopic instrument. Cannula sleeve  104  is configured to be inserted through the skin into a body cavity with the aid of an obturator (not shown). Cannula sleeve  104  may instead include a blade or piercing tip for penetrating through the skin and into a body cavity. Cannula sleeve  104  may be integral formed with housing  102 . Alternatively, cannula sleeve  104  may be configured for selectable engagement with housing  102 . 
         [0021]    Cannula sleeve  104  forms a substantially tubular member having proximal and distal ends  104   a,    104   b.  Cannula sleeve  104  may be composed of plastic, metal, polymers or the like. Cannula  104  may be disposable, or in the alternative, reusable. Cannula sleeve  104  may be solid, or alternatively, cannula sleeve  104  may be flexible. Distal end  104   b  of cannula sleeve  104  may be open. Distal end  104   b  may instead be configured to include one or more seal members (not shown). Cannula sleeve  104  may be of any configuration and of any length or diameter. Thus, it is appreciated that the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited by the configuration of cannula sleeve  104  and may be configured for use with any conceivable cannula assembly configuration. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3-5 , housing  102  of surgical portal apparatus  100  defines a passageway  101  therethrough configured for receiving endoscopic instruments of various diameters. Housing  102  includes a seal member  110  and a centering mechanism  120 . 
         [0023]    Seal member  110  extends about an inner surface of housing  102 , preferably about a proximal end  102   a  of housing  102 . However, it is envisioned that first seal member  110  may be disposed anywhere along the length of passageway  101 . Seal member  110  may comprise any known seal configurations, including a septum seal, gel seal, slit seal valve, expandable bladder, zero-closure seal or the like. Seal member  110  may include one or more seal surfaces  112 . Seal member  110  is configured for sealably receiving an endoscopic instruments “I 1 ”, “I 2 ” having various diameters. Seal surface  112  may be formed of rubber, plastic, polymer or the like. An instrument contacting end  112   a  of seal surface  112  may be tapered to facilitated sealing about endoscopic instrument “I 1 ”, “I 2 ” ( FIG. 4 ). 
         [0024]    Still referring to  FIGS. 3-5 , centering mechanism  120  includes first and second rollers  122 ,  124  mounted to first and second support members  126 ,  128 . Each of first and second rollers  122 ,  124  includes an outer tube  122   a,    124   a  and an axle  122   b,    124   b,  respectively. Outer tubes  122   a,    124   a  are configured to rotate freely on axles  122   b,    124   b,  respectively, about axes of rotation “k”. In an alternative embodiment, outer tubes  122   a,    124   a  may be secured to or integrally formed with axles  122   b,    124   b.  Outer tubes  122   a,    124   a  may be constructed of plastic, polymer or other like material. Outer tubes  122   a,    124   a  include instrument engaging grooves  123 ,  125 , respectively. Grooves  123 ,  125  may be configured, as shown, in a wedge formation, or may otherwise be formed to engage various instruments. Grooves  123 ,  125  may be coated with rubber or other suitable material (not shown) to protect instruments from damage as they are inserted through housing  102 . Axles  122   b,    124   b  each slidable engage support mounts  126 ,  128 . Support mounts  126 ,  128  extend across housing  102  and permit lateral movement of rollers  122 ,  124 . Support mounts  126 ,  128  may serve as track mounts defining longitudinal rails or grooves for receiving axles  122   b,    124   b.  Axels  122   b,    124   b  of rollers  122 ,  124  are engaged by a first and second pair of springs  127 ,  129 , respectively. Springs  127 ,  129  bias rollers  122 ,  124 , respectively, towards one another and radially inwardly relative to longitudinal axis “k” of portal apparatus  100 . It is envisioned that springs  127 ,  129  may be replaced by hydraulic pistons, pneumatic cylinder or other suitable mechanism or material. Springs  127 ,  129  may be received within longitudinal rails defined by support mounts  126 ,  128 . 
         [0025]    With reference now to  FIGS. 1-7 , surgical portal apparatus  100  will be described as relates to the operation of seal members  110  and centering mechanism  120 . Referring initially to  FIGS. 1-3 , in a first or initial condition, rollers  122 ,  124  of centering mechanism  120  are biased radially inwardly towards one another within housing  102 . Grooves  123 ,  125  formed in rollers  122 ,  124 , respectively, may form an opening which permits the passage of an endoscopic instrument having a small diameter, without engaging centering mechanism  120 . As discussed above, seal member  110  may be positioned anywhere along passage  101 , including in proximal or distal ends  102   a,    102   b  of housing  102  and along cannula  104 . Surgical portal apparatus  100  may be inserted into the body cavity of a patient (not shown) in any conventional manner. 
         [0026]    Turning now to  FIGS. 4-7 , once received within the body cavity (not shown), surgical portal apparatus  100  may receive in a sealing manner, instruments “I 1 ”, “I 2 ” of differing diameter. As shown, instruments “I 1 ”, “I 2 ” are initially received through seal member  110  formed in proximal end  102   a  of housing  102 . Engagement of the distal end of instrument “I 1 ”, “I 2 ” within grooves  123 ,  125  of outer tube  122   a,    124   a,  respectively, causes outer tubes  122   a,    124   a  to rotate about axles  122   b,    124   b  as first and second rollers  122 ,  124  are moved away from one another in order to accommodate the passage of instrument “I 1 ”, “I 2 ” therethrough. Springs  127 ,  128  bias respective rollers  122 ,  124  inward towards instrument “I 1 ”, “I 2 ” thereby maintaining instruments “I 1 ”, “I 2 ” within grooves  123 ,  125 . In this manner, centering mechanism  120  is configured to maintain instruments “I 1 ”, “I 2 ” of differing diameters centered within housing  102 , and thereby centered within seal member  110 . Removal of instrument “I 1 ”, “I 2 ” from between rollers  122 ,  124  results in rollers  122 ,  124  returning to an initial position ( FIGS. 1-3 ). 
         [0027]    With reference now to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a surgical portal apparatus according to an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure is shown generally as surgical portal apparatus  200 . Surgical portal apparatus  200  is substantially similar to surgical portal apparatus  100 , and will only be described as relates to the differences therebetween. Surgical portal apparatus  200  includes first and second centering mechanism  220 ,  230 . Each of first and second centering mechanisms  220 ,  230  are substantially similar to centering mechanism  120  described hereinabove. First and second centering mechanism  220 ,  230  may be configured to operate together to more securely maintain an endoscopic instrument “I 1 ” therethrough, e.g. in a general alignment with the longitudinal axis of surgical portal apparatus  100 . 
         [0028]    It will be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiments disclosed herein. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims append hereto.