	US 7,338,473 B2
	Pneumoseal trocar arrangement
Michael J. Campbell, Louisville, Ky. (US); Donald N. Halgren, Manchester, Mass. (US); George A. J. Hartman, Waynesville, Ohio (US); Ken Parker, Centerville, Ohio (US); Jack B. Stubbs, Waynesville, Ohio (US); and Ronald J. Thompson, Ft Thomas, Ky. (US)
Assigned to SurgiQuest, Incorporated, Orange, Conn. (US)
Filed on Feb. 11, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/776,923.
Application 10/776923 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/739872, filed on Dec. 18, 2003, granted, now 7,285,112.
Application 10/739872 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/441149, filed on May 17, 2003, granted, now 7,182,752.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/461149, filed on Apr. 08, 2003.
Prior Publication US 2005/0004512 A1, Jan. 06, 2005
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61M 5/178 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 604—167.01 [604/23; 604/26; 604/500; 604/506; 604/164.01; 606/167]

9 Claims

1. A method of maintaining an operative pneumoperitoneum in a patient undergoing a surgical procedure comprising the steps of:

introducing a trocar through a portion of an abdominal wall of a patient;

introducing a surgical instrument through a lumen in the trocar;

introducing a pressurized gas from a controlled pressure source into the surgical instrument;

directing the pressurized gas from the surgical instrument into the patient through a passageway between the surgical instrument and a wall of the lumen in the trocar, the pressurized gas from the surgical instrument forming a gas seal around the surgical instrument within the lumen of the trocar so as to directly contact the surgical instrument, while said pressurized gas simultaneously maintains an operative pneumoperitoneum in the patient by preventing a loss of pressurized gas from the pneumoperitoneum through the lumen in the trocar; and

monitoring the pneumoperitoneum of the patient to provide feedback for maintaining the operative pneumoperitoneum.