Trocar system having cannula with finger grips

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6569119
  • Patent Number
    6,569,119
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, May 30, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, May 27, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
A trocar system is provide which preferably has a cannula having an elongate cannula body. The cannula body includes medial and distal portions thereof having a first diameter and a proximal portion thereof connected to the medial portion and having a second diameter. The second diameter is preferably larger or greater than the first diameter. A pair of finger grips are each connected to and extending outwardly from the proximal portion of the cannula body for gripping the cannula with the fingers of a hand of a user. A trocar having an elongate trocar body is positioned to extend through the cannula body. The trocar also having a handle connected to the trocar body for gripping of and handling of the trocar by a hand of a user.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to the field of medical devices and, more particularly, to trocar systems and methods.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




Trocar systems have been developed over the years for various endoscopic applications in the field of medicine. These trocar systems conventionally include a cannula through which a trocar or obturator or other endoscopic related tool extends. The trocar can be shielded or unshielded. Examples of shielded trocars can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,030 by Moll et al. titled “Trocar,” U.S. Pat. No. 4,931,042 by Holmes et al. titled “Trocar Assembly With Improved Latch,” U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,280 by Lander titled “Trocar,” and U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,206 by Lander titled “Trocar.” Other shielded trocars which are more cost effective to manufacture, less bulky to handle and ship, and yet produce reliable performance, however, are still needed.




It is also known to use one or more valves positioned within or connected to a proximal end of the cannula of a trocar system. Examples of such trocar systems having one or more valves in the cannula thereof can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,891 by Bushatz et al. titled “Seal Protection Apparatus,” U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,336 by Hart et al. titled “Seal Protection Mechanism,” U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,553 by Hart et al. titled “Trocar With Floating Septum Seal,” U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,812 by Hart et al. titled “Seal Assembly For Access Device,” U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,452 by Hart et al. titled “Seal Assembly For Access Device,” and U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,737 by Ritchart et al. titled “Lever Actuated Septum Seal.”




These devices, however, often have complex mechanical valves which can be difficult and expensive to manufacture. Accordingly, after use in surgical procedures, e.g., endoscopic, the cannulas having the valves therein are often thrown away, especially if they are not sterilizable. Therefore, this expensive cost is often past on to insurance providers and patients whom upon whom they are used.




Others of these valves for cannulas of trocar systems do not have complex mechanical valves, but can still be expensive or more difficult to manufacture. As costs often rise in the health care industry, insurance, consumers, and governmental agencies often strive to drive prices for medical devices down. Also, these other valves are often not flexible for various uses by physicians or medical personnel during surgical procedures and often can be damaged. Accordingly, there is also still a need for alternative cannula and valve configurations for trocar systems, a need less expensive trocar systems, a need for more flexible trocar systems which enhance handling thereof by medical personnel users, i.e., physicians, and trocar systems which are still effective for various endoscopic surgical procedures.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




With the foregoing in mind, the present invention advantageously provides a trocar system having relatively low costs associated with the manufacturing of components of the system, e.g., cannula, trocar, valves, and thereby reduces the cost associated with the trocar system. The present invention also advantageously provides a trocar system which enhances handling by physicians or medical personnel during surgical procedures. The present invention additionally advantageously provides a more flexible trocar system which is effective during various endoscopic surgical procedures. The present invention still also advantageously provides a cannula and a trocar which each are more ergonomic and easy to use. The present invention further advantageously provides enhanced methods of using and handling a trocar system during surgical procedures.




More particularly, a trocar system is provided which includes a cannula having an elongate cannula body, the cannula body having medial and distal portions thereof having a first diameter and a proximal portion thereof connected to the medial portion and having a second diameter. The second diameter is preferably larger than the first diameter. Finger gripping means are connected to and extend outwardly from the proximal portion of the cannula body for gripping the cannula with the fingers of a hand of a user. The system also includes a trocar having an elongate trocar body for extending through the cannula. The trocar preferably also has a handle connected to the trocar body for gripping of and handling of the trocar by a hand of a user.




