Arthroscopic cannula dams for fluid control

摘要

A cannula with a tri-slot dam assembly including two primary dams as the main fluid seal and an adjacent outer “baffle-like dam” that prevents fluid pressure build-up and allows the fluid to leak out and not squirt out of the cannula. The baffle-like dam has a body formed of a low profile material and is provided with a plurality of small through holes or perforations to allow fluid to gently leak out. Fluid that enters the outer chamber leaks out of the through holes so that the fluid pressure between the baffle and the primary dams is very low. A spacer is optionally provided between the two primary dams and the outer dam to prevent the dams from interfering with each other and allow them to remain open.

主权项

1. A cannula for enabling passage of surgical instruments in the body, comprising:
an elongated body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis; and a tri-slot dam assembly disposed within the elongated body and at the proximal end, the tri-slot dam assembly comprising a first fluid seal and an adjacent second fluid seal, and an outer fluid seal having a baffle-like configuration, wherein the first fluid seal and the second fluid seal are integral with the proximal end, wherein the outer fluid seal is removably attached to and detached from the proximal end, and wherein the second fluid seal is provided with at least one through hole or slit to permit passage of one or more surgical instruments and with a plurality of holes provided on a perimeter of the second fluid seal for cannula assembly.