US5443484A — Trocar and method for endoscopic surgery

Claim 1

Independent Claim 271 words

A trocar system for assisting in the establishment of a port in a patient's body for endoscopic surgery, comprising: a trocar for penetrating the exterior tissues and peritoneum of said patient to produce a hole therethrough; a cannula for surrounding said trocar and forming said port in said hole upon removal of said trocar; a retractor for gripping the exterior tissues of said patient to allow said tissues to be lifted away from vital organs thereof, whereby the penetration of said trocar can be better controlled so as to avoid accidental injury to said vital organs; said retractor comprising a hollow, cylindrical guide portion for receiving said cannula and said trocar and for guiding the direction of penetration of said trocar, said guide portion being slidable with respect to said cannula and said trocar, and having a distal end; at least one handle to allow a counter-traction force to be applied to said retractor in a direction substantially opposite to the penetration of said trocar, prior to penetration by said trocar, and a leading edge comprising a pair of rotary blades extending distally past the terminal, distal end of the guide portion, each of said blades having an exposed sharp distal tip and a proximal end, each of said blades being mounted on said guide portion solely at said proximal end and being exposed along its entire length from said proximal end to said distal tip in order to permit said blade to pass though a perforation in said exterior tissues formed by said sharp distal tip, whereby said blades can remain imbedded in said exterior tissues for more efficient retraction.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 271 words

A trocar system for assisting in the establishment of a port in a patient's body for endoscopic surgery, comprising: a trocar for penetrating the exterior tissues and peritoneum of said patient to produce a hole therethrough; a cannula for surrounding said trocar and forming said port in said hole upon removal of said trocar; a retractor for gripping the exterior tissues of said patient to allow said tissues to be lifted away from vital organs thereof, whereby the penetration of said trocar can be better controlled so as to avoid accidental injury to said vital organs; said retractor comprising a hollow, cylindrical guide portion for receiving said cannula and said trocar and for guiding the direction of penetration of said trocar, said guide portion being slidable with respect to said cannula and said trocar, and having a distal end; at least one handle to allow a counter-traction force to be applied to said retractor in a direction substantially opposite to the penetration of said trocar, prior to penetration by said trocar, and a leading edge comprising a pair of rotary blades extending distally past the terminal, distal end of the guide portion, each of said blades having an exposed sharp distal tip and a proximal end, each of said blades being mounted on said guide portion solely at said proximal end and being exposed along its entire length from said proximal end to said distal tip in order to permit said blade to pass though a perforation in said exterior tissues formed by said sharp distal tip, whereby said blades can remain imbedded in said exterior tissues for more efficient retraction.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 19 words

The trocar system of claim 1, wherein said trocar comprises a longitudinal port for passage of endoscopic visualization devices.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 19 words

The trocar system of claim 1, wherein said trocar comprises a conical tip to reduce injury to said patient.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 32 words

The trocar system of claim 1, wherein said cannula comprises a seal device adjustably located near the distal end of said cannula to form a seal between said cannula and said hole.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 22 words

The trocar system of claim 4, wherein said seal device is rotatable with respect to said hole to improve its sealing capabilities.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 24 words

The trocar system of claim 4, wherein said seal device is adjustably slidable with respect to said cannula for adjustment of said seal device.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 29 words

The trocar system of claim 1, wherein each rotary blade is adapted to laterally engage the exterior tissues surrounding said incision to permit the application of a counter-traction force.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 29 words

The trocar system of claim 7, wherein each rotary blade is adapted to extend beneath said exterior tissues in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of trocar penetration.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 132 words

A method for establishing a port for endoscopic surgery through the superficial tissues and peritoneum of a patient's body, using the trocar system of claim 1, comprising: incising the superficial tissue of the body; inserting the leading edge of said retractor into said incision; rotating said retractor such that said rotary blades puncture the tissues and remain imbedded therein; grasping said handle and applying a lifting force to said retractor, thereby lifting said tissues away from vital organs in said patient's body to create a margin of safety above the vital organs; sliding said trocar through said guide portion; penetrating said peritoneum with said trocar, creating an opening therethrough; and sliding said cannula over said trocar, through said guide portion and through said opening in said peritoneum, thereby establishing said endoscopic port.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 227 words

A trocar system adapted for use in the formation of an endoscopic port in a patient's body to provide access to internal organs, said port adapted to extend through deeper fascial tissues and peritoneum at the location of an initial incision made in overlying tissues, said system comprising: a trocar for completely penetrating said deeper fascial tissues and peritoneum to form a hole therethrough; a cannula for surrounding said trocar and forming said port in said hole upon removal of said trocar; and a lifting device adapted for insertion prior to penetration by said trocar, for lifting said deeper fascial tissues in a direction substantially away from said internal organs, said lifting device comprising: a body for insertion into said incision and for penetrating said overlying tissues and said deeper fascial tissues; an opening extending completely through said body to permit the passage of said trocar and cannula; and a distal end on said body comprising at least one blade extending from said distal end of said body, said blade having a sharp distal tip and a proximal end, said blade being mounted on said body solely at said proximal end and being exposed along its entire length from said proximal end to said distal tip in order to permit said blade to pass through a perforation in said overlying tissues formed by said sharp distal tip.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 227 words