The finger gripping means, for example, can be provided by a pair of finger grips. Each finger grip of the pair of finger grips has a finger support web. Each of the support webs is connected at a position substantially 180 degrees from the other of the pair. This position and arrangement, for example, advantageously allows the cannula to be manipulated and comfortably handled by the user. Because the cannula is preferably formed of a plastic disposable material, the support webs can easily be molded or manufactured in the same process as the forming of the cannula body. The finger grips are tactile and have a substantially ergonomic configuration.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




Some of the features, advantages, and benefits of the present invention having been stated, others will become apparent as the description proceeds when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:





FIG. 1

is a perspective environmental view of a trocar system positioned within a layer of epidermis of a patient according to the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a side elevational view of a trocar system according to the present invention;





FIG. 3

is a fragmentary sectional view of a trocar system having primary and secondary valves taken along line


3





3


of

FIG. 1

according to the present invention;





FIG. 4

is a fragmentary perspective view of a primary valve of a trocar system according to the present invention;





FIG. 5

is a sectional view of a primary valve of a trocar system taken along line


5





5


of

FIG. 4

according to the present invention;





FIG. 6

is a fragmentary top plan view of a shielded obturator of a trocar system according to the present invention;





FIG. 7

is a top plan view of an obturator removed from the shield of a shielded obturator of a trocar system according to the present invention;





FIG. 8

is a top plan view of a shield of a shielded obturator of a trocar system according to the present invention;





FIG. 9

is a perspective view of a secondary valve of a trocar system according to the present invention;





FIG. 10

is sectional view of a secondary valve of a trocar system taken along line


10





10


of

FIG. 9

according to the present invention;





FIG. 11

is a top plan view of another embodiment of a primary valve of a trocar system according to the present invention;





FIG. 12

is a perspective view of another embodiment of a primary valve of a trocar system according to the present invention;





FIG. 13

is a sectional view of another embodiment of a primary valve of a trocar system taken along line


13





13


of

FIG. 11

according to the present invention;





FIG. 14

is an enlarged fragmentary side plan view of a shielded trocar of a trocar system according to the present invention; and





FIG. 15

is a sectional view of a shielded trocar of a trocar system taken along line


15





15


of

FIG. 14

according to the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, the prime notation, if used, indicates similar elements in alternative embodiments.





FIG. 1

illustrates a trocar system


20


which preferably includes a cannula


30


having an elongate cannula body


31


. The cannula body


31


includes distal


32


and medial


33


portions thereof having a first diameter and a proximal portion


34


thereof connected to the medial portion


33


and having a second diameter. The second diameter is preferably larger or greater than the first diameter as illustrated. The trocar system


20


also has finger gripping means


35


connected to and extending outwardly from the proximal portion


34


of the cannula body


31


for gripping the cannula


30


with the fingers F of a hand H of a user U and a trocar


40


having an elongate trocar body


41


for extending through the cannula


30


. The trocar


40


also has a handle


50


connected to the trocar body


41


for gripping of and handling of the trocar


40


by a hand H of a user U.




As perhaps best shown in

FIGS. 1-3

, the finger gripping means


35


of the trocar system


20


, for example, can be provided by a pair of finger grips


36


,


37


connected to outer surfaces of the proximal portion of the cannula body. Each of the pair of finger grips includes a finger support web


38


,


39


to thereby define a pair of finger support webs. Each of the pair of finger support webs


38


,


39


is connected at a position substantially 180 degrees from the other of the pair as illustrated. The medial portion


33


of the cannula body


31


connects to the proximal portion


32


of the cannula body at an area defining a proximal transition region


25


. Each of the pair of support webs


38


,


39


has a distal peripheral surface


28


,


29


which extends outwardly from the proximal portion


34


of the cannula body


31


and extends proximally from a plane substantially perpendicular to the transition region


25


of the cannula body


31


.




Also, each of the tactile finger support webs


38


,


39


preferably has a roughened or ridged outer peripheral surface for reducing finger slippage when positioned on the finger support webs


38


,


39


(see FIG.


2


). Each of the pair of finger support webs


38


,


39


are preferably formed integrally with the cannula body


31


as a single piece. At least one of the pair of finger support webs


38


includes an auxiliary fluid port


22


extending through a medial portion of the fluid support web


38


to allow fluid, e.g., gas or liquid, to flow therethrough. A flow control valve


24


, e.g., a stop flow or on/off flow valve which slidably extends across the port


22


, is associated with the auxiliary fluid port


22


of the at least one


38


of the pair of finger support webs


38


,


39


for controlling fluid flow, such as carbon dioxide, through the ailiary fluid port


22


to the inner tubular portions of the cannula as illustrated.




