TROCAR WITH RETRACTING TIP

Abstract: A trocar assembly (10) consisting of a trocar tube subassembly (64) and a separate interchangeable trocar body subassembly (14) is provided. The trocar body subassembly (14) includes an elongated obturator (38) having a sharp pointed tip (40) which is normally housed within an elongated tube (12) of the trocar tube subassembly. The obturator is extendable from a retracted position within the tube wherein the tip (40) is recessed from the tube end to an operative position forward of said tube end and outside the tube. By manually advancing the trocar assembly against a body wall, the resisting force locks the obturator in the operative position. Relaxation of the force incident to passing through the body wall causes the obturator to be automatically unlocked and retracted to its initial position with the tip positioned protectively within the tube, thereby protecting body tissues and organs from being damaged by the tip when it enters a body cavity beyond the wall.

Description: TROCAR WITH RETRACTING TIP 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to surgical instruments, and specifically to an improved trocar for providing communication with a body cavity. 2. Background of the Invention Trocars are surgical instruments that have a sharp pointed stylet for piercing a body wall to provide an opening for a cannula or tube which forms a part of the trocar and closely surrounds the stylet. After removal of the stylet from its obturating position within the trocar tube, various instruments may be inserted into the cavity through the tube. One such application is to insert an endoscopic instrument in order to perform endoscopic surgery within the cavity. A common problem with early trocars was tlie danger associated with an unprotected piercing tip of the stylet. Being very sharp, the point can cause injury to the surgeon if unprotected prior to use. During use, the stylet and trocar tube are forcibly thrust through a body wall until the tube is within the body cavity, so as to provide access thereto from the body exterior. After performing its function of piercing the body wall to admit the tube, the sharp point may cause damage to body tissue and organs within the cavity. In order to solve these and other problems, trocars were developed that have spring-loaded tubular shields that normally pr.otect and cover the stylet point until the moment that the trocar tube is thrust through the body wall tissue. One such prior art trocar is shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,601,710 to Moll. An improved version of this prior art device is shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,654,030 to Moll, et al. With these devices, the sur¬ rounding trocar tube is forced back against a biasing spring by the action of passing through the body wall tissue so as to expose the stylet point, which is nor- mally recessed just inside the open distal end of the tube. Once through the body wall, the tube returns to its normal position covering and protecting the point. A locking mechanism is also provided so that the tube may not be accidentally retracted. Summary and Objects of the Invention It is to an improved trocar that this invention is directed. The invention provides a trocar wherein the sharp pointed stylet is moved from a protected position within a trocar tube to an operative position in advance of the distal end of the tube just before the body wall tissue is pierced. After piercing the tissue and passing into the body cavity, a mechanism in the trocar assembly reacts to a decrease in pressure on the point, and the stylet is quickly and automatically withdrawn to its initial retracted position within the protective trocar tube. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is an exploded top quarter isometric view of the inventive trocar showing its two subassemblies; Fig. 2A is a top plan cross-sectional view of the inventive trocar in its initial protected position; Fig. 2B is a similar view showing the trocar advanced from its protective tube; Fig. 2C is a further view of the same showing the stylet locked into position just prior to piercing a body wall; Fig. 2D is a still further view of the same showing the stylet beginning to retract after passing through the body wall; Fig. 3 a top quarter isometric view of the interior of the top half of the trocar head or grip showing details thereof; Fig. 4A is an exploded top quarter isometric view of the trocar body subassembly; Fig. 4B is an exploded top quarter isometric view of the trocar tube subassembly; and Fig. 5 is a top plan cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment having structure for reducing drag on the stylet. Detailed Description As shown in Fig. 1, the trocar assembly 10 consists of two subassemblies: a trocar tube subassembly 12 and a trocar body subassembly 14. The two subassemblies are designed to be separable from each other. Trocar body subassembly 14 includes a head or grip 16 made up of top and bottom halves 18 and 20, respectively. These top and bottom halves may be made of plastic material such as ABS plastic. The head 16 is generally rectangular with a rounded rear wall 22 adapted to fit the palm of the hand of the surgeon. The front of the head has a rectangular slot 24 therein which is dimensioned to closely receive