Trocar assembly with electrocautery penetrating tip

Claim 2

A trocar for penetrating a body wall, which comprises: a housing portion; obturator shaft at least partially extending from the housing portion and defining a longitudinal axis, the obturator shaft having proximal and distal ends; a conductor element connected to the obturator shaft and extending at least partially along the obturator shaft for conducting energy from an energy source; and a conductive tip member disposed adjacent the distal end of the obturator shaft for penetrating tissue, the conductive tip member mounted for axial movement relative to the obturator shaft between a first position to cause the conductive tip member to be in electrical communication with the conductor element and a second position to cause the conductive tip member to be electrically disassociated from the conductor element.

Claim 3

The trocar according to claim 1 comprising a biasing member operatively engageable at a proximal end thereof with the obturator shaft and at a distal end thereof with the conductive tip member, for biasing the conductive tip member to the second position thereof.

Claim 4

The trocar according to claim 2 wherein the conductive tip member is mounted to an extension member, the extension member mounted to the distal end of the obturator shaft and being reciprocally axially moveable relative to the obturator shaft to move the conductive tip member between the first and second positions thereof.

Claim 5

The trocar according to claim 2 wherein the biasing member includes a spring member.

Claim 6

The trocar according to claim 2 including an obturator sleeve mounted to the housing portion and extending distally therefrom.

Claim 7

The trocar according to claim 5 wherein the obturator shaft is reciprocally axially movable relative to the housing portion between a first position wherein the conductive tip member is positioned within the obturator sleeve and a second position wherein the conductive tip member is at least partially disposed beyond the obturator sleeve.

Claim 8

A trocar and cannula assembly, which comprises: a cannula assembly including a cannula defining an internal passageway therethrough; and a trocar assembly including: a housing portion; an obturator portion extending distally from the housing portion and being at least partially positionable within the internal passageway of the cannula, the obturator portion including: an obturator shaft mounted to the housing portion and having proximal and distal ends; a conductor element in mounted engagement with the obturator shaft and extending at least partially along the obturator shaft for conducting electrical energy from an electrical energy source; and an extension member connected to the distal end of the obturator shaft and having a conductive penetrating tip member associated therewith, the extension member being reciprocally longitudinally moveable relative to the obturator shaft between a first position which causes the conductive tip member to be in electrical communication with the conductor element and a second position which causes the conductive tip member to be electrically disassociated from the conductor element.

Claim 9

A trocar and cannula assembly, which comprises: a cannula assembly including a cannula defining an internal passageway therethrough; and a trocar assembly including: a housing portion; an obturator portion extending distally from the housing portion and being at least partially positionable within the internal passageway of the cannula, the obturator portion including: an obturator shaft mounted to the housing portion and having proximal and distal ends; a conductor element in mounted engagement with the obturator shaft and extending at least partially along the obturator shaft for conducting electrical energy from an electrical energy source; and an extension member connected to the distal end of the obturator shaft and having a conductive penetrating tip member associated therewith, the extension member being reciprocally longitudinally moveable relative to the obturator shaft between a first position which causes the conductive tip member to be in electrical communication with the conductor element and a second position which causes the conductive tip member to be electrically disassociated from the conductor element.

Claim 10

The trocar and cannula assembly according to claim 7 including a biasing member operatively engageable at a proximal end thereof with the obturator shaft and at a distal end thereof with the extension member, for biasing the extension member to the second position thereof.

Claim 11

The trocar and cannula assembly according to claim 7 including a conductor rod affixed to the obturator shaft and electrically connected to the conductor element wherein the conductive tip member is in electrical contact with the conductor rod upon movement of the extension member to the first position.

Claim 12

The trocar and cannula assembly according to claim 7 including a conductor rod affixed to the extension member and electrically connected to the conductive tip member, the conductor rod moveable with the extension member and being in electrical contact with the conductor element upon movement of the extension member to the first position.

Claim 13

The trocar and cannula assembly according to claim 7 wherein the penetrating tip member is mounted for rotational movement relative to the obturator shaft.

Claim 14

The trocar and cannula assembly according to claim 7 wherein the penetrating tip member is a conductive blade member.

Claim 15

The trocar and cannula assembly according to claim 7 further including an indicator mechanism associated with the conductor element for indicating when the penetrating tip member is in the first position thereof.

Claim 16

The trocar and cannula assembly according to claim 13 wherein the indicator mechanism includes a light.

Claim 17

The trocar and cannula assembly according to claim 7 wherein the obturator portion includes a support member for supporting the penetrating tip member, the support member being mounted to the extension member and having a recess for accommodating at least a portion of the penetrating tip member.

Claim 18

The trocar and cannula assembly according to claim 15 wherein the support member is mounted for rotational movement relative to the obturator shaft such that the penetrating tip member rotates therewith.

Claim 19

The trocar and cannula assembly according to claim 7 wherein the trocar assembly includes an obturator sleeve connected to and extending distally from the housing portion, the obturator portion being at least partially disposed within the obturator sleeve.

Claim 20

The trocar and cannula assembly according to claim 17 wherein the obturator shaft of the obturator portion is movement within the obturator sleeve between a retracted position wherein the penetrating tip member is contained within the obturator sleeve and an extended position wherein at least a portion of the penetrating tip member projects from a distal end of the obturator sleeve.

Claim 21

The trocar and cannula assembly according to claim 18 including means for releasably maintaining the obturator shaft in the extended position thereof.

Claim 22

The trocar and cannula assembly according to claim 19 wherein the means for releasably maintaining includes a latch mechanism, the latch mechanism including a latch member mounted to the obturator shaft and being configured and dimensioned to engage the obturator sleeve to maintain the obturator shaft in the extended position.

Claim 23

The trocar and cannula assembly according to claim 20 further including biasing means for biasing the obturator shaft to the retracted position thereof.

Claim 24

The trocar and cannula assembly according to claim 21 wherein the biasing means includes a spring member connected to the obturator shaft, the obturator shaft assuming the retracted position under influence of the spring member upon release of the latch member from the obturator sleeve.

Claim 25

The trocar and cannula assembly according to claim 20 wherein the latch mechanism includes a spring member, the spring member biasing the latch member into engagement with the obturator sleeve.

Claim 26

The trocar and cannula assembly according to claim 23 wherein the obturator sleeve includes an internal shelf portion, the latch member engageable with the internal shelf portion to maintain the obturator shaft in the extended position.

Claim 27

The trocar and cannula assembly according to claim 23 wherein the latch mechanism includes means for releasing the latch member from engagement of the latch member with the obturator sleeve.

Claim 28

The trocar and cannula assembly according to claim 25 wherein the releasing means includes a release member engageable with the latch member to move the latch member to a disengaged position disengaged from the obturator sleeve.

Claim 29

The trocar and cannula assembly according to claim 26 wherein the release member is configured and dimensioned to engage the latch member to move the latch member to the disengaged position upon movement of the extension member from the first position thereof to the second position thereof.