Additionally, the medial portion


33


of the cannula body


31


includes a plurality of rib members


27


formed integrally with and extending outwardly from the outer surface of the cannula body


31


. As understood by those skilled in the art, the rib members form fascia threads, but the medial portion can-be smooth as well. The distal end portion


32


has peripheral cannula opening portions which are beveled and angle proximally from a first plane extending substantially perpendicular to a distal end of the distal portion of the cannula body


31


and extend along a second plane transverse to the first plane. The distal end portion, in essence, has distal bevel sheds forming a pre-peritoneal tent. The trocar body


41


of the trocar


40


has a sharpened distal end portion


42


and a shield


47


at least partially covering the distal end


42


.




According to additional aspects of the present invention, a cannula body end housing


60


is readily detachably connected to the proximal portion


34


of the cannula body


31


for housing at least one valve therein. First and second trocar valves


62


,


66


are either positioned substantially within or have portions positioned within the cannula body end housing


60


as illustrated, and each has an opening


63


,


67


in a medial portion thereof. The first valve


62


is positioned proximal of the second valve


66


and is preferably positioned entirely within the housing


60


as shown. The trocar


40


has an elongate trocar body


41


which also extends through the cannula body end housing


60


, the respective openings


63


,


67


of the first and second trocar valves, and the cannula body


31


.




The first or primary valve


62


is preferably formed of an elastomeric material which slidably deforms around the body of the trocar


40


when positioned therein to seal outer peripheries of the trocar body


41


abuttingly contacting inner peripheries of the opening


63


of the first valve


62


. The first valve


62


has a substantially planar proximal surface


64


and a substantially planar distal surface


65


. In a first embodiment of the first or primary valve, the elastomeric material preferably includes a fiberous material being impregnated with a silicon material to enhance the strength of the valve


62


and to enhance sliding and sealing of the body


41


of the trocar


40


(see FIGS.


4


-


5


). In this embodiment, the fiberous material can also have accumulations or beads of silicon or other similar materials positioned around outer peripheries and/or around the opening


63


thereof. In a second or alternative embodiment, the first or primary valve


62


′ is preferably formed of a Neoprene material as understood by those skilled in the art, e.g., Nylon and/or Lycra material, such as used in dive suits or other type of applications (see FIGS.


11


-


13


). The Neoprene material preferably has a closed-cell configuration and is laser cut for forming the valve. The first valve


62


,


62


′ preferably has a stretching or elastic range to readily accomodate, e.g., auto-reduction, trocars or other instruments having a diameter of about 4 millimeters to about 13 millimeters as understood by those skilled in the art while still maintaining pneumoperitoneum. The second valve


66


preferably has this range as well, but individually can even have a greater range, e.g., 0 mm to 13 or 14 mm. Accordingly, with the first and second valve


62


,


66


in combination, the trocar system advantageously can receive different diameter instruments without the necessity of switching cannulas or valve systems. Notably, the first valve


62


,


62


′ is also preferably fixedly secured to the end housing, e.g., preferably by the outer peripheries thereof between lips, edges, or inwardly extending projections of portions of the housing


60


, to enhance guiding, sealing, and other performance criteria of the primary valve


62


in the trocar system.




The second valve


66


preferably has an annular flange portion


71


for enhancing positioning of the second valve


66


within the end housing


60


, annular-shaped sidewalls


68


connected to the annular flange and extending distally when positioned in the end housing, and at least a pair of valve flaps


69


connected to and extending inwardly from the sidewalls


68


and/or flange portion


71


. The sidewalls, for example, can extending distally of the end housing so that the flange portion


71


retains only portions of the valve within the end housing and yet slidably or in a spaced-apart relation have other portions which are positioned within the proximal portion of the cannula body. The pair of valve flaps


69


have at least one slit along common peripheral edges thereof through which the trocar body


41


extends. The second valve


66


also preferably has ribs or rib members connected to, e.g., formed integrally therewith as a single piece, the sidewalls


68


as illustrated to reduce drag as will be understood by those skilled in the art. The second valve is also preferably impregnated with a lubricant such as an oil material to enhance performance of the valve.




