Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02482727 2004-09-28
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is based upon U.S. Provisional Patent Application
No.GO/50G,725, filed
Septeriibex 30, 2003, entitled "TROCAR ASSEMBLY TIP PROTECTOR", which is
currently
pending.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to packaging devices far trocar assemblies. More
particularly, the
invention relates to a packaging device for trocar assemblies facilitating
support of both a trocar
sleeve and a trocar obturator while also providing for protection from the
tips of the trocar sleeve
and obturator.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A ttocar assembly is a surgical instrument that is used to gain access to a
body cavity. A
trocar assembly generally comprises two major components, a trocax sleeve,
composed of a trocar
housing and a trocar cannula, and a trocar obturator. The trocar sleeve,
having the trocar obturator
inserted therethrough, is directed through the skin to access a body cavity.
Once the body cavity is
accessed, Iaparoscopic or arthroscopic surgery and endoscopic procedures may
be perfoxmed. In
order to penetrate the skin, the distal end of the trocar sleeve is placed
against the skin that has been
previously cut with a scalpel. The trocar obturator is then used to penetrate
the skin and access the
body cavity. By applying pressure against the proximal end of the trocar
obturator, the sharp point
of the trocar obturator is forced through the skin until it enters the body
cavity. The trocar sleeve is
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inserted through the perforation made by the obturator and the obturator is
withdrawn, leaving the
trocar sleeve as an access way to the body cavity.
The proximal end portion of the trocar sleeve is typically adjoined by a
housing that defines
a chamber having an open distal end portion that communicates with the
interior lumen defined by
the ttocar sleeve. An obturator, or other elongated surgical instruments,
axially extend into and are
withdrawn from the txocar sleeve through the proximal end portion of the
chamber. Trocar
obturators axe typically designed with a sharp tip that is used to puncture
the abdominal wall.
Trocar packaging designs much ensure that the sharp tip of the trocar
obturator does not puncture
the packaging material that forms the stersle barxier. If the material used
for the sterile barrier is not
strong enough to prevent puncture on its own, an ancillary form of protection
is required.
Typically, a tip protector is used for trocar assemblies, especially trocar
obturators. Current
tip protectors generally consist of a cap that completely encapsulates the
sharp tip of the trocar
obturator. Such caps completely obscure the view of the tip of the ttocar
obturator as it sits in the
unopened package. It is, however, important for those using these instruments
to be able to visibly
identify the tip style prior to use. This is especially important when a
variety of different obturator
tip styles are available.
In addition to the tip problem discussed above, problems exist when providing
packaging
for surgical trocar assemblies. Some txocar assembly designs require that the
trocar assembly be
packaged with the obtuxator not inserted into the trocar sleeve. If this is
the case, a two-piece device
assembly must be packaged.
Surveys of operating room nurses responsible fox removing trocar assemblies
from their
packages reveal that nurses prefer to dispense a single assembly from the
trocax assembly package
CA 02482727 2004-09-28
rather than a two-piece assembly. Reasons for preferring a one-piece assembly
include reducing the
opportunity for components to roll off from the sterile field as well as the
desire to keep the
obturator and trocar sleeve matched up together when dispensing or unpacking
numerous different
trocar types.
As a result, it is readily apparent that a trocar assembly packaging device is
needed which
overcomes the shortcomings of prior trocar assembly packaging devices. The
present invention
provides such a trocar assembly packaging device.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a packaging
device for a trocar
assembly. The packaging device includes a housing member having a fucst
retaining member
adapted for selective retention of a trocar assembly component relative to the
housing member
along a component longitudinal axis. The housing member further includes a
shield member
remote from the first retaining member. The shield member lies in a shield
longitudinal axis which
is substantially perpendicular to the component longitudinal axis. The housing
member is
substantially open adjacent the shield member along the component longitudinal
axis.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a trocar assembly
including a
packaging device. The trocar assembly includes a txocar sleeve having a trocar
sleeve tip, a trocar
obturator having a trocar obturator tip and a housing member. The housing
member includes a first
retaining member adapted for selective retention of the trocar sleeve along a
first longitudinal axis
and a second retaining member adapted fox selective retention of the trocar
obturator along a
second longitudinal axis. The first and second longitudinal axes are
substantially parallel. The
housing member further includes a shield member remote from the first and
second retaining
members. The shield member lies in a shield longitudinal axis which is
substantially perpendicular
to the first and second longitudinal axes. The trocar sleeve tip and the
trocar obturator tip are
respectively positioned adjacent the shield member.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent
from the
following detailed description when viewed in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, which
set forth certain embodiments of the invention.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a packaging device in accordance with the
present
invention.
Figure 2 is an alternate embodiment of a packaging device in accordance with
the present
invention.
Figure 3 is still a further embodiment of a packaging device in accordance
with the present
mventton.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the packaging device shown in Figure 2 with
the txocax
sleeve and trocar obturator attached.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. It
should be
understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of
the invention, which
may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the details disclosed herein are
not to be interpreted
as liriziting, but merely as the basis for the claims and as a basis for
teaching one skilled in the art
how to make and/or use the invention.
