Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/AU2003271400B2/en
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 21:48:38
Document Index: 729607890

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 5', 'art 6', 'arts 6', 'art 6', 'arts 5', 'arts 5', 'APPLICATION NO. 2003271400']

AU2003271400B2 - Safety trocar with progressive cutting tip guards and gas jet tissue deflector - Google Patents
AU2003271400B2
AU2003271400B2 AU2003271400A AU2003271400A AU2003271400B2 AU 2003271400 B2 AU2003271400 B2 AU 2003271400B2 AU 2003271400 A AU2003271400 A AU 2003271400A AU 2003271400 A AU2003271400 A AU 2003271400A AU 2003271400 B2 AU2003271400 B2 AU 2003271400B2
AU2003271400A
AU2003271400A1 (en
AU2003271400B8 (en
1999-06-22 Priority to US60/140409 priority
2000-06-22 Priority to AU57556/00A priority patent/AU765904B2/en
2003-12-30 Application filed by Ernesto E Blanco filed Critical Ernesto E Blanco
2004-01-29 Publication of AU2003271400A1 publication Critical patent/AU2003271400A1/en
2005-11-03 Publication of AU2003271400B2 publication Critical patent/AU2003271400B2/en
2006-08-03 Publication of AU2003271400B8 publication Critical patent/AU2003271400B8/en
Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): ERNESTO E BLANCO Invention Title: SAFETY TROCAR WITH PROGRESSIVE CUTTING TIP GUARDS AND GAS JET TISSUE DEFLECTOR The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: WO 00/78387 PCT/US00/17091 Safety Trocar with Progressive Cutting Tip Guards and Gas Jet Tissue Deflector BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention: The current invention relates to a surgical device and, more specifically, to a surgical device containing one or more design features that allow to the device to be used safely.
Discussion of the Background: Most existing trocars used for endoscopic surgical procedures are incapable of truly effective prevention of injuries to internal organs during insertion and manipulation of the trocar. Despite intensive efforts to improve present trocar designs, the results are still dismal.
Present procedures frequently injure internal organs, and the resulting wounds are sometimes serious or even fatal. The need for safer trocars is thus imperative, especially given that endpscopic surgical procedures are likely to become more.widespread in.the future.
Since in most cases delicate organs are very close to the inside of the skin layer being pierced, it is advisable to perform the penetration after internal cavities have been filled with carbon dioxide to minimize the danger of accidental injury due to contact with the sharp.
piercing tip or the cutting edges of the instrument. In most cases, however, the force required for penetration and the elastic nature of the muscular layer cause a severe depression at the 2 surgical portal, therefore bringing the penetrating tip of Sthe instrument closer to the internal organs. In some of O those cases, the sudden penetration of the cavity wall and IDthe rapid drop in resistance allow the instrument to be propelled far deeper than desired or is possible to control. Furthermore, friction between the tissue walls and any protective device retards the deployment of the protective device, and an injury almost inevitably occurs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 0 It is therefore desired that this invention, in general, improve surgical safety.
The invention provides a surgical device, comprising: a handle configured to be gripped; a penetrator having a main axis and being attached to said handle; a substantially planar cutting blade located at a distal end of said penetrator; a substantially planar guard movable with respect to said cutting blade and configured to selectively expose said cutting blade; and wherein said guard has an apex such that an angle subscribed in the apex of the guard is smaller than an angle subscribed by said blade for progressively covering said blade during deployment of the penetrator.
The invention still further provides a surgical device, comprising: a handle configured to be gripped; a penetrator having a main axis and being attached to said handle; a substantially planar cutting blade located at a distal end of said penetrator; and an insufflation passageway for discharging a pressurized fluid while said cutting blade is inside a body tissue and for transporting said pressurized fluid H:\Pcabral\Keep\speci\2003271400.doc 06/10/05 3 O across said body tissue when said cutting blade Ssubstantially penetrates said body tissue; O an external reservoir for supplying said IDinsufflation passageway with said pressurized fluid; a check valve positioned between said insufflation passageway and an exterior of the device, said check valve being configured to prevent leakage from _said insufflation passageway, wherein said check valve Scomprises a flap valve openable by said penetrator upon insertion of said penetrator into said handle; and a substantially planar guard moveable with respect to said cutting blade wherein said guard has an apex such that an angle subscribed in the apex of the guard is smaller than an angle subscribed by said blade for progressively covering said blade during deployment of the penetrator.
The invention still further provides a surgical device, comprising: a handle configured to be gripped; a penetrator having a main axis and being attached to said handle; a substantially planar cutting blade located at a distal end of said penetrator; a substantially planar guard movable with respect to said cutting blade and configured to expose said cutting blade while said cutting tip is beginning to cut a tissue layer and while said at least one cutting blade is in said tissue layer, and for progressively covering the end of said at least one cutting blade immediately after a most distal point of said cutting blade has substantially passed through said tissue layer; and wherein said cutting blade comprises a single blade having at least one blade edge, said single blade being configured to intersect a distal portion of said H:\Pcabral\Keep\speci\2003271400.doc 06/10/05 3a O penetrator and to intersect substantially along said main Saxis; O wherein said guard comprises a safety guard IDsubstantially parallel to said single blade and wherein said safety guard has an edge configured to intersect a plane containing said main axis at a safety guard edge angle smaller than a blade edge angle defined by the intersection of said blade edge with said plane.
M 10 The invention still further provides a surgical device, comprising: a handle configured to be gripped; a penetrator having a main axis and attached to said handle; at least one cutting blade located at a distal end of said penetrator; a tissue expander configured to expand a tissue cut by said at least one cutting blade for insertion of said penetrator; and a single, substantially planar guard movable with respect to said tissue expander and being configured to selectively expose said at least one cutting blade wherein said guard has an apex such that an angle subscribed in the apex of the guard is smaller than an angle subscribed by said at least one cutting blade for progressively covering said at least one cutting blade during deployment of the penetrator.
