Patent · US Expired

Seal assembly for accommodating introduction of surgical instruments

US5492304A · kind A · utility

226Cited by
76References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 16, 1993
Grant dateFeb 20, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 16, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61M2039/0686
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A seal assembly is provided which includes a housing and resilient first seal means associated with the housing. The first seal means is preferably a gasket having an aperture formed therein for receiving surgical instrumentation adapted to cooperate with a dilating means having an exterior face associated with the housing for dilating the aperture of the gasket. The first seal means and the dilating means are adapted for relative movement therebetween, the first seal means and the dilating means assuming a first position wherein the aperture of the first seal means is spaced from the dilating means and is adapted to receive surgical instrumentation of a first diameter with minimal insertion force, and assuming a second position wherein the aperture of the first seal means is stretched around the exterior face of the dilating means for receiving surgical instrumentation of a second diameter greater than the first diameter with minimal insertion force.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.