correspondingly shaped trocar tube body 26, as best seen in Figs. 2A-2D. Returning to Fig. 1, the slot 24 in head 16 defines a pair of spaced, parallel arms 28, 30 having a pair of opposing side walls, one of which is shown at 32. Pro¬ jecting between the arms centrally and disposed from front wall 34 is a stylet 36. Stylet 36 is comprised of an elongated obturator 38, which may conveniently be made of aluminum or other material. Stylet 36 has a sharp piercing tip or point 40 which may conveniently be made of aluminum or stainless steel material fixedly mounted on the distal end thereof. The piercing tip is formed by the intersection of three angled surfaces, two of which are shown at 42, 44. The obturator has a tapered surface which narrows from its distal end 46 to its proximal end 48, where it enters aperture 47 in frustoconical projection 49 on the front wall 34 in order to reduce friction and thereby facilitate its movement through body tissue. Trocar tube subassembly 12 has a body 50, which may be made of plastic material such as ABS plastic, which is dimensioned to closely fit within slot 24. In this position the side walls of the body 50, one of which is shown at 52, will closely contact the accommodating side walls of the head 16. At the same time, a rear wall 54 of the trocar tube body 50 will closely contact front wall 34 of head 16. When in this position, the rounded front walls 56, 58 of head 16 will be in register with a correspondingly shaped rounded front wall 60 of trocar tube- body 50. In this manner, the surgeon can conve¬ niently grip the head 16 by placing a finger on each front wall 56, 58, while holding the rounded rear wall 22 in the palm of the hand. In order to hold the two subassemblies 12, 14 together, projections (one of which is shown at 62) , are molded into the side walls of trocar tube subassembly 12. Projecting from the front wall 60 of the tube body 26 is an elongated trocar tube or cannula 64, which may be made of plastic material such as ABS plastic, having a distal end 66 which has a tapered frustoconical sur¬ face 68. As best seen in Fig. 4B, the principal ele- ments of the trocar tube subassembly 12 are: the body 26 r which is made up of generally symmetrical upper and lower halves 70,.72 which are held together by a plural¬ ity of pin projections 74 in lower half 72, which mate with corresponding bores (not shown) in top half 70; and the trocar tube 64 having a circumferential ring 76 formed thereon adjacent its proximal end which fits within annular groove 78 in mating semicircular projec¬ tions 80, 82. Another ring 84, which is spaced from ring 76 and formed on said trocar tube 64 intermediate ring 76 and the distal end 66 of tube 64, functions to seal off the semicircular openings 86, 88 in projections 80, 82, respectively. While pin projections have been shown, it is to be understood that other fastening means such as screws or adhesive could alternatively be used. Within chamber 90 formed by the body halves 70, 72 is a flap valve mechanism 92. The flap valve mechanism includes: a generally circular grommet-like seal 94 of deformable material such as rubber, having a groove 96 therearound for mounting in a pair of semicircular holes, one of which is shown at 98 in lower half 72 and having central opening 100 therethrough; a generally U- shaped valve 102 mounted along one edge thereof to a vertically oriented shaft 104, the shaft being pivotally mounted at its upper and lower ends 106, 108 in holes in the tube body, one of which is shown at 110; a circular pad 112, which may be made of a plastic material such as Tygon plastic, fixed to the valve 102 by means of an integral projection 114 which engages bore 116 through the center of valve 102; and a spring 118 which fits over shaft 104. The spring 118 biases valve 102 and thereby pad 112 to normally close off opening 100 when the stylet (not shown) is removed. The function of the flap valve mechanism is to act as a closure when the trocar tube subassembly is removed from the trocar body subassembly. Parenthetically, grommet-like seal 94 is adapted to seal with the frustoconical projection 49 on the front wall 34 of head .16 (see Fig. 1). Also a part of the flap valve mechanism is an actuating lever 120 which is mounted on the upper end 106 of the shaft exteriorly of the body 72. The exterior top surface 122 of the body has a fan-shaped recess 124 molded therein within which the lever 120 is free to move. The lever 120 allows the valve to be manually opened for admission of surgical instruments. Completing the tube assembly is a valve or stopcock 126 having a valve inlet 128 and a valve outlet 130. A tapered frustoconical portion 131 of the valve 130 is inserted into a bore 132 in top half 70. The valve is actuated by means of rotating a valve handle 134 so as to selectively open or close off communication between inlet 128 and outlet 130, thereby facilitating the admission of insulfating gas to the body cavity. Turning now to Fig. 4A, the top and bottom halves 18, 20 are exploded to show details of the interior mechanism of • trocar body subassembly 14. As may be seen, a cavity 136 is formed in the bottom half 20. As best seen in Fig. 3, a mating cavity 138 is formed in top half 18. Returning to Fig. 4A, the top and bottom halves are joined together by means of a plurality of metal pins 74 or