The invention still further provides a surgical device, comprising: a handle configured to be gripped; a penetrator having a main axis and attached to said handle; a tissue expander positioned on said penetrator; a substantially planar cutting blade located at a distal end of said penetrator; H:\Pcabral\Keep\apeci\203271400.ioC 06/10/05 3b O a substantially planar guard configured to slidably cover and uncover said at least one cutting O blade, said guard being movable with respect to said IDtissue expander and being configured to selectively expose said cutting blade; and a locking mechanism configured to hinder an accidental uncovering of said cutting blade by said guard wherein said guard has an apex such that an angle subscribed in the apex of the guard is smaller than an M 10 angle subscribed by said cutting blade for progressively Scovering said at least one cutting blade during deployment of the penetrator.
The invention still further provides a surgical device, comprising: a handle configured to be gripped; a penetrator having a main axis and attached to said handle; a substantially planar cutting blade located at a distal end of said penetrator; wherein said handle includes: a tissue expander configured to expand a tissue cut by said cutting blade; a substantially planar guard for slidably covering and uncovering said guard being moveable with respect to said tissue expander; at least one side horn configured to facilitate pushing, pulling, rotation, and tilting of said surgical device wherein said guard has an apex such that an angle subscribed in the apex of the guard is smaller than an angle subscribed by said blade for progressively covering said blade during deployment of the penetrator.
The invention still further provides a surgical device, comprising: means for gripping said surgical device; H:\Pcabral\Keep\speci\2003271400.doc 06/10/05 n- 3c C means mounted on said means for gripping said surgical device for passing an object of interest into a O hole in a tissue member; IDmeans for expanding the tissue member which is mounted on said means for passing an object into the hole in the tissue member; substantially planar cutting means mounted on said means for passing the object into the hole in the Stissue member for cutting the hole for insertion of said means for passing an object into the hole in the tissue Smember, said means for cutting the hole in the tissue member being movable with respect to said means for expanding the tissue member; and means for halting said means for cutting wherein said means for halting comprises means for guarding said means for cutting, said means for guarding said means for cutting being movable with respect to said means for expanding the tissue member wherein said means for guarding said means for cutting has an apex such that an angle subscribed in the apex of the means for guarding is smaller than an angle subscribed by said means for cutting for progressively covering said means for cutting during deployment of said means for expanding the tissue member.
The invention still further provides a surgical device, wherein the cutting blade comprises: a first blade edge attached to a distal end of said penetrator and oriented substantially parallel to a main axis of said penetrator and being configured to produce an opening in a body tissue for an insertion of a surgical cannula.
The invention still further provides a method of inserting a cannula through a tissue of an individual using a penetrator, a cutting blade and a guard, which comprises: shaping the guard so as to have an apex such that an angle subscribed in the apex of the guard is smaller H:\Pzabral\Keep\speci\2Q03271400.doc 06/10/05 S-3dthan an angle subscribed at the cutting blade for Sprogressively covering the cutting blade tip during O deployment of the penetrator; IDconnecting the cutting blade to a distal end portion of the penetrator for cutting the tissue; and movably positioning the guard within the penetrator for selectably covering and exposing the cutting blade and progressively covering the blade with Sthe guard during deployment of the penetrator.
The invention still further provides a method which comprises positioning a tissue expander at the distal end of the penetrator for expanding a portion of the tissue cut by the cutting blade.
The invention still further provides a method which comprises connecting the penetrator to a handle for manipulating the penetrator during cutting of the tissue.
The invention still further provides a method which comprises providing an insufflation passageway through the penetrator for discharging a pressurized fluid there through upon penetration of the tissue by the cutting blade.
The invention still further provides a method which comprises positioning a check valve between the insufflation passageway and an exterior of the penetrator for preventing leakage of the pressurized fluid from a penetrator.
The invention still further provides a surgical device, wherein said surgical device further comprises: an external reservoir for supplying said insufflation passageway with said pressurized fluid.
H:\Pcabral\Keep\speci\2003271400,doc 06/10/05 3e SThe invention still further provides a surgical device, Swherein said insufflation passageway is configured to be O pressurized during an insertion of said cutting tip into IDthe body tissue.
The invention still further provides a method of inserting a cannula through a tissue of an individual using a penetrator, a cutting blade and a guard, which comprises: shaping the guard so as to have an apex such that an angle subscribed in the apex of the guard is smaller Sthan an angle subscribed at the cutting blade for progressively covering the cutting blade tip during deployment of the penetrator; connecting the cutting blade to a distal end portion of the penetrator for cutting the tissue; and movably positioning the guard within the penetrator for selectably covering and exposing the cutting blade and progressively covering the blade with the guard during deployment of the penetrator.
The invention still further provides a surgical device, comprising: a penetrator having a main axis and being attachable to a handle for being gripped; a cutting blade located at a distal end of said penetrator and housing a cutting tip; and a guard positioned within said penetrator, said guard being movable with respect to said blade, said guard being configured for selectively exposing said cutting blade wherein said guard has an apex such that an angle subscribed at the apex of the guard is smaller than an angle subscribed by said blade tip for progressively covering said blade during deployment of the penetrator.
The invention still further provides a surgical device H:\Pcabral\Keep\speci\2003271400.doc 06/10/05 n- 3f o which comprises: Sa locking system for locking and unlocking the O guard in position so as to selectably expose said cutting blade during cutting of the tissue and to progressively cover the end of the cutting blade after a most distal point of the cutting blade has substantially passed through a layer of the tissue.
