Patent ID: 7390315

Claim:
A surgical trocar, which comprises: a cannula having a cannula housing and a cannula sleeve extending from the cannula housing, the cannula sleeve having a longitudinal opening; and an obturator at least partially positionable within the cannula, the obturator including: an obturator housing; an obturator shaft extending from the obturator housing and defining a proximal end adjacent the housing and a distal end adapted to penetrate tissue; a shield positioned about the obturator shaft and adapted for longitudinal movement relative to the housing; a latch member monolithically formed with the housing and operatively engageable with the shield, the latch member being moveable from an initial position securing the shield in a first longitudinal position relative to the housing to a release position permitting the shield to move to a second longitudinal position relative to the housing in response to a counter force applied against the shield during engagement of the shield with tissue; a slider member monolithically formed with the housing and operatively coupled with the latch member, the slider member adapted for movement to cause corresponding movement of the latch member to the release position; and a release leg operatively coupled to the slider member, the release leg dimensioned to extend distally beyond the housing, the release leg being positioned to engage the cannula housing upon mating of the obturator housing and the cannula housing whereby a generally proximally directed force applied by the cannula housing on the release leg causes displacement of the release leg and movement of the latch member to the release position.