other convenient fastening means. As may be seen, these pins are press fit into accommodating bores 140 in bottom half 20. As may be seen in Fig. 3, the opposite ends of these pins are adapted to be press fitted into a plurality of bores 142 in top half 18. Again returning to Fig. 4A, stylet 36 has a reduced diameter shank portion 144 which is dimensioned to be axially slidable in an aperture 47 in front wall 34 and projection 49. An elongated horizontally disposed slot 46 is formed in the proximal end of shank 144. This slot is adapted to receive lever arm 148. Lever arm 148 is pivotally connected at its distal end to shank 144 by means of a pivot pin 150 which passes through bore 152 in the distal end of lever arm 148 and is press fit into bore 154 which is drilled through shank 144. The proxi¬ mal end of lever arm 148 has a lateral projection 156 at a right angle to the direction of lever arm 148 and a bore 158 therethrough. An elongated actuator pin 160 is fixedly mounted within said bore intermediate its ends by welding or other convenient means. The upper end portion of actuator pin 160 extends into an arcuate slot 162 in top half 18 and has an actuating lever 164 mounted thereon. A projection 161 depending from the underside of actuating lever 164 travels in groove 162 and is adapted to contact and move pin 160 when the lever is rotated about pivot 163 within aperture 165 in top half 18. Lever 164 is retained within aperture 165 by means of a retainer screw 167 threadedly engaged within an axial bore in pivot 163. The slot 162 is cut to the rear so as to form an axially directed wall 166 for a purpose to be described herein¬ after. Material is cut away so as to form an indenta¬ tion 168 in top half 18. An upward projection 171 fa- cilitates manipulation of lever 164. Shaft 160 is of such a length as to permit a free end thereof to travel within slot 162. A spring 169 around and fixed at one end to pivot 163 and at the other end to a hole 173 in top half 18 biases lever 164 to the position shown in Fig. 1. In the fully retracted position, pin 160 is permitted to reach a position near bottom wall 192 within slot 162 (see Fig. 4A) . The lower portion of actuator pin 160 extends through and is freely pivotable within a bore 170 in lever arm 172. Lever arm 172 is in turn fixed at its opposite end to cylindrical member 174 intermediate its upper and lower ends 176, 178. A slot 180 extends through the length of member 174. This slot is in line with the direction of lever arm 172. A pivot pin 182 passes through slot 180. The lower end of pivot pin 182 is fixed within bore 184 in the bottom of cavity 136. The upper end is.adapted to be fixed within bore 186 in cavity 138 in upper half as seen in Fig. 3. Returning to Fig. 4A, a coil spring 188 has a body portion adapted to encompass member 174. One end 192 of coil spring 188 is adapted to bear against and bias actuator pin 160 against wall 166 and towards the bottom 192 of arcuate slot 162. The other end 194 of coil spring 188 has a curved end and contacts a cylindrical projection 196 that extends from the bottom of cavity 136. A pin 198 is press fit within a bore 200 within projection 196. This pin is adapted to fit within a bore 202 in a cor¬ responding cylindrical projection 203 in cavity 138 as seen in Fig. 3. As seen in this figure and in Fig. 4A, an L-shaped latch 204 is mounted within cavity 138 by means of a screw 206 which passes through a bore 208 at the juncture of the two arms 210, 212 of the latch. The latch 204 may conveniently be injection molded of plas¬ tic material. Turning to Fig. 5, there is shown an alternate embodiment of the invention which includes a mechanism for reducing frictional drag on the obturator 38 and thereby on the stylet 36. The drag reduction mechanism comprises a hollow tube 300 which may conveniently be of stainless steel material. The tube is fixedly mounted in an aperture 47 in frustoconical projection 49 on the front wall 34 of head 16 as by press fitting its proxi¬ mal end 302 therein. The tube is of a length from its proximal end 302 to its distal end 304 so as to hold flap valve mechanism 92 out of contact with the ob- turator 38 when the two subassemblies 12, 14 are fully engaged as shown. The inner diameter of tube- 300 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of obturator 38 so that no frictional drag is imparted to the obturator by the flap valve mechanism 92 when the obturator moves axially incident to operation of the trocar. Tube 300 will eliminate any frictional impedance that would tend to slow the action of spring 188 upon retraction of ob¬ turator 38. The operation of the trocar will now be discussed as follows. Prior to use, the trocar tube assembly 10 will be in the assembled form shown in Fig. 2A. In this form, trocar tube subassembly 12 will have its body 50 nestled within slot 24. Obturator 38 of stylet 36 will be positioned as shown within trocar tube 64. In this initial position or state, tip 40 is recessed within the tube and spaced from the distal end 66. In this manner, the tip is prevented from causing injury during trans¬ port. In order to place the trocar in operational con¬ dition or form, actuator pin 160 is manually advanced in the arrow direction by moving lever 164 by projection 171 so that projection 161 moves pin 160 as shown in Fig. 4A until