The advantageous characteristics of a surgical device of M 10 the preferred embodiment of the invention including, e.g., the following: a multiple system of sharp planar knife edges that practically eliminate lateral friction and provide a reduced resistance to penetration, thereby reducing the penetration "plunge effect" and tissue springback; For the purposes of this specification it will be clearly understood that the word "comprising" means "including but not limited to", and that the word "comprises" has a corresponding meaning.
H:\Pcabral\Keep\speci\2003271400.doc 06/10/05 a mechanical tissue protection device that includes a series of thinplastic guards sliding along the sides of the planar knives and, in a preferred embodiment, having an angle between their edges smaller than that of the cutting knife edges. It can then be shown that, with proper contouring of such plastic guard edges, it is possible to provide complete guarding between the cutting edges and the surrounding tissues from the very start of the penetration, and to do so in a truly progressive manner, without jerks or discontinuities. Theprogressive guarding action that results from the smaller angle between the sides of the guards than the angle between the edges of the cutting blades allows the guards to plunge into the tiny opening made by the cutting tip and instantly surround it, thereby preventing injury to internal organs during the most crucial instant of the trocar insertion. Therefore, guarding action takes place in a truly progressive manner in which, as the cutting blades continue expanding the tiny initial opening, the guards progressively advance keeping the cutting edges constantly covered outside the penetrating region and isolated from internal organs until the penetration is completed and the cannula fully inserted; one or more fixed conical deflectors to expand the cut tissue passage leaving the guards to contact tissue only at their tips, thus isolating the guards from friction against the tissue at the sides of the point of penetration. Therefore, as soon as even a minute opening is made at the tip by the cutting blades, the guards instantly plunge into the opening and prevent the blade tips from any contact with internal organs. Thus, using tissue expanders outside the guards prevents friction between the guards and. the tissue, which would retard the deployment action. The use of this tissue expander allows the safety device to function without restriction, thereby eliminating one of the major deficiencies of existing trocars. In other words, the dynamic response of the guards is inherently much faster than the rate of penetration of the blades. As a result, cutting edges are never dangerously exposed to, contact with internal organs, however fast the penetration rate may be; an insufflation passage configured to transport fluid into the body cavity during penetration. The insufflation passage can be pressurized either using an external reservoir or by compressing fluid contained in the passage during penetration. Once an initial penetration of the peritoneum has been made, fluid from the insufflation passage will drive the internal organs away from the cutting edge(s). In the case of an external carbon dioxide gas reservoir, a carbon dioxide gas valve is opened, thereby pressurizing the penetrator tubular body.
WO 00/78387 PCTfUSOO/17091 Under such pressurization, since the front is enclosed by tissue, the cutting tip penetrates the tissues while the gas is prevented from exhausting, but as soon as the most minute opening starts to appear at the tip, the gas. expands suddenly, into the opening and forcibly deflects delicate internal organs away from the tip of the cutting surface while simultaneously the guard tips are forced through the opening by their spring. The use of a pressurized fluid (or gas) tissue deflector thus creates an organ-free zone in front of the cutting blade tips at the instant of the incipient penetration, even before the guard tips plunge into the opening. It must -also be pointed out that a sudden gas expansion can also aid the deployment of the guards since the flow occurs between the cutting blades and the conical expanders, precisely where guards may be located. It could almost be said that the guards.are spit out by the fluid flow. This increases the velocity of their deployment and hence the overall safety of the surgical device; -a locking system for the guards, which is located at the proximal end of the instrument, prevents accidental reuse of the cutting features after the tip has been safely introduced for the first time. The locking system for the trocar guards includes a locking cylinder attached to a locking button supported by a leaf spring and inserted into a socket.
The cylinder has a conical tip and a circumferential groove at the bottom and-can be depressed by way of the button and engaged by the groove into a U shaped spring that will hold it down permitting it sliding motion until it comes out of the U shaped spring and is ready for locking again on its return to the initial- position. If a reset action is desired it is necessary to push hard- downward against the locking button and deliberately reset it for another cycle. Since the locking button is located deep within a recess at the proximal section of the handle, it demands some effort to reach and actuate, and thus it is difficult to accidentally reset.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A- more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages WO 00/78387 PCT/US00/I 7091 thereof will be readily obtained as the same become better understood.by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 shows a general view of an example trocar in isometric pictorial form; FIG. 2 illustrates a partial broken view of the penetrating end of the example trocar with guards removed to behind the tip knives to illustrate a shape of this embodiment more clearly; FIG. 3 shows the same end of the example trocar with the guards installed but retracted as when penetration of an example embodiment starts, and thus, the knife edges are exposed and ready to start cutting; FIG. 4 shows the tip of the guards protruding ahead of the cutting tip as when the tip had just started to pierce the abdominal cavity; FIG. 5 shows the tip of the example trocar with the guards fully extended and covering the knife edges as when completely inside of the abdominal cavity; FIG. 6 shows the example trocar tip at the moment it approaches the skin layer, and thus the guard tips are beginning to push against the skin and be retracted into the penetrator; FIG. 7 illustrates the point when, in an example embodiment, the guards are completely pushed into the retracted position and the knife tips start to cut into the tissue; FIG. 8 illustrates the point when, in an example embodiment, the knife tips have completed the passage across the tissue and begin to emerge across the endothelial layer into the abdominal cavity, and thus the tips of the guards begin to push into the incipient opening while a forceful jet of pressurized carbon dioxide gas pushes delicate internal tissues away from the immediate penetration region; FIG. 9 illustrates the point when, in an example embodiment, the tips of the guards have penetrated the opening and prevent any contact between the knife tips and the surrounding internal tissues while the