[54] FLEXIBLE ENDOSCOPIC SURGICAL PORT
[75] Inventors: Roger L. Hildwein; Robert C.
Uschold, both of Cincinnati; J. D.
Staley, Jr., Loveland; Paul
Riestenberg, Cincinnati; Laura
Gallagher, Maineville; Rex Nagao,
Cincinnati, all of Ohio
[73] Assignee: Ethicon, Inc., Somerville, N.J.
[21] Appl. No.: 179,419
[22] Filed: Jan. 10, 1994
Related U.S. Application Data
[62] Division of Ser. No. 906,774, Jun. 30, 1992, abandoned.
[51] Int. CI. A61M 39/02
[52] U.S. CI 604/175; 604/264; 411/502
[58] Field of Search 606/185, 108,
606/117, 151, 198; 604/174, 175, 177, 178, 264, 164; 24/703.1, 713.6, 713.7; 411/503, 180, 181, 173, 174, 338, 57, 502
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FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
0 480 653 4/1992 European Pat. Off A61B 17/34
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1618-397A 1/1991 U.S.S.R. .
Primary Examiner—Michael H. Thaler
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Paul A. Coletti
[57] ABSTRACT
A flexible endoscopic surgical port comprises a trocar tube or cannula made partially or entirely of flexible material which can be inserted into a body wall at an intercostal location to allow the insertion and manipulation of endoscopic surgical instruments within the thoracic cavity. The surgical port includes a hollow tubular body which is inserted through an intercostal opening in the body wall extending into the thoracic cavity with an annular flange at one end of the tubular body projecting radially outward and engaging the body wall adjacent to the opening. The flange is able to flex relative to the tubular body whereby the surgical instrument inserted in the tubular body can be manipulated over a wide range of motion inside the thoracic cavity. A retainer ring can be installed at the end of the tubular body opposite to the flange to secure the surgical port in the body wall. Improved obturators are provided for installation of the flexible surgical port.
14 Claims, 18 Drawing Sheets