The end housing


60


has a substantially annular shape, has a first opening


58


at a proximal end, and has a second opening


59


at a distal end. The first valve


62


is positioned adjacent the first opening


58


, and the second valve is positioned spaced-apart from the first valve


62


and adjacent the second opening


59


. The outer surface of the end housing


60


is roughened to enhance gripping and rotating thereof by a hand of a user when readily detaching the end housing


60


from the proximal portion of the cannula body


31


. The proximal end portion of the cannula body


31


has at least one end housing mating portion


26


associated therewith and the end housing


60


also has at least one cannula body mating portion


27


associated therewith so that the end housing


60


matingly attaches to the cannula body


31


in a secured position and whereby movement of the end housing


60


, e.g., rotational, by a hand of a user releases, e.g., unsecures or unlocks, the respective mating portions


26


,


27


for ready removal of the end housing


60


by the user with the first and second valves


62


,


66


positioned therein and so that specimens, e.g., tissue, can be readily removed from the cannula body


31


without damage by the first and second valves


62


,


66


. The cannula body


31


is preferably formed of a clear plastic material so that direct visualization of specimen removal and instrument passage can be advantageously provided. This, for example, allows various types of cutting, gripping, or other types of tools to be inserted through the cannula


30


for various endoscopic procedures.




According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the trocar


40


, or spike or obturator if used as well, of the trocar system


20


preferably has an elongate trocar body


41


for extending through the cannula


30


. The elongate trocar body


41


has a sharpened distal end portion


42


, a medial portion


43


thereof having a first diameter, and a proximal portion


44


having a second diameter. The second diameter is preferably larger or greater than the first diameter. The trocar


40


also has a handle


50


connected to a proximal end portion


44


of the trocar body


41


for gripping of and handling of the trocar


40


by a hand H of a user U and a shield


45


slidably mounted to the medial portion


43


of the trocar body


41


and biased in an extended position so that a distal end


46


of the shield


45


coveringly protects the sharpened distal end


42


of the trocar body


41


until pressure is applied thereagainst so that the shield


45


slidably moves toward the proximal portion


44


of the trocar body


41


in a retracted position. The shield


45


preferably has a third diameter which is at least equal to or less than the second diameter as illustrated.




The shield


45


has a tubular-shaped shield body


47


that substantially surrounds the medial portion


43


of the trocar body


41


and biasing means, e.g., provided by a spring


48


or other biasing member, positioned between an outer surface of the medial portion


43


of the trocar body


41


and an inner surface of the tubular-shaped shield body


47


. The trocar body


41


preferably includes a trocar body transition region having an outer surface extending outwardly from the medial portion


43


to the proximal portion


44


and defining a shield stop


49


when the shield


45


is biased to the retracted position. The shield stop


49


is preferably a first shield stop, and a second shield stop


46


, such as provided by a rod or pin member can also or alternatively be connected to the trocar body


41


and cooperates with the shield body


47


, e.g., to through a slot formed therein, to provide an alternative or an auxiliary stop for the shield body


47


when moving to the retracted position.




The sharpened distal end portion


42


, e.g., preferably having a pyramidal tip, of the trocar


40


preferably has a fourth diameter. The fourth diameter is preferably larger than the first diameter of the medial portion


43


of the trocar body


41


. The shield body


47


also preferably has a beveled distal end which corresponds to the shape and position of the sharpended distal end portion and which extends beyond a distal end of the sharpened distal end portion


42


of the trocar body


41


. This shield body can, for example, have a protruding section as illustrated or have other shaped protruding section, e.g., a nosed or other tip with which contact allows the shield body to retract and yet not significantly damage the object, tissue or other item to which it abuttingly contacts.




As illustrated in

FIGS. 1-13

, the present invention also includes a method of handling a trocar system


20


. The method includes gripping a cannula


30


with fingers F of a hand H of a user U so that the fingers F abuttingly contact at least one support web


38


,


39


connected to and extending outwardly from a body


31


of the cannula


30


and slidably positioning a trocar


40


through the cannula body


31


when being gripped by the fingers F of the hand H of the user U.




