Patent Application
20120245423
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an access port for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures, such as endoscopic or laparoscopic-type procedures, and more particularly to a surgical access port with an external sealing member for body surfaces.
2. Background of Related Art
Today, many surgical procedures are performed through small incisions in the skin, as compared to the larger incisions typically required in traditional procedures, in an effort to reduce both trauma to the patient and recovery time. Generally, such procedures are referred to as endoscopic, unless performed on the patient's abdomen, in which case the procedure is referred to as laparoscopic. Throughout the present disclosure, the term minimally invasive should be understood to encompass both endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures. During a typical minimally invasive procedure, surgical objects, such as surgical access ports (e.g., trocar and/or cannula assemblies), endoscopes, or other instruments, are inserted into the patient's body through the incision in tissue. Prior to the introduction of the surgical object into the patient's body, insufflation gases may be used to enlarge the area surrounding the target surgical site to create a larger, more accessible work area. Accordingly, the maintenance of a substantially fluid-tight seal is desirable so as to inhibit the escape of the insufflation gases and the deflation or collapse of the enlarged surgical site.
To this end, various access members are used during the course of minimally invasive procedures and are widely known in the art. A continuing need exists for an access member of a universal size that can be inserted into a variety of tissue incision sites and maintain the conditions of the insufflated surgical site. It is desirable to accommodate a variety of tissue incisions and body surface conditions, and adapt to changing conditions at the surgery site.
In accordance with various embodiments, the present disclosure is directed toward a surgical access port having an external sealing member. The surgical access port includes a cylindrical member that defines a longitudinal axis and has proximal and distal ends. The proximal and distal ends of the cylindrical member are defined by a pair of rims or flanges that are oriented substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis. At least one lumen extends through the cylindrical member from the proximal end to the distal end; the lumen is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The surgical access port may be inserted into an incision site such that the rims at the proximal and distal ends of the cylindrical member anchor the surgical access port into a body member.
The surgical access port also includes a sealing member having opposing openings at proximal and distal ends of the sealing member. The opening at the proximal end of the sealing member is in contact with the proximal end of the sealing member, and may engage the rim at the proximal end of the cylindrical member. The sealing member may form a substantially fluid-tight seal with a body surface.
In embodiments, the sealing member may also include a fluid inlet port incorporating a valve to control the flow of fluids into or out of the sealing member. The sealing member may also include a port for the receipt of insufflation fluid. In other configurations, the distal end of the sealing member may be attached to body surface with the aid of an adhesive. Further, the sealing member may be shaped or contoured to contact a contoured body surface or a body surface region with a particular geometry.
Also disclosed is a method of positioning a surgical access port involving placing the surgical access port in a body member and placing the sealing member in contact with a body surface such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed. With the surgical access port in place, surgical instruments can be inserted in the lumens and minimally invasive procedures performed in an internal body cavity. When the minimally invasive procedure is completed the surgical instruments and surgical access port can be removed from the body member.
The various aspects of this disclosure will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawings.
The present disclosure will now describe in detail embodiments of a surgical access port with reference to the drawings in which like reference numerals designate identical or substantially similar parts in each view. Throughout the description, the term “proximal” will refer to the portion of the assembly closest to the operator, whereas the term “distal” will refer to the portion of the assembly farthest from the operator. Although discussed in terms of an incision for a minimally invasive procedure, the presently disclosed surgical access port may be used in any naturally occurring orifice (e.g. mouth, anus, or vagina).
Referring initially to
Extending through the cylindrical member 110 along the longitudinal axis A1 is at least one lumen 120, and in embodiments, multiple lumens 120. The lumens 120 are disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A1. An access port of the type generally described above is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2009/0093752 A1 and 2010/0240960 A1, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Surgical access port 100 also includes a sealing member 130 disposed on the outside of the cylindrical member 110. The sealing member has a proximal end 130a and a distal end 130b, each end having opposing openings defining a passage therethrough for receiving the cylindrical member 110. The sealing member 130 is disposed on an outer surface of the cylindrical member 110 such the proximal end 130 of the sealing member 130 is in contact with the proximal end 110a of the cylindrical member 110. The proximal end 130a of the sealing member 130 may engage the rim at the proximal end 110a of the cylindrical member 110.