exposed knife edges behind the opening continue the cutting action, and the pressurized carbon dioxide gas expansion continues to hold delicate tissues away from the cutting region; FIG. 10 illustrates, in an example embodiment, the continuing penetration, and thus the guards have penetrated almost completely, while behind them the still-exposed edges continue the cutting action and the passage of gas continues; WO 00/78387 PCTI/US00/1 7091 FIG. 1I illustrates the point in an example embodiment when the penetration has been completed. The knife edges are fully covered by the guards and the tissue opening allows for the passage of the cannula and the insufflation continues until completed and the penetrator assembly can be removed; FIG. 12 shows the top view of an example trocar handle with a portion broken away to show some internal details; FIG. 13 illustrates a longitudinal section along a vertical plane "A to exhibit most of the internal details of an example trocar handle; FIG. 14 illustrates a top view of the distal section of an example handle with the grasping horns to facilitate manipulation; FIG. 15 illustrates an end view of the distal section of an example handle as seen from the right showing also a partial broken section detail of the flap valve pivot and lever; FIG. 16 illustrates a partial isometric view of the example locking mechanism for the guards stem showing some of the elements within the proximal section of the handle as in Section on FIG. 13; FIG. 17 illustrates an exploded view of some of the example elements of the guards' stem locking mechanism in an example spatial relationship; FIG. 18 illustrates an example locking mechanism in a locked position; FIG. 19 illustrates an example locking mechanism having been unlocked and ready for the start of penetration; FIG. 20 illustrates how pushing the guards against the skin has forced their stem towards the right; FIG. 21 illustrates a position of the stem where the guards are completely retracted and the knife edges fully exposed for cutting; FIG. 22 illustrates a position of the locking mechanism after the full release of the guards into the abdominal cavity and the locking of their stem back to its initial position shown in FIG. 18.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, WO 00/78387 PCT/US00/1 7091 wherein a cannula 2 is firmly attached to a distal section of a handle which is formed from two segments, the distal one 6 externally containing gripping horns 6a, insufflation device I I, and flap valve lever 12, and a proximal handle section 5 in the shape of a hemispherical knob to facilitate its pushing with the palm of the hand. This section also contains a depression 9 with a flat bottom 9a, and external mechanisms including a button 7 inserted for sliding into a slot 8 to monitor and control the position of safety guards at the extreme distal end of cannula 2. The safety mechanisms protruding distally from cannula 2 include conical tissue expanders 4, and safety guards 3 intended to cover a set of knives (not visible in this FIG. 1).
FIGURE 2 shows details at the penetrating distal end of the trocar. A hollow outside cylinder 2 is the cannula which is firmly attached to the distal section of the handle 6 as was described in FIG. 1. Inside of the cannula 2, there is another hollow cylinder 13 which is the penetrator. This is the removable part which is attached to the proximal section of the handle and can be removed after the penetration is completed to allow for the introduction of surgical instruments. The cannula 2 has its distal end beveled as shown by 2a to facilitate its introduction across the tissue opening with minimal resistance. The penetrator hollow cylinder 13 has its distal end formed as a plurality of conical segment expanders 4 which are spaced by slots 4a to allow for the protrusion of pointed flat knives 14 joined at the center of the instrument and resembling thin arrowheads joined at a center. As shown in FIG. 2, the knives are positioned into the penetrator hollow cylinder 13 to a depth shown at 14a. The knife edges outside the slots 4a between the conical segment expanders protrude a substantial distance to insure adequate cutting. The set of knives is assembled into the penetrator cylinder 13 by spot welds 15, or by other similar mechanism. Right behind the crossing of the knife blades can be seen the plastic guard tips 3a. In FIG. 2, the guards are shown as removed from the knives so as to facilitate the understanding of their shapes and relationship to the knives. The subassembly of the guards 3 is part of a support disk 16 which in turn is part of the guards hollow stem 17 connecting them to an actuator spring and locking mechanism at the proximal section of the handle (not shown here). In the real instrument, the guard tips 3a are inserted around the knife blades which fit into the narrow spaces 3b between the guards. The guards are then assembled by being pushed forward untilthey protrude between the blade sides and the conical expander slots 4a as can be shown in FIG. 3 below.
In FIG. 3, the tips. of the guards are barely visible because the guards are retracted as when the trocar is first pushed against the skin.
FIGURE 8 shows the onset of penetration. At that instant, the cutting tip point 14b has made a very minute perforation 23 and, because of the presence of the guard tips 3a, there WO 00/78387 PCT/US00/17091 is enough space to allow a fluid flow (shown here as a gas jet 24) to issue out and cause the displacement of nearby internal organ tissues 25a, while simultaneously the guard tips 3a expand the opening urged by their spring pushing at 17 and plunge through the perforation effectively covering the cutting tip 14b.
FIGURE 12 is a top view of the trocar showing some of the external parts as well as a partial broken view of some interior parts. The body of the handle is made out of plastic and has two main segments. The proximal segment 5 is designed to fit into the palm of the hand and has a proximal end of hemispherical shape with a depression ofarcuate profile 9 at the top terminating at a flat surface 9a where the guard stem controls are located. Those controls are recessed into, the flat depression 9a to prevent unwanted actuation, and include a double slot with vertical slots 8 and 8a into which is inserted a button 7 and its rectangular guiding shank 7a. The button 7 is capable of vertical and horizontal movement, the latter movement being limited between arrows 7b and 7c as will be described later. The proximal segment is assembled as an integral part of the penetrator system. Its distal end 51 forms the interface between the two segments of the handle.
The distal segment 6 of the handle has two lateral protruding horns 6b to facilitate its manipulation during penetration and orientation. The two handle segments 5 and 6 are locked together during usage by way of a bayonet stud 29 and slot 29a. During insertion the stud 29 on part 5 is aligned with the slot 29a on part 6, pushed, and turned clockwise, until the stud locks the two segments firmly, the knob on 5 and the horns 6b provide a good grasp for that operation. The slot 29a. has a slant at the transversal direction running slightly away from the interface 51 so as to insure that the turning-locking motion will assure a firm and stable connection. This will be discussed further in reference to FIG. 14.
