Appeal No. 1998-2831 Page 7
Application No. 08/541,013
latching engages said means for locking to retain said
means for locking in its second position until the axial
movement of said inner cannula rearward relative to said
trocar cannula disengages said means for latching from
said means for locking.
Holmes' invention relates to a trocar assembly with an
improved protective shield latch. As shown in Figures 1-6,
Holmes' trocar assembly 10 comprises an elongate trocar
obturator 22 having a piercing tip 24 at its front end, an
elongate trocar tube 56 in which the obturator 22 is housed,
and a tubular protective shield 26 mounted concentrically
around the obturator 22 between a normally extended position
in which the obturator tip 24 is covered and a retracted
position in which the obturator tip 24 is exposed. A spring
28 acts on the protective shield 26 to bias the protective
shield 26 to its extended position shielding the piercing tip
24. A protrusion or lip 26a extends radially from the
protective shield 26. A leaf spring member 44 has one end 44a
anchored relative to the obturator and a second end 44b biased
to contact the protrusion 26a in a manner preventing movement
of the protective shield 26 from its extended position toward
its retracted position when the leaf spring element is in
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