Patent ID: 8419762

Claim:
A trocar assembly, comprising: a. a trocar having a tissue penetrating distal tip, an elongated shaft and a proximal handle portion; and b. a trocar sheath having a distal end, a proximal end, a distal cylindrical portion having an interior configured to provide a releasable connection with the elongated shaft of the trocar and a single slit that splits a portion of the trocar sheath, the single slit extending proximally from the distal cylindrical portion to the proximal end of the trocar, an inner portion defining at least in part a guide leading to the distal cylindrical portion, the trocar sheath having an expander collar located on an interior of a proximal end portion of the trocar sheath wherein the expander collar is a U-shaped structural support member to hold the proximal end of the sheath so as to form a longitudinally tapered interior channel, wherein the expander collar is configured to hold the single slit open at the proximal end in the absence of external forces applied to the trocar sheath.