The valve has a shaft 34 pivoted between the upper 6 and lower 6a portions of the handle and is urged to rotate counterclockwise by a torsional spring 33 located around the shaft 34. The shaft of the flap valve is firmly attached to the valve and can be rotated from outside the body segment 6 as will be shown later on FIG. 14. An external lock allows the valve to remain open during desufflation if turned hard to its stop position 32a shown in dotted lines. As shown in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12, the valve has been opened by the insertion of the penetrator 13. In other cases, the valve could be opened for surgical or visualization instruments. When left to itself, the valve will turn counterclockwise and snap shut against the face of seal 35 which serves as a face seal for the valve and lip seal for the penetrator 13.
The left end of FIG. 12 shows how the cannula 2 is attached to the handle segment 6 by way of a flange 37, and prevented from leaking by an ring 36. In the same FIG. 12 is shown how the carbon dioxide gas spigot manual valve 11 is mounted at one side of the top of segment 6.
FIGURE 13 is a longitudinal vertical cross section along a plane to show the internal details of the handle. As can be noticed, the two segments of the handle include a top 11 WO 00/78387 PCT/US00/1 7091 and a bottom part split along a horizontal plane for fabrication, one becoming 5 and 5a, and the other 6 and 6a, and after each segment has been fitted with the internal parts at assembly the two halves of each segment are permanently bonded together. Each of the two segments is assembled separately since they must be detached and attached during usage. The penetrator segment is only used to make the entry portal, but it must be emphasized that it is such step that involves the greatest risk.
The distal segment made of parts 6 and 6a houses the cannula 2 and all the gas infusion and valving. The connection of the cannula to the segment part 6 was described before. FIG. 13 shows the gas connector or layer 1 a to which-the gas line is affixed. The valve system is bonded via a conical stem I lb into a boss on plane 10 so the incoming gas flows in the direction of arrow 30 and pressurizes the space between the inlet and the seal from where it can enter the openings 38 around the penetrator 13 walls and fill the space between lip seals 40 and 41. Since the lip seals are oriented toward the front the pressure will open lip seal 40 but not lip seal 41 and the gas will fill and pressurize the entire space along the penetrator 13, not being able to escape when the trocar tip has been inserted into the tissue, however, as soon as the smallest opening is made by the point of the blades the gas will escape as a jet and deflect the surrounding internal organs away from the entry portal.
Lip seal 40 is intended to prevent back flow from the penetrator in case of accidental opening or leakage across the gas valve during a procedure. In such a case, the pressurizedvolume of gas within the penetrator 13 will suffice to insure the safe deflection of nearby tissues even before the tips of the guards 3a plunge into the opening. The guards stem 17 is completely sealed at the front by disk 16 and thereby its interior can be at atmospheric pressure, however.
since it must slide back and forth with the guards it must also be supported at the proximal end and must be guided over a stationary hollow steel stud 44 inserted into it to a minimal depth of four diameters. The proximal end of stud 44 is flared to provide fixation between parts 5 and 5a of the proximal hemispherical knob. A hole 56 on the hollow stud 44 serves to provide air passage in and out of the stud when the guards stem moves back and forth acting as a piston pump. The hole 56 should pass through the stud and be of a diameter such as not to impede flow and dampen the sliding action of the guards stem. Compression coil spring 47 mounted around stud 44 serves to provide the required force to urge the guards stemin the distal direction. The proximal end oC the penetrator outside cylinder 13 is flared at 43 for -12- WO 00/78387 PCT/US00/1 7091 fixation onto the proximal handle segment parts 5 and 5a. It is also sealed at the front by an "0O ring 42 to insure that no leakage of gas would occur even if seal 35 should leak: flared tubular assemblies like 43 are not reliable seals.
At assembly, the button 7 is inserted across slot 8 on the top surface 9a on Figure 13 and the locking cylinder 48, which has a circumferential groove 48a and a conical end 48c is pushed up along the stem 7b against the bottom of the rectangular guide 7a thereby assembling button.7 into the. slot 8a. As the assembly continues the lower tip of stem 7b is pushed hard against the punched hole 45d of the leaf spring until groove 7c is gripped by the lateral tabs at and the assembly of the button is complete. If now the open hollow cylinder 45a is snapped onto the surface depression at the proximal end of stem 17, the button 7 becomes axially fixed to stem 17 and will follow its back and forth motion in response to coil spring 47 and the forces at the tip of the guards. FIG. 16 shows the assembly of the U spring 46 to the lower inside of 5 by the use of screw 50. FIG. 16 does not show button 7 for the sake of clarity, but it shows flat spring 45 pushing up against the bottom of the U spring 46. If the assembly of the button 7 and the locking cylinder 48 was shown there, it would be evident that the button would be pushed upwards and the locking cylinder 48 would be forcibly inserted into the round socket 8b, thereby preventing any motion of the flat spring 45 and the guards stem 17 attached to it by ring 45a. That is the situation depicted on FIG. 13.
FIG. 19 shows what happens when button 7 is pushed down. When that is done the coiical end 48c of cylinder 48 opens the U spring 46 and the spring then snaps close into the groove 48a thereby disengaging the locking cylinder from the round socket 8b. The system is then unlocked. The trocar is said to be "armed", and able to permit the motion of the guards -13- WO 00/78387 PCT/US00/17091 backwards, exposing the cutting blades for penetration of the skin. That is the position depicted on FIG. 6. The following discussion is directed to the embodiment shown in FIG.
