Trocar surgical seal

Abstract

A trocar surgical seal or surgical access device is provided. The trocar surgical seal comprises first and second supports coupled together by a film passageway. The trocar surgical seal provides an instrument seal for instruments inserted therethrough. The trocar surgical seal occupies minimal surgical space.

1 . A trocar surgical seal providing instrument access into a patient's body, the trocar surgical seal comprising:
 a first proximal ring;   a second distal ring; and   a thin radially collapsible film having a proximal end connected to the first proximal ring and a distal end connected to the second distal ring,   the thin radially collapsible film being disposed through an opening in a patient's body and in direct contact with the opening in the patient's body, the first proximal ring positioned externally to the patient's body and the second distal ring positioned within the patient's body,   the thin radially collapsible film having a zero inner diameter due to compressive forces applied by the patient's body in direct contact with the thin radially collapsible film in absence of an instrument inserted therethrough and the thin radially collapsible film providing an instrument seal with an instrument inserted therethrough and in direct contact with the thin radially collapsible film, and   the first proximal ring and the second distal ring each having a diameter larger than the zero inner diameter of the thin radially collapsible film.   
     
     
         2 . The trocar surgical seal of  claim 1  wherein an outer surface area of the thin radially collapsible film in contact with the patient's body is greater than an inner surface area of the thin radially collapsible film in contact with an inserted instrument. 
     
     
         3 . The trocar surgical seal of  claim 1  wherein the thin radially collapsible film has a length between 1.5 inches to 4.5 inches. 
     
     
         4 . The trocar surgical seal of  claim 1  wherein the thin radially collapsible film has thickness of between 0.0005 to 0.002 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The trocar surgical seal of  claim 1  wherein the compressive forces in contact with and applied against the thin radially collapsible film is greater than a drag force of an instrument inserted through the thin radially collapsible film. 
     
     
         6 . The trocar surgical seal of  claim 5  wherein the compressive forces is greater than or equal to a pressure ranging from 6.5 mm Hg to 17 mm Hg. 
     
     
         7 . The trocar surgical seal of  claim 1  further comprising a zero seal connected to the first proximal ring, the first proximal ring being in direct contact with the patient's body and positioned between the zero seal and the patient's body. 
     
     
         8 . The trocar surgical seal of  claim 1  wherein the first proximal ring and the second distal ring are compliant and flexible. 
     
     
         9 . The trocar surgical seal of  claim 1  further comprising a coefficient of friction between the thin radially collapsible film and a shaft of an inserted instrument being less than a coefficient of kinetic friction between an elastomeric seal and the shaft of the inserted instrument. 
     
     
         10 . The trocar surgical seal of  claim 9  wherein the coefficient of kinetic friction for the thin radially collapsible film and the shaft of the inserted instrument is between 0.15 to 0.5. 
     
     
         11 . The trocar surgical seal of  claim 10  wherein the coefficient of kinetic friction for the elastomeric seal and the shaft of the inserted instrument is between 1.6 to 10. 
     
     
         12 . The trocar surgical seal of  claim 1  wherein the thin radially collapsible film is an irradiated ultra-thin-walled cross-linked polyolefin tube. 
     
     
         13 . The trocar surgical seal of  claim 1  wherein the thin radially collapsible film is double-walled and concentric. 
     
     
         14 . The trocar surgical seal of  claim 1  wherein the thin radially collapsible film is a tubular body inverted upon itself with a first end of the tubular body adjoining a second end of the tubular body. 
     
     
         15 . The trocar surgical seal of  claim 14  wherein the first proximal ring is a bolster and the adjoined first and second ends of the tubular body are attached to the bolster and the second distal ring is inserted into a pocket formed between the tubular body. 
     
     
         16 . The trocar surgical seal of  claim 1  wherein the thin radially collapsible film has an inner wall and an outer wall with a plurality of holes being formed in the outer wall of the thin radially collapsible film. 
     
     
         17 . The trocar surgical seal of  claim 16  wherein the first proximal ring is a bolster and the inner and outer walls are attached to the bolster and further comprising a fluid connector connected to the bolster, the fluid connector is in fluid communication with the plurality of holes through a channel between the inner and outer walls. 
     
     
         18 . The trocar surgical seal of  claim 1  wherein the first proximal ring is a bolster having a length greater than a length of the second distal ring and smaller than a length of the thin radially collapsible film. 
     
     
         19 . A trocar surgical seal providing instrument access into a patient's body, the trocar surgical seal comprising:
 a proximal bolster ring;   a distal ring; and   a thin radially collapsible film having a proximal end connected to the proximal bolster ring and a distal end connected to the distal ring,   the thin radially collapsible film being disposed through an opening in a patient's body and in direct contact with the opening in the patient's body, the proximal bolster ring positioned externally to the patient's body and the distal ring positioned within the patient's body,   the thin radially collapsible film having a zero inner diameter due to compressive forces applied by the patient's body in direct contact with the thin radially collapsible film in absence of an instrument inserted therethrough and the thin radially collapsible film providing an instrument seal with an instrument inserted therethrough and in direct contact with the thin radially collapsible film, and   the proximal bolster ring and the distal ring each having a diameter larger than the zero inner diameter of the thin radially collapsible film, and   the proximal bolster ring having a length greater than a length of the distal ring and smaller than a length of the thin radially collapsible film, the length of the thin radially collapsible film being between 1.5 inches to 4.5 inches and the thin radially collapsible film having a thickness of between 0.0005 to 0.002 inches.   
     
     
         20 . The trocar surgical seal of  claim 19  further comprising a double-duckbilled elastomeric seal connected to the proximal bolster ring.