Distal end 130b of sealing member 130b may contain a sidewall 130c surrounding the passage for receiving the cylindrical member 110. Sidewall 130c extends from the opening in the proximal end 130a of the sealing member 130 to at least a body surface 400a, and in embodiments, further into the layer of tissue 400. The sidewall 130c serves to partition the space beneath the sealing member 130 from the cylindrical member 110. Further, sidewall 130c sealably engages the outer surface of cylindrical member 110, securing cylindrical member 110 in place and inhibiting the escape of insufflation gases from an internal body cavity 400b.
Sealing member 130 and cylindrical member 110 may be formed as a single unit, or may be separable components. Having the sealing member 130 and the cylindrical member 110 separable from each other allows the cylindrical member 110 to be removed and replaced while utilizing the same sealing member 130.
The body of sealing member 130 is formed of a flexible, yet resilient material suitable to retain fluid and remain in contact with a body member, e.g., a polymeric material. The sealing member 130 is configured and dimensioned to form a substantially fluid-tight seal with a body surface 400a. Such a seal is accomplished when fluids are expelled from the space between sealing member 130 and body surface 400a.
To aid in the evacuation of fluids from the space between the distal end 130b of the sealing member 130 and the sidewall 130c, a fluid release port 140 may be provided. Fluid release port 140 may include a valve suitable for the purpose of controlling the flow of fluids into or out of the sealing member 130, e.g., a duckbill valve or a bi-valve. Fluid release port may further be coupled to a source of vacuum 500 to aid in the evacuation of fluids from sealing member 130. Source of vacuum 500 may be any source capable of drawing fluid from the space between the distal end 130b of the sealing member 130 and the sidewall 130c, e.g., a syringe or pump. Source of vacuum 500 may be coupled to the fluid release port 140 with a tube 500b.
Turning now to
Referring to
Turning now to
With the evacuation of the fluid in the space between the distal end 130b of the sealing member 130 and the sidewall 130c, a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed. The sealed engagement of sidewall 130c with an outer surface of cylindrical member 110 inhibits insufflation gases from escaping internal body cavity 400b. This is especially important in situations where the cylindrical member 110 is sized smaller than the incision in the tissue layer 400, and insufflation fluids are more likely to escape the internal body cavity 400b. Thus, a surgical access port 100 may have a cylindrical member 110 of universal size, and a sealing member 130 that can be adapted to a variety of surgical sites.
Referring to
Turning now to
Force may be applied in a direction proximally along the longitudinal axis, as shown, to cause the seal 130 to release from body surface 400a. Alternatively, the fluid inlet port 150 may be manipulated such that fluid flows into the fluid inlet port 150 and sealing member 130.
Fluid is shown flowing into fluid inlet port 150 as well as under distal end 130b of sealing member 130. As fluid fills the space between the distal end 130b of the sealing member 130 and the sidewall 130c, the sealed relation between sealing member 130 and body surface 400a dissipates.
In use, an operator positions the cylindrical member of the surgical access port in place in a layer of tissue 400. Sealing member 130 is engaged by an operator and pressed into a substantially fluid-tight seal with a body surface 400a, as shown in
Alternatively, the sealing member 130 may be placed and sealed to body surface prior to the introduction of cylindrical member 110. Cylindrical member 110 may be inserted thereafter. Similarly, in removing the surgical access port 100, the sealed relation of the sealing member 130 and body surface 400a may be maintained due to the presence of sidewall 130c, allowing the cylindrical member 110 to be removed prior to the sealing member 130.
Turning now to
When fluids are introduced or expelled from the space between the distal end 130b of the sealing member 130 and the sidewall 130c, as shown in
Referring to
Disposed on the outside of cylindrical member 110 is sealing member 230. Sealing member 230 has a proximal end 230a and a distal end 230b having opposing openings. As in sealing member 130 discussed earlier, sealing member 230 is disposed on the outer surface of cylindrical member 110 such that the proximal end 230a of sealing member 230 engages proximal end 110a of cylindrical member 110. Sealing member 230 may also incorporate a sidewall 230c to partition the space between the distal end 230b of the sealing member 230 and the sidewall 230c from the internal body cavity 400b. Distal end 230b of sealing member 230 is shaped or contoured such that it engages a body surface 400a with a particular surface geometry. Such a surface geometry may be uneven or otherwise irregular because of its particular location on the body, such as at a joint or near a limb. Surgical access port 200 functions in substantially the same manner as described earlier with respect to surgical access port 100, and may include a fluid inlet port 140 to aid in forming a substantially fluid-tight seal between sealing member 130 and body surface 700a.
It will be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiments disclosed herein. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.
The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/466,553, filed on Mar. 23, 2011, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61466553 | Mar 2011 | US |
