Pneumoperitoneum needle

Abstract

Pneumoperitoneum needles for providing and/or insufflating a corporal and/or abdominal cavity are provided. The pneumoperitoneum needle can include a housing, an elongate tubular body extending from a distal surface of the housing, and an elongate hollow tubular rod slidably received within the tubular body. The tubular body preferably includes a passage formed therethrough for connection to a gas administration system. The tubular rod preferably includes a blunt distal end defining an opening, and a proximal end portion defining an opening formed therethrough.

1 . A pneumoperitoneum needle for insufflating an abdominal cavity, the pneumoperitoneum needle comprising: 
 a housing;    an elongate tubular body extending from a distal surface of the housing, the tubular body including a passage formed therethrough for connection to a gas administration system; and    an elongate hollow tubular rod slidably received within the tubular body, the tubular rod including:    a blunt distal end defining an opening; and    a proximal end portion defining an opening formed therethrough, wherein the tubular rod includes a first position in which the opening formed in the proximal end of the tubular rod is in registration with the passage formed in the tubular body, and a second position in which the opening formed in the proximal end of the tubular rod is out of registration with the passage formed in the tubular body.    
   
   
       2 . The pneumoperitoneum needle according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least a pair of seal members disposed between the tubular body and the tubular rod.  
   
   
       3 . The pneumoperitoneum needle according to  claim 2 , wherein a first of the pair of seal members is disposed distal of the passage formed in the tubular body and wherein a second of the pair of seal members is disposed proximal of the passage formed in the tubular body.  
   
   
       4 . The pneumoperitoneum needle according to  claim 3 , wherein each seal member comprises an O-ring.  
   
   
       5 . The pneumoperitoneum needle according to  claim 3 , wherein the seal member includes an annular rib formed around the periphery of at least one of the inner surface of the tubular body and the outer surface of the tubular rod.  
   
   
       6 . The pneumoperitoneum needle according to  claim 4 , wherein a lubricant is provided between the tubular body and the tubular rod.  
   
   
       7 . The pneumoperitoneum needle according to  claim 4 , wherein each seal member is fabricated from an elastomeric material.  
   
   
       8 . The pneumoperitoneum needle according to  claim 7 , wherein each seal member is fixedly positioned relative to the tubular body.  
   
   
       9 . The pneumoperitoneum needle according to  claim 3 , wherein when the tubular rod is in the first position the opening formed therein is positioned between the first and the second seal member.  
   
   
       10 . The pneumoperitoneum needle according to  claim 9 , wherein when the tubular rod is in the second position the opening formed therein is positioned proximal of the second seal member.  
   
   
       11 . The pneumoperitoneum needle according to  claim 9 , wherein the tubular rod is biased to the first position.  
   
   
       12 . The pneumoperitoneum needle according to  claim 9 , further including a spring disposed between the housing and the tubular rod to bias the tubular rod to the first position.  
   
   
       13 . The pneumoperitoneum needle according to  claim 11 , wherein the tubular body defines a cavity between the opening formed in the proximal end thereof and the opening formed in the blunt end thereof.  
   
   
       14 . The pneumoperitoneum needle according to  claim 9 , wherein the tubular body includes a distal end defining a piercing tip.  
   
   
       15 . The pneumoperitoneum needle according to  claim 14 , wherein the tubular rod is dimensioned such that when the tubular rod is in the first position the distal end of the tubular rod extends beyond the piercing tip of the tubular body and when the tubular rod is in the second position the piercing tip of the tubular body extends beyond the distal end of the tubular rod.  
   
   
       16 . The pneumoperitoneum needle according to  claim 1 , further comprising a gas administering system operatively connectable to the passage formed in the tubular body, wherein the gas administering system delivers insufflation gases to the abdominal cavity.  
   
   
       17 . The pneumoperitoneum needle according to  claim 16 , wherein the gas administering system includes: 
 a source of insufflation gas;    a conduit fluidly interconnecting the source of insufflation gas to the passage formed in the tubular body; and    a valve in fluid communication with the conduit for regulating the flow of insufflation gas through the conduit.    
   
   
       18 . The pneumoperitoneum needle according to  claim 16 , wherein the gas administering system includes a gauge for measuring at least one of the volume, quantity and pressure of insufflation gas delivered to the abdominal cavity.  
   
   
       19 . A pneumoperitoneum needle for insufflating a corporal cavity, the pneumoperitoneum needle comprising: 
 an elongate tubular body;    an elongate hollow tubular rod slidably disposed within the tubular body;    a valve assembly at a proximal end of the tubular body and the tubular rod, the valve assembly including a manifold; and    a stem mounted within the manifold, the manifold and the stem being movable with respect to one another so as to form a fluid path communicating with an indicator chamber in a first position, and a fluid path with the interior of the tubular rod, in a second position.    
   
   
       20 . The pneumoperitoneum needle according to  claim 19 , further including: 
 a first O-ring disposed between the manifold and the stem, the first O-ring being positioned distal of a passage communicating with the indicator chamber; and    a second O-ring disposed between the manifold and the stem, the second O-ring being positioned proximal of the passage.    
   
   
       21 . The pneumoperitoneum needle according to  claim 20 , wherein when the tubular rod is in a first position, an opening formed in the manifold is positioned distal of the first O-ring, and when the tubular rod is in a second position, the opening formed in the manifold is positioned between the first O-ring and the second O-ring.  
   
   
       22 . The pneumoperitoneum needle according to  claim 19 , wherein each of the first and second O-rings is fixedly positioned relative to the tubular body.  
   
   
       23 . The pneumoperitoneum needle according to  claim 21 , wherein the tubular rod is biased to the first position.  
   
   
       24 . The pneumoperitoneum needle according to  claim 23 , further including a spring member operatively positioned to bias the tubular rod to the first position.  
   
   
       25 . The pneumoperitoneum needle according to  claim 23 , further comprising a housing for supporting the tubular body, the tubular body extending from a distal surface thereof.  
   
   
       26 . The pneumoperitoneum needle according to  claim 25 , wherein the spring is disposed between a distally oriented surface of the stem and a proximally oriented surface of the tubular rod.  
   
   
       27 . The pneumoperitoneum needle according to  claim 27 , wherein a proximal portion of the tubular rod defines an enlarged portion and the spring is disposed in the enlarged portion.  
   
   
       28 . The pneumoperitoneum needle according to  claim 21 , wherein the tubular body includes a distal end defining a piercing tip.  
   
   
       29 . The pneumoperitoneum needle according to  claim 28 , wherein the tubular rod is dimensioned such that when the tubular rod is in the first position the distal end of the tubular rod extends beyond the piercing tip of the tubular body and when the tubular rod is in the second position the piercing tip of the tubular body extends beyond the distal end of the tubular rod.  
   
   
       30 . The pneumoperitoneum needle according to  claim 21 , further comprising a gas administering system operatively connectable to the opening formed in the manifold, wherein the gas administering system delivers insufflation gases to the abdominal cavity.  
   
   
       31 . The pneumoperitoneum needle according to  claim 30 , wherein the gas administering system includes: 
 a source of insufflation gas;    a conduit fluidly interconnecting the source of insufflation gas to a port in communication with the opening in the manifold; and    a valve in fluid communication with the conduit for regulating the flow of insufflation gas through the conduit.    
   
   
       32 . The pneumoperitoneum needle according to  claim 31 , wherein the gas administering system further includes a gauge for measuring at least one of the volume, quantity and pressure of insufflation gas delivered to the abdominal cavity.