The present invention also includes a method of using a trocar system


20


having the steps of detaching a cannula end housing


60


from a proximal end portion of a cannula body and removing tissue or other specimen as understood by those skilled in the art from the cannula body


31


. The method can also include the end housing


60


having at least one valve


62


,


66


positioned therein. The cannula end housing


60


and the cannula body


31


each have a substantially annular shape, and the cannula body


31


has a medial portion


33


having a first diameter and a proximal portion


34


connected to the medial portion


33


and having a second diameter. The second diameter is preferably larger or greater than the first diameter. The method can further include the detaching step including rotating the cannula end housing


60


a preselected rotational direction, e.g., counter-clockwise, and the at least one valve


62


,


66


including a first and a second valve


62


,


66


each connected to the cannula end housing


60


(see

FIGS. 3-5

and


9


-


13


).




Additionally, the present invention can include a method of using a trocar


40


. The method preferably has the steps of inserting a trocar


40


through the body


31


of a cannula


30


, retracting a shield


45


of the trocar


40


from a distal end portion


42


of the trocar


40


toward a proximal end portion


44


of the trocar


40


responsive to pressure on a distal end portion


46


of the shield


45


, and stopping the retracting of the shield


45


by the use of a transition region between a medial portion of the trocar and a proximal portion of the trocar or by the use of another stop member. The method can also include the trocar


40


having a handle


50


connected to a proximal portion


44


thereof, the handle


50


has a thumb rest


53


positioned on an outer surface thereof, and the step of inserting preferably includes pressing the thumb of a user on the thumb rest


53


of the handle


50


when passing through the cannula body


31


.