With reference to Figure 1, a packaging device 10 for tzocax assembly
components, fox
example, a trocax sleeve 12 and a trocar obturator 14 of a trocar assembly 16
(see Figure 4), is
disclosed. The packaging device 10 includes a molded plastic housing member 18
that serves as a
tip protector fox trocar assemblies. The packaging device 10 further provides
for supporting the
txocax obtuxator 14 adjacent the trocar sleeve 12 in a convenient manner.
While the present
packaging device is disclosed in accordance with a preferred embodiment as
being constructed from
molded plastic, the packaging device may be manufactured from a variety of
materials without
departing from the spirit of the present invention.
The packaging device 10 includes a unitary housing member 18 with adjacent
retaining
members, for example, first and second sleeves 20, 22, mounted upon a base
member, or bridge 24.
The first and second sleeves 20, 22 are joined to each other via the base
member 24. Briefly, the
shafts of the trocar obturatox 14 and trocax sleeve 12 are held parallel to
each other when they are
placed into the respective first and second sleeves 20, 22. That is, the first
and second sleeves 20, 22
support the trocar obturator 14 and the trocax sleeve 12 along respective
first and second
longitudinal axes 26, 28 that are substantially parallel (see Figure 4).
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CA 02482727 2004-09-28
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of
the first and
second sleeves 20, 22 are shaped and dimensioned to fiictionally hold the
shafts of the trocar
obturator 14 and/or the trocar sleeve 12. As such, the first and second
sleeves 20, 22 axe shaped
and dimensioned to respectively frictionally engage the txocar obturator 14
and the txocar sleeve 12
as they axe slid within the sleeves 20, 22. Frictional engagement of the
txocar obturatox 14 and the
trocar sleeve 12 is enhanced by the provision of standoffs 30 along the base
member 24. In addition
to assisting in the frictional engagement of the trocar obturator 14 and
txocar sleeve 12, the
standoffs 30 respectively associate with each of the first and second sleeves
20, 22 create air space
around the components, which is necessary for gas sterilization.
The tips of both the trocar sleeve 12 a.nd the trocar obturator 14 are
protected by a shield
member 32 positioned forward of the first and second sleeves 20, 22 and
extending upwardly from
the fonvaxd end 34 of the base member 24. In fact, the housing member 18 is
substantially open
between the shield member 32 and the first and second sleeves 20, 22 along the
component
longitudinal axes 26, 28. The shield member 32 is shaped and dimensioned to
function as a stop for
the tips of the trocar obtuxator 14 and txocax sleeve 12. The shield member 32
further protects the
tips from contacting the next layer of packaging material that may form a
sterile barrier for the
trocar assembly 16.
The packaging device 10, and particularly the shield member 32, is formed such
that the tips
of the trocax obtuxator 14 and the trocar sleeve 12 axe covered only at.their
ends by the shield
member 32 and the backsides of the trocar obturator 14 and txocar sleeve 12
are slightly covered by
the base member 24, the ftrst sleeve 20, the second sleeve 22 and to shield
member 32. In fact, the
base member 24 under the first sleeve 20 and the second sleeve 22 is open to
enhance viewing of
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the trocar sleeve 12 and the trocar obtuxator T4. In addition; the spacing
provides an open area
surrounding the trocar obturator 14 and trocar sleeve 12 fox sterilization and
other purposes.
Therefore, the front surfaces of the tips of the trocar obturator 14 and
trocar sleeve 12 axe
unobscured and can easily be identified. In addition, the packaging device 10
includes a handle
member 3G extending from the shield rtiembex 32. The handle member 36 is
generally sized to
permit ready handling by those using the present packaging device 10.
With reference to Figures 2 and 4, a further embodiment of a packaging device
110 in
accordance with the present invention is disclosed. The packaging device 110
includes a molded
plastic housing member 118 that serves as a tip protector for trocar assembly
16, in particular, the
trocar obtuxatox 14 and trocar sleeve 12 of a trocar assembly 16. The
packaging device 110 further
provides for supporting the trocar obtuxatox 14 adjacent the trocar sleeve 12
in a convenient
manner. While the present packaging device 110 is disclosed in accordance with
a preferred
embodiment as being constructed from molded plastic, the packaging device 110
may be
manufactured from a variety of materials without departing from the spirit of
the present invention.
The packaging device 110 includes a ua~itary housing member 118 with adjacent
retaining
members, for example, first and second side-loaded clips 120, 122. The first
and second side-loaded
clips 120, 122 axe joined to each other via a bridge 124 of plastic material.
Briefly, the shafts of the
txocax obtuxator 14 and txocar sleeve 12 are held parallel to each other when
they are placed into the
respective first and second side-loaded clips 120, 112. That is, the first and
second side-loaded clips
120, 122 support the txocar obtuxator 14 and the trocar sleeve 12 along
respective first and second
longitudinal axes 26, 28 that are substantially parallel.