The penetrating force against the skin pushes on the guards and the guards stem 17, and the connecting flat spring 45 moves the button 7 proximally. The rectangular slide section 7a enters the space between guides 8a, and soon afterwards, the locking cylinder groove 48a disengages from the open end of the U spring 46, and the spring 45 pushing upwards against the stem groove 7c forces the top of the locking cylinder to snap against the underside of the groove 8a. In that position, the locking cylinder 48 is free to continue sliding along the underside of groove 8a as shown in FIG. 21 until the initial penetration is made and the force of the coil spring 47 urges the guards stem 17 and the flat spring 45 to return the button 7 to its initial position, at which time the locking cylinder will pass freely over the U spring 46 and snap back into the round socket 8b locking the system into the "safe position" where the guards cannot move accidentally. FIG. 22 shows the completion of the cycle back to the initial configuration of FIG. 18.
A quick review of the provided example locking system from the user viewpoint reveals that the operations include "arming" the trocar by pushing down on the button at the top of the handle at position 7' shown in FIG. 12, until it "snaps" down; then pushing the trocar against the skin and watching or listening to the position of the button as it slides towards 7' and then "snaps" to its initial position That will be the indication of having completed the penetration. If, for any reason, button 7 were pushed down accidentally, it could be reset to the "safe" condition by merely moving it in the direction to 7' and then releasing it. It should then get snap-locked at a high level in position and could not be moved without first pushing it down.
The details of operation of the example flap valve, its design, and locking for deflation are seen in FIGS. 14 and 15. FIG. 14 shows the top view of the handle distal segment, previously presented in FIG. 12 as a partial broken section to show the interior details. FIG. 14, however, is intended to show the external operative controls on this segment of the handle in the interest of the user. The flap valve lever 12 is shown in the closed position as it should be when the penetrator is removed. The lever is attached to a shaft 34 whose opposite end is attached to the flap 32 as seen in FIG. 15. The insertion of the internal trocar elements is performed when the top 6 and bottom 6a of each handle segment are -14- WO 00/78387 15 PCT/US00/! 7091 separated prior to their being bonded along plane 6d.
FIG. 15, as explained before, is the end view of the example embodiment previously illustrated in FIG. 14 as seen from the right side. That is how the distal segment of-the handle will appear when the proximal segment is removed. The flap valve external lever knob 53 is provided with a small depression 54 at its bottom to allow it to be held open when the depression is forcibly made to engage a small knob 54a protruding from the flat surface after the lever has been turned in the direction of arrow 52. That is the desufflation position of the valve which allows the surgeon to use both hands to massage the insufflated region and expel the gas retained by the patient at the end of the procedure. The arc of rotation needed for the lever to engage the protruding knob 54a is labeled as 55. This locking position is not reached by the lever when the valve is opened by the insertion of the penetrator. The locking of the valve has to be done by the forceful and deliberate action of the surgeon. The small angle 52 shown at the bayonet locking stud 29 refers to the desirable slant for the groove 29 so as to insure that the locking force increases sufficiently to prevent accidental loosening between the proximal and the distal segments of the handle. The elasticity of the locking elements determines the exact angle to be used, which should be somewhere between 2 and degrees to account for tolerance errors. The infusion valve 11, its lever 1 lc, and its lever connector Ila are shown on FIG. 14. In FIG. 15, the opening of the valve is indicated by arrow Ild. FIG. 15 also shows a broken section of the valve shaft 34, its top ring seal 34a, and its torsion spring 33 inserted into a slot in the operating bracket of valve 32. In the same FIG. 15, the seal 35 is seen, as well as the front surface 5 .a of the distal handle segment, which contacts the mating surface 51 of the proximal segment.
16- o THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: O 1. A surgical device, comprising: Sa handle configured to be gripped; a penetrator having a main axis and being attached to said handle; a substantially planar cutting blade located at a _distal end of said penetrator; Sa substantially planar guard movable with respect to said cutting blade and configured to selectively expose said cutting blade; and wherein said guard has an apex such that an angle subscribed in the apex of the guard is smaller than an angle subscribed by said blade for progressively covering said blade during deployment of the penetrator. 2. The surgical device according to claim i, wherein said insufflation passageway is configured to be pressurized during an insertion of said cutting blade into the body tissue. 3. A surgical device, comprising: a handle configured to be gripped; a penetrator having a main axis and being attached to said handle; a substantially planar cutting blade located at a distal end of said penetrator; and an insufflation passageway for discharging a pressurized fluid while said cutting blade is inside a body tissue and for transporting said pressurized fluid across said body tissue when said cutting blade substantially penetrates said body tissue; an external reservoir for supplying said insufflation passageway with said pressurized fluid; a check valve positioned between said insufflation passageway and an exterior of the device, said check valve being configured to prevent leakage from H:\Pcabral\Keep\speci\2003271400doc 6/10/05
17- said insufflation passageway, wherein said check valve Scomprises a flap valve openable by said penetrator upon O O insertion of said penetrator into said handle; and IDa substantially planar guard moveable with respect to said cutting blade wherein said guard has an apex such that an angle subscribed in the apex of the guard is smaller than an angle subscribed by said blade _for progressively covering said blade during deployment of Sthe penetrator. 4. A surgical device, comprising: a handle configured to be gripped; a penetrator having a main axis and being attached to said handle; a substantially planar cutting blade located at a distal end of said penetrator; a substantially planar guard movable with respect to said cutting blade and configured to expose said cutting blade while said cutting tip is beginning to cut a tissue layer and while said at least one cutting blade is in said tissue layer, and for progressively covering the end of said at least one cutting blade immediately after a most distal point of said cutting blade has substantially passed through said tissue layer; and wherein said cutting blade comprises a single blade having at least one blade edge, said single blade being configured to intersect a distal portion of said penetrator and to intersect substantially along said main axis; wherein said guard comprises a safety guard substantially parallel to said single blade and wherein said safety guard has an edge configured to intersect a plane containing said main axis at a safety guard edge angle smaller than a blade edge angle defined by the intersection of said blade edge with said plane. A surgical device, comprising: H:\Pcabral\Keep\speci\2003271400.doc 6/10/05 18 c a handle configured to be gripped; Sa penetrator having a main axis and attached to O said handle; IDat least one cutting blade located at a distal end of said penetrator; a tissue expander configured to expand a tissue cut by said at least one cutting blade for insertion of _said penetrator; and C a single, substantially planar guard movable with respect to said tissue expander and being configured to Sselectively expose said at least one cutting blade wherein said guard has an apex such that an angle subscribed in the apex of the guard is smaller than an angle subscribed by said at least one cutting blade for progressively covering said at least one cutting blade during deployment of the penetrator. 