Trocar

Abstract

A trocar is disclosed which includes a housing assembly and a cannula assembly attached to the housing assembly to define an axial bore therethrough. The trocar further includes an obturator assembly which slidably engages the axial bore defined by the cannula assembly. The obturator assembly includes a shaft having a piercing end for insertion into a patient and a handling end for gripping by a surgeon. Attached to the piercing end of the shaft is a piercing tip having an upper face and a lower face which taper away from the shaft to form a non-conical, blunt head. The piercing tip further includes wing elements located on opposite sides of the piercing tip between the upper face and lower face. These wing elements have lateral edges.

1 - 8 . (canceled).  
   
   
       9 . A trocar, comprising: 
 a. a housing assembly;    b. a cannula assembly attached to the housing assembly and defining an axial bore therethrough; and    c. an obturator assembly for sliding engagement through the axial bore defined by the cannula assembly, said obturator assembly comprising a shaft having a piercing end for insertion into a patient and a piercing tip removably connected to the piercing end of the shaft, said piercing tip comprising: 
 i. a body having an upper face and a lower face tapering away from the shaft; and  
 ii. a blade protruding outward away from the body of the piercing tip, said blade comprising a non-conical, blunt head and two wing elements having a conical-shaped points and beveled lateral edges and located 180 degrees apart between the upper face and lower face of the body.  
   
   
   
       10 . The trocar of  claim 9 , wherein the blade is an insert blade which resides partially within the body of the piercing tip and which is fabricated from metal.  
   
   
       11 . The trocar of  claim 9 , wherein the blade is an insert blade which resides partially within the body of the piercing tip and which is fabricated from plastic.  
   
   
       12 . The trocar of  claim 9 , wherein the blade and the piercing tip are fabricated as an integral structure.  
   
   
       13 . The trocar of  claim 12  wherein the integral structure is fabricated from plastic.  
   
   
       14 . A piercing tip for removable connection to the piercing end of an obturator of a trocar, said piercing tip comprising: 
 a. a body having an upper face and a lower face tapering away from the shaft; and    b. a blade protruding outward away from the body of the piercing tip, said blade comprising a non-conical, blunt head and two wing elements having a conical-shaped points and beveled lateral edges and located 180 degrees apart between the upper face and lower face of the body.    
   
   
       15 . The piercing tip of  claim 14 , wherein the blade is an insert blade which resides partially within the body of the piercing tip and which is fabricated from metal.  
   
   
       16 . The piercing tip of  claim 14  wherein the blade is an insert blade which resides partially within the body of the piercing tip and which is fabricated from plastic.