it reaches the end of its travel in slot 162. Near the end of its travel, pin 160 will contact rearward-facing transverse edge 214 of latch 204, which projects into slot 162 (see Fig. 3) . Continued movement of pin 160 will move the latch to the left or distal direction as shown in Fig. 2A until it passes axial edge 216. At this moment, the biasing force of latch 204 will return it to its initial position and pin 160 will be held against axial edge 216, as best seen in Fig. 2B. It will be held in this cocked position by the biasing force of coil spring 188 applied through spring end 192. In this cocked position, the tip 40 projects a distance D 1 from distal end 66 of tube 64. Arm 148 and lever arm 172 will be axially aligned with stylet 36. As shown in this figure, the trocar is manually advanced against the body tissue shown in dotted lines defining the wall of a body cavity. The trocar is inserted through the tissue defining the wall of the body cavity. In practice, this insertion is made through a small incision in the skin that is created for this purpose. The trocar is gripped firmly in the hand with the rounded rear wall 22 of the head 16 against the palm and the index and middle fingers extending around the front walls 56, 58 of the trocar body subassembly 14 on either side of tube 64. The reactant force of the tissue will cause a slight "float distance" movement of the stylet 36, arm 148 and lever arm 172 in the proximal direction until the position seen in Fig. 2C is achieved. In this position, the distance between the tip and the open end 66 falls to a distance D 2 of about zero. This small amount of excess movement called the "float distance" is made possible by slot 180 in cylindrical member 174. Parenthetically, the "float distance" may be in the range of .050 to .1875 inches, with .125 inches as an optimum. The movement of pivot pin 182 in slot 180 is designed to be greater than the movement required to release latch 204. The slight additional movement of pin 182 within slot 180 allows for slight changes in surgeon advancement rate or variations in tissue density or resistance to not trigger latch 204 and retract the point 40 prior to penetrating the body cavity. This movement of pin 182 in slot 180 of cylindrical member 174 will now be described in further detail. In this position, pivot pin 182 is located at the distal end of slot 180 and end 194 of coil spring 188 is rotated so as to produce a biasing force in the distal direction. At the same time, actuator pin 160 moves in the proximal direction until it is free of contacting axial edge 216. The lateral biasing force of end 192 of coil spring 188 causes actuator pin 160 to move lateral¬ ly until it seats against wall 166 and the apex 218 of slot 162. In this position, the final force generated by tip 40 passing through the tissue is resisted by a positive stop formed in top half 18 in the area of contact between pin 169 and apex 218 where wall 166 intersects slot .162. The balance of the force thus generated will be transmitted to bottom half 20 by means of actuator pin 160 contacting apex 220 formed in a raised portion 222 within cavity 136, as best seen in Fig. 4A. After the tip passes through the tissue and enters the body cavity, the force on the tip will decrease and in fact cease. As soon as this resistant force is less than a threshold value supplied by the biasing force of end 194 of coil spring 188, actuator pin 160 will move in a distal direction under the influence of such biasing force. As seen in Fig. 2D, actuator pin 160 will move distally against edge 214, compressing and moving latch 204 in a distal direction, since the force generated by end 194 of coil spring 188 is greater than that generated by latch 204. As soon as actuator spring 160 moves distally enough to clear contact with wall 166, it will enter slot 162 and move in the arrow direc¬ tion under the biasing influence of end 192 and spring 188. Actuator pin 160 will move along the arcuate path defined by slot 162 until it is stopped by projection 161 (see Fig. 4A) , against which it bears, reaching the slot bottom 192. It will thus have automatically returned to the position shown in Fig. 2A with the tip 40 fully retracted into tube 64. Of course, unlike the Fig. 2A situation, tube 64 will be within the body cavity. In this manner, viscera and other internal tissues are protected from contact with the piercing tip and potential damage that it might cause. At the same time, the surgeon has a visual indication, by the lever 164 (see Fig. 1) being fully retracted, that the tip has completely retracted. While holding trocar tube subassembly 12 in place, the trocar body subassembly 10 is manually removed in a proximal direction as seen in Fig. l. In this position, the flap valve mechanism (not shown) will close as visu- ally indicated by the position of actuating lever 120 being in a transverse position. In this operation, once the tip 40 of stylet 36 clears the opening 100 in grommet-like seal 94, spring 118 will bias flapper pad 112 into contact with the grommet-like seal, as best seen in Fig. 4B. In this manner, opening 100 will be closed and sealed. Gas pressure in the body cavity is thus maintained. In this regard, the stopcock 126 will normally be closed during trocar insertion to maintain the gas pressure within the body cavity. If