6. A surgical device, comprising: a handle configured to be gripped; a penetrator having a main axis and attached to said handle; a tissue expander positioned on said penetrator; a substantially planar cutting blade located at a distal end of said penetrator; a substantially planar guard configured to slidably cover and uncover said at least one cutting blade, said guard being movable with respect to said tissue expander and being configured to selectively expose said cutting blade; and a locking mechanism configured to hinder an accidental uncovering of said cutting blade by said guard wherein said guard has an apex such that an angle subscribed in the apex of the guard is smaller than an angle subscribed by said cutting blade for progressively covering said at least one cutting blade during deployment of the penetrator. H:\Pcabral\Kecp\speci\2003271400.doc 6/10/05 19 S7. A surgical device, comprising: Sa handle configured to be gripped; 0 O a penetrator having a main axis and attached to IDsaid handle; a substantially planar cutting blade located at a distal end of said penetrator; wherein said handle includes: a tissue expander configured to expand a tissue cut by said cutting blade; a substantially planar guard for slidably covering and uncovering said guard being moveable with respect to said tissue expander; at least one side horn configured to facilitate pushing, pulling, rotation, and tilting of said surgical device wherein said guard has an apex such that an angle subscribed in the apex of the guard is smaller than an angle subscribed by said blade for progressively covering said blade during deployment of the penetrator. 8. A surgical device, comprising: means for gripping said surgical device; means mounted on said means for gripping said surgical device for passing an object of interest into a hole in a tissue member; means for expanding the tissue member which is mounted on said means for passing an object into the hole in the tissue member; substantially planar cutting means mounted on said means for passing the object into the hole in the tissue member for cutting the hole for insertion of said means for passing an object into the hole in the tissue member, said means for cutting the hole in the tissue member being movable with respect to said means for expanding the tissue member; and means for halting said means for cutting wherein said means for halting comprises means for guarding said means for cutting, said means for guarding said means for H:\Pcebral\Keep\speci\20032fl400.doc 6/10/OS O cutting being movable with respect to said means for Sexpanding the tissue member wherein said means for O guarding said means for cutting has an apex such that an Sangle subscribed in the apex of the means for guarding is smaller than an angle subscribed by said means for cutting for progressively covering said means for cutting during deployment of said means for expanding the tissue member. 9. The surgical device according to any one of claims 1, 4 or 6 wherein said cutting blade comprises: a first blade edge attached to a distal end of said penetrator and oriented substantially parallel to a main axis of said penetrator and being configured to produce an opening in a body tissue for an insertion of a surgical cannula. The surgical device according to claim 9, wherein said cutting blade further comprises: a second blade edge, wherein: said second blade being attached to a distal end of said penetrator and oriented substantially parallel to said main axis of said penetrator; and said second blade being edge configured to intersect said first blade edge at an intersection distal to said penetrator. 11. The surgical device according to claim wherein said first blade edge and said second blade edge intersect along said main axis of said penetrator. 12. The surgical device according to claim 3, which comprises a seal which is concentrically positioned with said penetrator, said seal being positioned in said handle and being sealingly engageable with said flap valve. 13. A surgical device, comprising: a handle configured to be gripped; H:\Pcabal\Keep\speci\2003271400.doc 6/10/05
21- O penetrator means having a main axis and being attached to said handle; O substantially planar cutting means for cutting IDbody tissue located at a distal end of said penetrator means; tissue expander means expanded at a distal end of the penetrator means for expanding a tissue cut by said _means for cutting tissue; Sinsufflation passageway means configured to discharge a pressurized fluid while said means cutting for Scutting tissue is inside a body tissue and to transport said pressurized fluid to the body tissue when the cutting blade means substantially penetrates the body tissue; and substantially planar guard means for guarding said means for cutting tissue, said guard means being movable with respect to said tissue expander means and configured to selectively expose said means for cutting tissue wherein said means for guarding said means for cutting tissue has an apex such that an angle subscribed in the apex of the means for guarding is smaller than an angle subscribed by said means for cutting tissue for progressively covering said means for cutting tissue during deployment of said means for expanding the tissue member. 14. A method of inserting a cannula through a tissue of an individual using a penetrator, a cutting blade and a guard, which comprises: shaping the guard so as to have an apex such that an angle subscribed in the apex of the guard is smaller than an angle subscribed at the cutting blade for progressively covering the cutting blade tip during deployment of the penetrator; connecting the cutting blade to a distal end portion of the penetrator for cutting the tissue; and movably positioning the guard within the penetrator for selectably covering and exposing the H:\Pcabral\Keep\speci\203271400.doc 6/10/05 n 22 O cutting blade and progressively covering the blade with Sthe guard during deployment of the penetrator. IN 15. The method as claimed in claim 14, which comprises positioning a tissue expander at the distal end of the penetrator for expanding a portion of the tissue cut by the cutting blade. 16. The method as claimed in claim 14, which M 10 comprises connecting the penetrator to a handle for Smanipulating the penetrator during cutting of the tissue. 17. The method as claimed in claim 16, which comprises providing an insufflation passageway through the penetrator for discharging a pressurized fluid there through upon penetration of the tissue by the cutting blade. 18. The method according to claim 17, which comprises positioning a check valve between the insufflation passageway and an exterior of the penetrator for preventing leakage of the pressurized fluid from a penetrator. 19. The method according to claim 14, which comprises utilizing a locking mechanism for preventing accidental exposure of the cutting blade. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said fluid comprises a gas. 21. The method as claimed in claim 14, which comprises forming a distal tip portion of the blade so as to be one of substantially dull tip and substantially rounded tip.
