Penetrating tip for trocar assembly

Abstract

A tissue penetrating instrument used in the medical field which may or may not be embodied in the form of an obturator associated with a trocar assembly, wherein the instrument includes an elongated shaft having a penetrating tip mounted on one end. The penetrating tip includes a base secured to the one end of the shaft and a distal extremity spaced longitudinally outward from the base and formed into an apex which may be defined by a point or other configuration specifically structured to facilitate penetration or puncturing of bodily tissue. The penetrating tip further includes an exterior surface extending continuously between the apex and the base and configured to facilitate puncturing of the tissue and an enlargement of an access opening formed in the tissue, in a manner which facilitates separation of the tissue and minimizes cutting, severing or otherwise damaging the contiguous bodily tissue surrounding the access opening.

1 . A surgical instrument for penetrating tissue, comprising:
 a trocar cannula having an open distal end;   an obturator being removably disposed within said trocar cannula and including a penetrating tip disposed at one end thereof, said obturator including a central longitudinal axis, said penetrating tip comprising a blunted apex, a base and an exterior surface extending longitudinally between said base and said apex; and   wherein a cross section of said penetrating tip taken along said central longitudinal axis transversely thereof anywhere along a majority of the length of the penetrating tip between said apex and said base defines an outer circumference, said outer circumference having a substantially non-circular elliptical configuration,   said penetrating tip having a configuration which minimizes damage and/or cutting or severing of tissue during passage of the penetrating tip into tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical instrument as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said apex is disposed substantially coincident with said central longitudinal axis of said obturator. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical instrument as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface of the penetrating tip includes at least two surface segments which are segregated from one another through at least two elongated curved edges defined by said exterior surface and extending from the blunted apex towards the base along at least a majority of the length of the penetrating tip, said edges having a blunted edge configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical instrument as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said apex is disposed substantially coincident with said central longitudinal axis of said obturator. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical instrument as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface of the penetrating tip includes at least two surface segments which are segregated from one another through at least two elongated curved edges defined by said exterior surface and extending from the blunted apex towards the base along at least a majority of the length of the penetrating tip, said edges having a rounded or transversely curved configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical instrument as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said apex is disposed substantially coincident with said central longitudinal axis of said obturator.