necessary, the stopcock may be used as a conduit for admitting an additional insufflating gas into the cavity. After the trocar body subassembly 14 has " been separated from the trocar tube subassembly 12 , surgical instruments may be inserted into the body cavity by way of the trocar tube subassembly to view internal tissues, perform operations, and/or drain body fluids. Actuating lever 120 can be used to manually open valve 102 to facilitate such procedures and also permit removal of specimens, as well as to deflate the body cavity. It is to be understood that while the invention has been described above in conjunction with the preferred specific embodiments, the description and examples are intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A trocar assembly comprising: (a) an elongated trocar obturator having a piercing tip at its distal end; (b) a trocar body, said trocar obturator having its proximal end reciprocably mounted in said body; (c) an elongated trocar tube mounted on a trocar tube body, said trocar tube body being engageable with said trocar body wherein said obturator is located within said trocar tube, said trocar tube having an open distal end, and a proximal end fixed to said tube body; and (d) means for extending and retracting said obtur¬ ator relative to said tube from a first position where said tip is recessed from said distal tube end to a second operative position extended from said distal tube end and thence automatically back to said first posi¬ tion, the latter in response to a distal movement of said tip a predetermined distance incident to a change in force against said tip after the tip passes through a cavity wall. 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said change is a decrease in force and wherein said predetermined distance is in the range of about .050 to .1875 inches. 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means for extending and retracting comprises biasing means biasing said obturator toward said first position. 4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said means for extending and retracting comprises manually operable means operatively connected to said obturator. 5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means for extending and retracting further includes means for holding said obturator in said second position until said tip moves in a distal direction a predetermined distance incident to the change in force on the tip after it has passed through a cavity wall. 6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said means for extending and retracting include lever means opera- tively connected to said obturator, which lever means are articulable to advance said obturator from said first position to said second position. 7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said trocar body defines a cavity therein and wherein said lever means are located within said cavity. 8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said trocar tube body defines a cavity therein and further including valve means therein for selectively closing off said proximal end of said tube. 9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said valve means comprises a generally circular seal having an aperture therethrough adapted for passage of surgical instruments. 10. The invention of claim 9 wherein said valve means further comprises a valve and means pivotally mounting said valve so that it may selectively close off said aperture. 11. The invention of claim 10 wherein said means pivotally mounting said valve is an elongated shaft, said valve being mounted to said shaft along one edge thereof, and further including means pivotally mounting said shaft in said tube body. 12. The invention of claim 11 wherein said valve means further comprises spring means biasing said valve to the closed position obturating said aperture. 13. The invention of claim 11 wherein said valve means further comprises a lever fixed to said shaft so that the valve may be manually pivoted so as to open said aperture. 14. The invention of claim 9 wherein said obtura¬ tor is generally cylindrical defining a first diameter and having a reduced diameter shank portion at its proximal end, said aperture being circular and having a diameter less than that of said first diameter and greater than that of said reduced diameter so that there is no frictional drag on said obturator from said seal when said obturator is in the second position. 15. The invention of claim 9 further including means for holding said valve away from said obturator when said trocar body and tube body are engaged so as to prevent frictional drag on said obturator from said valve. 16. The invention of claim 15 wherein said means for holding said valve away from said obturator compris¬ es a tubular member on said trocar body located so as to surround and be intermediate said valve and said obtura- tor. 17. The invention of claim 8 wherein said trocar body includes a slot in a forward wall thereof and wherein said tube body is dimensioned to closely fit within said slot in said forward wall. 18. The invention of claim 9 including means to reduce friction caused by said valve contacting said obturator, said friction reducing means comprising a proximal shank portion of said obturator, being of a reduced diameter compared with the diameter of the obturator in advance of said shank portion. 