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Parts of a Trocar: Trocar, Cannula, And Obturator

Submitted by chenlu225 on Wed, 12/13/2023 - 00:23

What Is a Trocar?

A trocar is a medical instrument consisting of a sharply pointed, usually three-sided, rod or tube. A trocar is typically used in medical procedures, such as surgery or laparoscopy, to create access points for other instruments or facilitate the removal of fluid or tissue. With minimal trauma, trocars puncture body tissues, such as the abdominal wall, in a variety of shapes and sizes. The trocar's inner cannula can then be used to pass other surgical instruments through to perform various medical tasks. Trocars are commonly used in minimally invasive surgery to minimize tissue damage and incision sizes.

How Does a Trocar Work?

Here's how a trocar works during a surgical procedure:

Insertion: The surgeon or medical professional places the trocar at the desired entry point on the patient's body. They use a combination of gentle pressure and twisting to advance the trocar through the skin and underlying tissues.
Puncture: As the trocar advances, the sharpened tip of the cannula pierces the tissue layers, creating a small opening.
Removal of obturator: Once the trocar is positioned at the desired depth, the obturator is removed. This exposes the inside of the cannula, creating an access point through which other instruments or devices can be introduced.
Surgical or medical procedures: With the trocar in place, various instruments or medical devices can be passed through the cannula to perform specific tasks, such as removing tissue, draining fluids, or performing minimally invasive surgery.
Removal: After the procedure is complete, the trocar is carefully withdrawn, and the entry site is often closed with stitches or other wound-closure methods.

The use of a trocar allows for a minimally invasive approach to many surgical procedures, as it minimizes tissue damage compared to traditional open surgery. Trocars are commonly used in laparoscopic surgery, endoscopy, and other minimally invasive procedures. The specific design and features of trocars can vary depending on the intended surgical application and the manufacturer.

Types of Trocars

Trocars of the 21st century fall into two main categories:

A cutting trocar features a sharp blade that cuts through layers of tissue when pressure is applied. They are designed to be inserted easily under the skin (usually in the abdominal cavity).

With a dilating trocar, tissues are dilated and separated with a blunt tip when pressure is applied in surgical procedures. These trocars avoid cutting internal organs.

Within these two categories, there is a tremendous variety of instruments to provide the features specialists need. Trocars come with camera ports, working ports, retractable ports, and static ports. As far as light and control are concerned, an optic trocar with a 5 mm port is more than adequate for straightforward surgical procedures, such as diagnostic laparoscopy. It is likely that a trocar with a 12 mm port will be sufficient when removing large masses with a morcellator.
It is growing in popularity to use disposable cutting trocars. These trocars have a guaranteed-sharp tip and are sterile and cross-contamination free.

Three Parts of a Trocar

A trocar typically consists of three main parts:

Cannula: The cannula is the outer tube of the trocar. It has a sharpened, pointed end that is designed to penetrate the body's tissues during a surgical procedure. The cannula creates a small incision or puncture point through which other instruments or devices can be introduced.
Obturator: The obturator is a rod or stylet that is placed inside the cannula. It serves several purposes, including protecting the sharp tip of the cannula during insertion, guiding the trocar through the tissues, and helping to maintain the structural integrity of the trocar during the initial penetration.
Trocar Sleeve (Optional): In some trocar designs, there may be an outer sleeve that covers the cannula and obturator. This sleeve can provide additional stability and control during the insertion process, helping to guide the trocar and reduce the risk of unintended tissue damage.

The Difference Between Trocar and Cannula

The term "trocar" originates from the French words "trois," meaning three, and "carre," signifying sides or faces. Initially, trocars featured three blades arranged around a cannula, inspired by the Latin word for a little hollow reed. Surgeons employed trocars to create an incision through the skin and subcutaneous tissues, allowing for the insertion of a cannula to remove fluids. A third component known as the obturator maintained the cannula's rigidity for precise placement. The entire assembly is commonly referred to as a trocar.

In the twenty-first century, trocars come in various designs. Some may incorporate blades, while others are bladeless. Certain trocars have the ability to dilate, widening the incision after passing through the skin, which gently pushes the skin apart rather than cutting through it. Modern trocars are often designed to accommodate the passage of a camera and surgical instruments through a tiny opening.

Contemporary trocars are meticulously engineered to necessitate the smallest incision possible. This minimizes the risk of cannula movement during the procedure and reduces trauma to the skin. When the cannula's diameter is less than 5 millimeters, there is typically no requirement to suture the fascia, which holds the tissues beneath the skin, after removing the trocar. This significantly lowers the risk of hernias, allows for quicker patient recovery, and often eliminates the need for general anesthesia, relying on local anesthetic injections.

Kangji Medical specializes in trocar products for the precise placement of hormone pellets in individuals. The company places a strong emphasis on products that minimize skin trauma, reduce the risk of infection, and enhance post-procedural patient comfort.

Kangji Medical offers a range of trocar options, including stainless steel disposable trocars with a slim 3/5 mm width, suitable for both shallow and deep insertions. Additionally, doctors can choose a reusable 3/5 mm stainless steel trocar with a bevel tip that can be autoclaved for sterilization between uses. Kangji Medical also provides disposable medical tray kits and trocar wrap kits for added convenience.

WHO IS Kangji Medical?

Hangzhou Kangji Medical Instrument Ltd., founded in August 2004, is a high and new technology enterprise specializing in the research, development, production, and sales of minimally invasive surgical instruments and accessories (MISIA). The company plays a significant role in the medical equipment industry and holds various positions in professional associations, including being the Backbone Unit of China Medical Endoscope Industry Base (Tonglu), a director unit of China Association of Medical Equipment, a director unit of China Association for Medical Devices Industry, a vice president unit of Zhejiang Association for Medical Devices Industry, and a president unit of Tonglu Association for Medical Devices Industry.

The company's mission is to empower healthcare professionals and enhance the health and well-being of patients by providing high-performance and accessible products and services. Hangzhou Kangji aspires to become a leading domestic MISIA platform, offering comprehensive solutions for minimally invasive surgery in obstetrics and gynecology, general surgery, urology, and thoracic surgery, backed by an extensive product portfolio.

To develop MISIA products that align with clinical requirements, Hangzhou Kangji has established a production-academy-research platform, incorporating a provincial academician expert workstation, a provincial enterprise research institute, and an enterprise high and new technology research center. The company has also implemented an integrated quality control system and obtained international certifications for quality management, occupational health and safety management, and environmental management, including ISO 13485, EN ISO 9001, ISO 45001, and ISO 14001. Moreover, many of the company's key products have received CE certification.

Through its extensive sales network, Hangzhou Kangji's products have been distributed to over 3,400 domestic hospitals (including more than 1,000 Grade IIIA hospitals), spanning all provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China. Additionally, the company has successfully exported its products to 42 other countries, contributing to its global presence and impact in the medical industry.

This passage is taken from https://www.kangjimd.com/three-parts-of-a-trocar.html