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CA 02482727 2004-09-28
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of
the first and
second side-loaded clips 120, 122 are shaped and dimensioned to securely hold
the shaft of a trocar
obturator 14 and/or a trocar sleeve 12. As such, the first and second side-
loaded clips 120, 122 are
formed with a basic resilience allowing for selective insertion and retrieval
o~ the trocax obtuxator 14
and trocar sleeve 12 to and from the packaging device 110. In addition, each
of the first and second
side-loaded clips 120, 122 includes standoffs 130 along the interior surface
thereof. The standoffs
230 create air space around the components, which is necessary for gas
sterilization.
The tips of both the trocar sleeve 12 and the txocar obturator 14 axe
protected by a shield
member 132 perpendicularly oriented relative to the bridge 124 connecting the
first and second side-
loaded clips 120, 122. More specifically, the bridge 124 includes a connecting
member 125
extending from the first and second side-loaded clips 120, 122. The connecting
member 125
connects the shield member 132 to the first and second side-loaded clips 120,
122.
With this in mind, the connecting member 125 extends a sufficient distance to
space the first
and second side-loaded clips 120, 122 from the shield member 132. The ends of
the bridge 124
forming the connecting member 125 turn outwardly, merging into the shield
member 132 such that
the longitudinal axis 26, 28 of a trocar sleeve or obturator 12, 14 mounted
within the side-loaded
clips 120, 122 extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shield
member 132. The shield
member 132 is shaped and dimensioned to function as a stop fox the tips of the
trocar obturator 14
and trocar sleeve 12. The shield member 132 further protects the tips from
contacting the next layer
of packaging material that may form a sterile barrier for a trocar assembly.
The packaging device 110, and particularly the shield member 132, axe formed
such that the
tips of the trocar obturator 14 and the trocax sleeve 12 are covered only at
their ends by the shield
CA 02482727 2004-09-28
member 132 and the backsides of the ttocax obturator 14 and trocax sleeve 12
are slightly cover by
the bridge 124, the first side-loaded clip 120 and the second side-loaded clip
122. Therefore, the
front surfaces of the tips are unobscured and can easily be identified. In
addition, the shield
member 132 includes wrap around side surfaces 133. The wrap around side
surfaces 133 aid in
containment of the tips of the trocar obturator 14 and the trocax sleeve 12
should there be any
deflection of the tip protector under load.
An alternate embodiment of the packaging device 210 is disclosed with
reference to Figure
3. As with the embodiment described above, the packaging device 210 includes a
molded plastic
housing member 218 that serves as a tip protector for the trocar obturator 14
and the tzocar sleeve
12. The packaging device 210 also supports the trocar sleeve 12 and the trocar
obturator 14
adjacent each other. The packaging device 210 further includes a unitary
housing member 218 with
adjacent retaining members, for example, first and second clips 220, 222. The
first and second clips
220, 222 are joined to each other via a bridge 224 of plastic material and the
shafts of the txocax
obturator 14 and trocar sleeve 12 axe held parallel to each other when they
are placed into the
respective first and second clips 220, 222.
However, and in contrast to the embodiment described above, the first and
second clips
220, 222 are connected via a bridge 224 that extends between and beneath the
first and second clips
220, 222. As such, the bridge 224 generally functions as a base upon which the
first and second
clips 220, 222 are mounted.
In addition, and as with the previously disclosed embodiment, each of the
first and second
clips 220, 222 includes standoffs 230 along the interior surface thereof. The
standoffs 230 create air
space around the components, which is necessary for gas sterilization.
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The tips of both the trocar sleeve 12 and the trocar obturator 14 are
protected by a shield
member 232 perpendicularly oriented relative to the bridge connecting the
first and second clips
220, 222. However, and in contrast to the prior embodiment, the shield member
232 extends
upwardly from the surface of the forward end 225 of the bridge 234. The shield
member 232 is
shaped and dimensioned to function as a stop for the tips of the trocar
obturator 14 and trocar
sleeve 12. The shield member 232 further protects the tips from contacting the
next layer of
packaging material that may form a sterile barrier for the trocar assembly.
The shield member 232 includes wrap around side surfaces 233. The wrap around
side
surfaces 233 aid in containment of the device tips should there be any
deflection of the tip protector
under load. The rigidity of the present packaging device 210 is enhanced by
providing an upper
secondary bridge 236 between the clips 220, 222. This upper secondary bridge
236 increases the
rigidity and fixation of the components in relation to each other. The
packaging device 210 further
includes struts 23$ connecting the bottom surface 240 of the bridge 224 to the
shield member 223.
The struts 238 provide rigidity when the packaging device 210 is under load
and during removal of
the trocax components from the packaging device 210.
While the preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be
understood that
there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, is
intended to cover all
modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope
of the invention as
defined in the appended claims.
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