Patent ID: 8795223

Claim:
A trocar for creating a pneumatic seal during a minimally-invasive surgical procedure, comprising: an elongated body having a lumen extending therethrough, the proximal end portion of the body defining a housing; a fluid supply plenum defined in the housing, adapted and configured to deliver pressurized insufflation fluid to a nozzle in fluid communication therewith, the nozzle configured and adapted for directing pressurized fluid into the lumen and creating a pneumatic seal relative to a patient having a portion of the lumen inserted therewithin; and a fluid return plenum defined in the housing, spaced from the fluid supply plenum, the fluid return plenum being adapted and configured to collect spent insufflation fluid, the fluid return plenum including a plurality of axially and radially oriented elongate vanes configured and adapted to permit spent insufflation fluid to proceed between the vanes and direct spent insufflation fluid back to the fluid return plenum.