Obturator tips

Abstract

A trocar assembly for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures includes a cannula subassembly and an obturator subassembly. The obturator assembly includes an obturator shaft member defining a longitudinal axis and an obturator tip configured to be removable from the obturator shaft member or, alternatively, constructed with the obturator member as a single unit. Various designs of the obturator tip are contemplated.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A surgical obturator for use in penetrating tissue, which comprises:
 an elongate obturator member defining a central longitudinal axis, and having leading and trailing ends; and   a bladeless obturator tip including a base member connected to the obturator member and a tip member extending from the base member to a leading penetrating end, the tip member having an outer surface extending along the longitudinal axis, the outer surface defining a generally parabolic contour.   
     
     
         13 . The surgical obturator according to  claim 12 , wherein the penetrating end is in general alignment with the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical obturator according to  claim 12 , wherein the penetrating end defines a sharp configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical obturator according to  claim 12 , wherein the penetrating end defines a blunt configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical obturator according to  claim 15 , wherein the penetrating end is closed. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical obturator according to  claim 12 , wherein the outer surface of the tip member defines a circular cross-sectional dimension orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical obturator according to  claim 12 , wherein the outer surface of the tip member defines an elliptical cross-sectional dimension orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis with a major axis and a minor axis. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical obturator according to  claim 18 , wherein the tip member includes a leading tip section and a trailing tip section, the outer surface within at least the leading tip section defining a generally parabolic contour along the major axis. 
     
     
         20 . The surgical obturator according to  claim 19 , wherein the outer surface within the leading tip section defines a generally linear tapering contour along the minor axis. 
     
     
         21 . The surgical obturator according to  claim 19 , wherein the outer surface within the trailing tip section defines a generally parabolic contour along the minor axis. 
     
     
         22 . The surgical obturator according to  claim 21 , wherein the outer surface within the trailing tip section defines a generally linear contour along the major axis. 
     
     
         23 . The surgical obturator according to  claim 22 , wherein the outer surface within the trailing tip section defines a constant dimension along the major axis. 
     
     
         24 . The surgical obturator according to  claim 12 , wherein the obturator tip is releasably connected to the obturator member. 
     
     
         25 . The surgical obturator according to  claim 12 , wherein the obturator tip is dimensioned to be generally atraumatic to tissue.