19. The invention of claim 8 further including a valve in said tube body for selectively intercommunicat¬ ing said cavity in said tube body with the exterior of said tube body whereby insulfating gas may be admitted to and contained within said tube body and body cavity. 20. A trocar assembly comprising: (a) an elongated trocar obturator having a piercing tip at its distal end; (b) an elongated trocar tube in which the obtura- tor is housed, said tube defining a distal open end; (c) extension means for extending said obturator relative to said tube from a first position where said tip is recessed from said tube end within said tube to a second operative position forward of said tube end outside said tube; and (d) retraction means for retracting said obturator from said second position to said first position in response to movement of said obturator in the proximal direction a predetermined distance caused by a decrease of force against said tip below a threshold level of force, so that when the tip passes through a body wall against which it is advanced in order to create an accommodating hole for admission of said trocar tube, tissue and organs in the body are protected from being damaged by said tip. 21. A trocar assembly comprising: (a) an elongated trocar obturator having a piercing tip at its distal end; (b) a trocar body, said trocar obturator having its proximal end reciprocably mounted in said body; (c) an elongated trocar tube mounted on a trocar tube body, said trocar tube body being engageable with said trocar body wherein said obturator is located within said trocar tube, said trocar tube having an open distal.end, and a proximal end fixed to said tube body; and (d) means for extending and retracting said obtur¬ ator relative to said tube from a first position where said tip is recessed from said distal tube end to a second operative position extended from said distal tube end and thence automatically back to said first posi¬ tion, the latter in response to a distal movement of said tip a predetermined distance relative to said tube body after the tip passes through a cavity wall. 22. The invention of claim 21 wherein said predetermined distance is in the range of about .050 to .1875 inches. 23. The invention of claim 21 wherein said predetermined distance is about .125 inches. 24. The invention of claim l wherein said means for extending and retracting comprises lever means in said trocar body operatively connected to said obtura¬ tor, and a first spring biasing means for urging said lever means to move said obturator in a proximal direction. 25. The invention of claim 24 wherein said lever means comprises a pair of lever arms pivotally connected to each other by means of an actuator pin, means pivotally connecting a distal end of one of said lever arms to said obturator, the proximal end of the other of said lever arms having a member fixed thereto including a slot therein, and a pivot pin defining a pair of ends within said slot, said ends of said pivot pin being fixed to said trocar body. 26. The invention of claim 25 further including a second spring biasing means for urging said member and thereby said obturator through said lever arms in a distal direction, the force generated by said second spring biasing means being less than the force generated by passage of said tip through a body wall. 27. The invention of claim 26 wherein said means for extending and retracting further comprises an arcuate slot in said trocar body, said actuator pin being of a length to travel within said arcuate slot whereby said obturator is retracted by said first spring biasing means. 28. The invention of claim 27 wherein said means for extending and retracting further comprises an axially-directed slot in said trocar body communicating with said arcuate slot, and further including latch means having a force less than that of said second spring biasing means, and manually actuable means for moving said actuator pin in said arcuate slot against the biasing force of said first spring biasing means so as to deflect said latch means until said actuator pin reaches said axially-directed slot wherein said latch means restrains said actuator pin from moving back along said arcuate slot until the proximal force generated by moving said tip through a body wall causes said actuator pin to enter said actually-directed slot whereby said second spring biasing means having a force greater than that of said latch means ' moves said latch means in a distal direction whereby said actuator pin again enters said arcuate slot and is moved therein by the first spring biasing means thereby retracting said obturator. 29. The invention of claim 28 wherein said axially-directed slot includes an apex at its proximal end and a laterally-directed side wall, wherein said first spring biasing means causes said actuator pin to be biased against said side wall. 30. The invention of claim 25 wherein said member is generally cylindrical in shape and wherein said second spring biasing means is a coil spring around said member.

Inventors: COSTA PETER F, HOLMES WILLIAM A, MOLL FREDERIC H, COSTA, PETER, F., HOLMES, WILLIAM, A., MOLL, FREDERIC, H.
Applicants: ORIGIN MEDSYSTEMS INC, ORIGIN MEDSYSTEMS, INC.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: A61M5
IPC codes: A61B17, A61B19