A trocar system adapted for use in the formation of an endoscopic port in a patient's body to provide access to internal organs, said port adapted to extend through deeper fascial tissues and peritoneum at the location of an initial incision made in overlying tissues, said system comprising: a trocar for completely penetrating said deeper fascial tissues and peritoneum to form a hole therethrough; a cannula for surrounding said trocar and forming said port in said hole upon removal of said trocar; and a lifting device adapted for insertion prior to penetration by said trocar, for lifting said deeper fascial tissues in a direction substantially away from said internal organs, said lifting device comprising: a body for insertion into said incision and for penetrating said overlying tissues and said deeper fascial tissues; an opening extending completely through said body to permit the passage of said trocar and cannula; and a distal end on said body comprising at least one blade extending from said distal end of said body, said blade having a sharp distal tip and a proximal end, said blade being mounted on said body solely at said proximal end and being exposed along its entire length from said proximal end to said distal tip in order to permit said blade to pass through a perforation in said overlying tissues formed by said sharp distal tip.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 225 words

A trocar system for assisting in the establishment of a port in a patient's body for endoscopic surgery, comprising: a trocar for penetrating the exterior tissues and peritoneum of said patient to produce a hole therethrough; a cannula for surrounding said trocar and forming said port in said hole upon removal of said trocar; a retractor for penetrating the exterior tissues of said patient to allow said tissues to be lifted away from vital organs thereof, whereby the penetration of said trocar can be better controlled so as to avoid accidental injury to said vital organs; said retractor comprising: a hollow guide portion for receiving said cannula and said trocar and for guiding the direction of penetration of said trocar, said guide portion being slidable with respect to said cannula and said trocar, and having a distal end; a leading edge comprising at least one blade extending distally past the terminal, distal end of the guide portion, said blade having an exposed sharp distal tip for puncturing the exterior tissues and a proximal end, each of said blades being mounted on said guide portion solely at said proximal end and being exposed along its entire length from said proximal end to said distal tip in order to permit said blade to pass though a perforation in said exterior tissues formed by said sharp distal tip.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 225 words

A trocar system for assisting in the establishment of a port in a patient's body for endoscopic surgery, comprising: a trocar for penetrating the exterior tissues and peritoneum of said patient to produce a hole therethrough; a cannula for surrounding said trocar and forming said port in said hole upon removal of said trocar; a retractor for penetrating the exterior tissues of said patient to allow said tissues to be lifted away from vital organs thereof, whereby the penetration of said trocar can be better controlled so as to avoid accidental injury to said vital organs; said retractor comprising: a hollow guide portion for receiving said cannula and said trocar and for guiding the direction of penetration of said trocar, said guide portion being slidable with respect to said cannula and said trocar, and having a distal end; a leading edge comprising at least one blade extending distally past the terminal, distal end of the guide portion, said blade having an exposed sharp distal tip for puncturing the exterior tissues and a proximal end, each of said blades being mounted on said guide portion solely at said proximal end and being exposed along its entire length from said proximal end to said distal tip in order to permit said blade to pass though a perforation in said exterior tissues formed by said sharp distal tip.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 41 words

The trocar system of claim 11, wherein said retractor further comprises at least one handle to aid in lifting said retractor and said blades imbedded in said tissues away from vital organs of a patient prior to insertion of said trocar.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 27 words

The trocar system of claim 11, wherein said rotary blades are adapted to engage said tissues in a direction substantially transverse to the penetration of said trocar.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 191 words

A method for establishing a port for endoscopic surgery through the superficial tissues and peritoneum of a patient's body, comprising: incising the superficial tissue of the body; inserting a retractor into said incision, said retractor comprising: a hollow guide portion for slidably receiving a trocar and a cannula and for guiding the direction of penetration of said trocar, said guide portion having a distal end; and a leading edge comprising a pair of blades extending distally past the distal end of the guide portion, each of said blades having an exposed tip which punctures the tissue making its own perforation therein; manipulating said retractor such that said blades puncture said tissue and said blades remains imbedded in said tissue; lifting said retractor such that said blades imbedded in said tissues lift the tissues away from vital organs in said patient's body to create a margin of safety above the vital organs; sliding said trocar through said guide portion; penetrating said peritoneum with said trocar, creating an opening therethrough; and sliding said cannula over said trocar, through said guide portion and through said opening in said peritoneum, thereby establishing said endoscopic port.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 191 words

A method for establishing a port for endoscopic surgery through the superficial tissues and peritoneum of a patient's body, comprising: incising the superficial tissue of the body; inserting a retractor into said incision, said retractor comprising: a hollow guide portion for slidably receiving a trocar and a cannula and for guiding the direction of penetration of said trocar, said guide portion having a distal end; and a leading edge comprising a pair of blades extending distally past the distal end of the guide portion, each of said blades having an exposed tip which punctures the tissue making its own perforation therein; manipulating said retractor such that said blades puncture said tissue and said blades remains imbedded in said tissue; lifting said retractor such that said blades imbedded in said tissues lift the tissues away from vital organs in said patient's body to create a margin of safety above the vital organs; sliding said trocar through said guide portion; penetrating said peritoneum with said trocar, creating an opening therethrough; and sliding said cannula over said trocar, through said guide portion and through said opening in said peritoneum, thereby establishing said endoscopic port.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1998-08-21	1999-02-20	1999-08-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2002-08-21	2003-02-20	2003-08-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2006-08-21	2007-02-20	2007-08-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Trocar and method for endoscopic surgery

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