In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed a typical preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, the terms are used in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The invention has been described in considerable detail with specific reference to these illustrated embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that various modifications and changes can be made within the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the foregoing specification and as defined in the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. A trocar system comprising:a cannula having an elongate cannula body, the cannula body including medial and distal portions thereof having a first diameter and a proximal portion thereof connected to the medial portion and having a second diameter, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter; a detachable cap attached to the proximal portion of the housing, said cap further including at least one valve therein; finger gripping means connected to and extending outwardly from the proximal portion of the cannula body for gripping the cannula with the fingers of a hand of a user, wherein said finger gripping means includes a pair of finger grips connected to outer surfaces of the proximal portion of the cannula body, each of the pair of finger grips comprising a finger support web to thereby define a pair of finger support webs, and wherein each of the pair of finger support webs is connected at a position substantially 180 degrees from the other of the pair; an auxiliary fluid port extending through a medial portion of at least one of the finger support webs; and a trocar having an elongate trocar body for extending through the cannula, the trocar also having a handle connected to the trocar body for gripping of and handling of the trocar by a hand of a user.
  • 2. A trocar system as defined in claim 1, wherein the distal end portion has peripheral cannula opening portions which angle proximally from a first plane extending substantially perpendicular to a distal end of the distal portion of the cannula body and extend along a second plane transverse to the first plane.
  • 3. A trocar system as defined in claim 2, wherein the trocar body of said trocar has a sharpened distal end and a shield at least partially covering the distal end.
  • 4. A trocar system as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the finger support webs have a roughened outer peripheral surface for reducing finger slippage when positioned on the finger support webs.
  • 5. A trocar system as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the pair of finger support webs are formed integrally with the cannula body as a single piece.
  • 6. A trocar system as defined in claim 1, wherein the medial portion of the cannula body connects to the proximal portion of the cannula body at an area defining a proximal transition region, wherein each of the pair of support webs has a distal peripheral surface which extends outwardly from the proximal portion of the cannula body and extends proximally from a plane substantially perpendicular to the transition region of the cannula body.
  • 7. A trocar system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a flow control valve associated with the auxiliary fluid port of the at least one of the pair of finger support webs for controlling fluid flow through the auxiliary fluid port.
  • 8. A trocar system as defined in claim 1, wherein the medial portion of the cannula body including a plurality of rib members formed integrally with and extending outwardly from the outer surface of the cannula body.
  • 9. A trocar system comprising:a cannula having an elongate cannula body, the cannula body including medial and distal portions thereof having a first diameter and a proximal portions thereof connected to the medial portion and having a second diameter, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter; a detachable cap attached to the proximal portion of the housing, said cap further including at least one valve therein; at least a pair of finger grips connected to and extending outwardly from the proximal portion of the cannula body for gripping the cannula with the fingers of a hand of a user, wherein each of the pair of finger grips comprising a finger support web to thereby define a pair of finger support webs, and wherein each of the pair of finger support webs is connected at a position substantially 180 degrees from the other of the pair; an auxiliary fluid port extending through a medial portion of at least one of the finger support webs; and a trocar having an elongate trocar body for extending through the cannula.
  • 10. A trocar system as defined in claim 9, wherein the medial portion of the cannula body including a plurality of rib members formed integrally with and extending outwardly from the outer surface of the cannula body.
  • 11. A trocar system as defined in claim 10, wherein the distal end portion has peripheral cannula opening portions which angle proximally from a first plane extending substantially perpendicular to a distal end of the distal portion of the cannula body and extend along a second plane transverse to the first plane.
  • 12. A trocar system as defined in claim 11, wherein the trocar body of said trocar has a sharpened distal end and a shield at least partially covering the distal end.
  • 13. A trocar system as defined in claim 9, wherein the medial portion of the cannula body connects to the proximal portion of the cannula body at an area defining a proximal transition region, wherein each of the pair of support webs has a distal peripheral surface which extends outwardly from the proximal portion of the cannula body and extends proximally from a plane substantially perpendicular to the transition region of the cannula body.
  • 14. A trocar system as defined in claim 9, wherein each of the finger support webs have a roughened outer peripheral surface for reducing finger slippage when positioned on the finger support webs.
  • 15. A trocar system as defined in claim 9, wherein each of the pair of finger support webs are formed integrally with the cannula body as a single piece.
  • 16. A trocar system as defined in claim 9, further comprising a flow control valve associated with the auxiliary fluid port of the at least one of the pair of finger support webs for controlling fluid flow through the auxiliary fluid port.
  • 17. A cannula comprising:an elongate cannula body, the cannula body including medial and distal portions thereof having a first diameter and a proximal portion thereof connected to the medial portion and having a second diameter, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter; a detachable cap attached to the proximal portion of the housing, said cap further including at least one valve therein; finger gripping means connected to and extending outwardly from the proximal portion of the cannula body for gripping the cannula with the fingers of the hand of a user, wherein said finer gripping means includes a pair of finger grips connected to outer surfaces of the proximal portion of the cannula body, each of the pair of finger grips comprising a finger support web to thereby define a pair of finger support webs, and wherein each of the pair of finger support webs is connected at a position substantially 180 degrees from the other of the pair, wherein each of the pair of finger support webs are formed integrally with the cannula body as a single piece; and an auxiliary fluid port extending through a medial portion of at least one of the finger support webs.
  • 18. A trocar system as defined in claim 17, further comprising a flow control valve associated with the auxiliary fluid port of the at least one of the pair of finger support webs for controlling fluid flow through the auxiliary fluid port.
  • 19. A trocar system as defined in claim 18, wherein the medial portion of the cannula body including a plurality of rib members formed integrally with and extending outwardly from the outer surface of the cannula body.
  • 20. A trocar system as defined in claim 19, wherein the distal end portion has peripheral cannula opening portions which angle proximally from a first plane extending substantially perpendicular to a distal end of the distal portion of the cannula body and extend along a second plane transverse to the first plane.
  • 21. A trocar system as defined in claim 17, wherein the medial portion of the cannula body connects to the proximal portion of the cannula body at an area defining a proximal transition region, wherein each of the pair of support webs has a distal peripheral surface which extends outwardly from the proximal portion of the cannula body and extends proximally from a plane substantially perpendicular to the transition region of the cannula body.
  • 22. A trocar system as defined in claim 21, wherein each of the finger support webs have a roughened outer peripheral surface for reducing finger slippage when positioned on the finger support webs.
RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation in part of U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/117,520 filed on Jan. 26, 2000, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

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5496289 Wenstrom, Jr. Mar 1996 A
5545150 Danks et al. Aug 1996 A
5792112 Hart et al. Aug 1998 A
5980493 Smith et al. Nov 1999 A
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number Date Country
1 617 924 Sep 1994 EP
Continuation in Parts (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 29/117520 Jan 2000 US
Child 09/580616 US