22. A surgical device, comprising: H:\Pcabral\Keep\speci\2003271400.doc 6/10/05
23- O a penetrator having a main axis and being Sattachable to a handle for being gripped; O O a cutting blade located at a distal end of said IDpenetrator and housing a cutting tip; and a guard positioned within said penetrator, said guard being movable with respect to said blade, said guard being configured for selectively exposing said cutting blade wherein said guard has an apex such that an angle subscribed at the apex of the guard is smaller than an angle subscribed by said blade tip for progressively covering said blade during deployment of the penetrator. 23. The surgical device according to claim 22, which comprises a tissue expander at a distal end of the penetrator for expanding a tissue cut by said cutting tip.
24. The surgical device according to claim 22, which comprises an insufflation passageway configured to discharge a pressurized fluid upon said cutting blade penetrating a body tissue and to communicate said pressurized fluid to the body tissue upon said cutting tip substantially penetrating the body tissue. The surgical device according to claim 24, wherein said surgical device further comprises: an external reservoir for supplying said insufflation passageway with said pressurized fluid.
26. The surgical device according to claim wherein said surgical device further comprises: a check valve positioned between said insufflation passageway and an exterior of the surgical device, said check valve being configured to prevent leakage from said insufflation passageway.
27. The surgical device according to claim 26, which comprises: H:\Pcabral\Keep\speci\2003271400.doc 6/10/05 -24 O a locking system for locking and unlocking the Sguard in position so as to selectably expose said cutting O blade during cutting of the tissue and to progressively IND cover the cutting tip of the cutting blade after a most distal point of the cutting tip has substantially passed through a layer of the tissue. S28. The surgical device according to claim 24, wherein said insufflation passageway is configured to be pressurized during an insertion of said cutting tip into the body tissue.
29. The surgical device according to claim 28, which comprises a seal which is concentrically positioned with said penetrator, said seal being positioned in said handle and being sealingly engageable with said flap valve. The surgical device according to claim 22, wherein said pressurized fluid comprises a gas and wherein said cutting blade has one of a substantially dull tip and a substantially rounded tip.
31. The surgical device according to claim 22, wherein: said cutting blade includes at least one blade having one of a substantially rounded tip and a substantially dull tip.
32. A surgical device according to claim 1, wherein said penetrator is removably insertable into the handle.
33. A surgical device according to claim 32, which comprises: a locking system for locking and unlocking the guard in position so as to selectably expose said cutting blade during cutting of the tissue and to progressively cover the end of the cutting blade after a most distal H:\Pcabral\Keep\speci\2003271400.doc 6/10/05 O point of the cutting blade has substantially passed Sthrough a layer of the tissue. 0 O 34. A surgical device, comprising: penetrator means having a main axis and being attachable to a handle; means for cutting tissue located at a distal end _of said penetrator means; guard means movable with respect to said tissue M 10 expander means and configured to selectively expose said Smeans for cutting tissue wherein said means for guarding said means for cutting tissue has an apex such that an angle subscribed at the apex of the means for guarding is smaller than an angle subscribed by said means for cutting tissue for progressively covering said means for cutting tissue during cutting of the tissue. A surgical device as claimed in claim 34, wherein said means for cutting tissue comprises one of a dull tip means and a substantially rounded tip means. Dated this 6th day of October 2005 ERNESTO E BILANCO By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia H:\Pcabral\Xeep\speci\2003271400.doc 6/10/05
AU2003271400A 1999-06-22 2003-12-30 Safety trocar with progressive cutting tip guards and gas jet tissue deflector Ceased AU2003271400B8 (en)
US60/140409 1999-06-22
AU57556/00A AU765904B2 (en) 1999-06-22 2000-06-22 Safety trocar with progressive cutting tip guards and gas jet tissue deflector
AU57556/00A Division AU765904B2 (en) 1999-06-22 2000-06-22 Safety trocar with progressive cutting tip guards and gas jet tissue deflector
AU2003271400A1 AU2003271400A1 (en) 2004-01-29
AU2003271400B2 true AU2003271400B2 (en) 2005-11-03
AU2003271400B8 AU2003271400B8 (en) 2006-08-03
AU57556/00A Ceased AU765904B2 (en) 1999-06-22 2000-06-22 Safety trocar with progressive cutting tip guards and gas jet tissue deflector
AU2003271400A Ceased AU2003271400B8 (en) 1999-06-22 2003-12-30 Safety trocar with progressive cutting tip guards and gas jet tissue deflector
NO (1) NO20016199A (en)
2001-12-18 NO NO20016199A patent/NO20016199A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
NO20016199A (en) 2002-02-11
EP0540887A1 (en) 1993-05-12 Safety trocar
2006-08-03 TH Corrigenda
Free format text: IN VOL 19, NO 43, PAGE(S) 3333 UNDER THE HEADING APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED - NAME INDEX UNDER THE NAME ERNESTO E BLANCO, APPLICATION NO. 2003271400, UNDER INID (72), AMEND THE INVENTOR TO BLANCO, ERNESTO E