Spot coagulating & occluding instrument and method of use

• US 20040215132A1
• Filed: 04/22/2003
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Inbae Yoon
• Original Assignee: Inbae Yoon
• Inventors: Yoon, InBae
• Application Number:
  US10/421,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20040215132A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0686 having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/4241 Instruments for manoeuvring or retracting the uterus, e.g. during laparoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/085 Forceps, scissors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2926 Details of heads or jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2937 with flexible part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320094 additional movable means performing clamping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320095 with sealing or cauterizing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320097 with stapling means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/4216 Operations on uterus, e.g. endometrium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras

Abstract

A spot-occlusion apparatus spot-coagulates or otherwise occludes an anatomical tissue structure which is disposed in a living body and has a plurality of vessels extending therefrom. The occlusion apparatus includes an elongated tubular member and an occluding mechanism. The tubular member extends along a central longitudinal axis to define a lumen and has a distal end positioned interiorly of the living body and a proximal end disposed opposite the distal end and positioned exteriorly of the living body. The occluding mechanism is operative at the distal end of the tubular member and includes a pair of articulating fingers with distal end effectors (such as occluding elements) disposed opposite one another. The pair of end effectors are moveable to and between an opened state and a closed state. In the opened state, the vessels to be occluded are received between the pair of occluding end effectors. In the closed state, the pair of occluding end effectors contact and occlude the vessels, thereby occluding the anatomical tissue structure. The articulating fingers create a working space between themselves for manipulating, coagulating and/or otherwise occluding tissue. Moreover, one or more ports is directed through the lumen into the workspace for admission of a viewing system, hydration device, cauterization device, cryo (cooling) device, suction, or any of a range of ancillary surgical implements all through a single surgical site.

Claims

1. A spot coagulating and occluding apparatus, comprising:

an elongated tubular member extending along a central longitudinal axis to define a lumen and having a distal end and a proximal end disposed opposite the distal end;

a pair of occluding fingers projecting generally longitudinally from the distal end of the tubular member in a facially-opposing relationship, each one of the pair of occluding fingers terminating in an occluding end effector with the occluding end effectors being movable relative to one another to and between an opened state wherein the occluding end effectors are spaced apart from one another and a closed state wherein the occluding end effectors are one of adjacent to and in contact with one another;

a central channel running through said tubular member between the pair of occluding fingers and opening outward between said end effectors;

whereby a proximal end of the tubular member is operative in conjunction with the occluding fingers to move the occluding end effectors to and between the opened and closed states.

2. An occlusion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuating device moves the occluding end effectors to the closed state from the opened state by pulling the pair of occluding fingers into the lumen thereby pulling the occluding end effectors toward the distal end of the tubular member and moves the occluding end effectors to the opened state from the closed state by pushing the pair of occluding fingers outwardly from the lumen thereby pushing the occluding end effectors away from the distal end of the tubular member.

3. The spot coagulating and occluding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each one of the pair of occluding fingers includes a protuberance adjacent the bent section and exteriorly of the lumen when the occluding end effectors are in the opened state, the protuberance contacting the tubular member within the lumen when the occluding end effectors are in the closed state.

4. The spot coagulating and occluding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each one of the pair of occluding fingers includes a tapered section extending between the occluding end effector and the bent section, the tapered section narrowing from the occluding end effector towards the bent section.

5. The spot coagulating and occluding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an inner tubular member disposed within the lumen of the tubular member to define a central channel interiorly of the inner tubular member and an annular channel formed between the tubular member and the inner tubular member, the pair of occluding fingers being disposed within the annular channel.

6. The spot coagulating and occluding apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the pair of occluding end effectors define respective longitudinal axes and, when the occluding end effectors are in the closed state, the respective ones of the longitudinal axes extend parallel to the central longitudinal axis and, when the occluding end effectors are in the opened state, the respective ones of the longitudinal axes are disposed at an acute angle relative to the central longitudinal axis.

7. The spot coagulating and occluding apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a viewing system including a viewing member sized and adapted to be slidably received by the inner tubular member.

8. The spot coagulating and occluding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein respective ones of the occluding end effectors are interchangeable ones of a pair of heating elements, an anvil and staple holder, a pair of clamp holders, a pair of clip holders and a needle passer and needle catcher.

9. The spot coagulating and occluding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein respective ones of the occluding end effectors are interchangeable ones of a pair of heating elements, an anvil and staple holder, a pair of clamp holders, a pair of clip holders biopsy forceps, scissors, and a needle passer and needle catcher.

10. The spot coagulating and occluding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said central channel is adapted for passing one or more surgical instruments into a space between said end effectors for access to tissue held thereby.

11. The spot coagulating and occluding apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising an energy source operative with the pair of heating elements.

12. The spot coagulating and occluding apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the energy source is one of electric energy and vibrational energy.

13. The spot coagulating and occluding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pair of occluding finger members extend into and through the lumen.

14. The spot coagulating and occluding apparatus according to claim 13, wherein each one of the pair of occluding fingers includes a bent section wherein the occluding fingers bend outwardly at an acute angle relative to the central longitudinal axis from the distal end of the tubular member to form a bent condition, the outwardly-bent occluding fingers being resiliently biased in the bent condition to retain the respective occluding end effectors in the opened state.

15. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an elongated tubular member extending along a central longitudinal axis to define a lumen and having a distal end and a proximal end disposed opposite the distal end;

a pair of bent fingers projecting generally longitudinally from the distal end of the tubular member, each finger bending around to an end effector, and the fingers being movable relative to one another to and between an opened state wherein the end effectors are spaced apart from one another and a closed state wherein the end effectors are together and the bent fingers define a surgical workspace therebetween;

a central channel running through said tubular member between the pair of occluding fingers and opening outward between said end effectors;

an actuating handle disposed at the proximal end of the tubular member and operative to manually move the end effectors to and between the opened and closed states.

16. The surgical instrument according to claim 15, wherein said elongated tubular member further comprises a central operating channel opening between said fingers.

17. The surgical instrument according to claim 15, wherein said central operating channel defines a central port directed into the workspace.

18. The surgical instrument according to claim 16, wherein said central channel channel defines a plurality of ports directed into the workspace.

19. The surgical instrument according to claim 18, wherein said plurality of ports directed into the workspace allow admission of any one from among a group consisting of a viewing system, hydration device, cauterization device, suction device, and cooling device.

20. The surgical instrument according to claim 15, wherein said pair of bent fingers are articulable in any one from among three operative states, including an open state in which said fingers are outstretched outwardly from the lumen, a closed state in which said fingers are outstretched and closed to define the surgical workspace, and a retracted state in which the fingers are retracted into the lumen.

21. The surgical instrument according to claim 20, wherein said pair of bent fingers are formed of Nitinol®

.

22. The surgical instrument according to claim 20, wherein each one of the pair of fingers includes a bent section wherein the fingers bend outwardly at an acute angle relative to the central longitudinal axis from the distal end of the tubular member to form a bent condition, the outwardly-bent fingers being resiliently biased in the bent condition to retain the respective occluding end effectors in the opened state.

23. A spot coagulating and occluding apparatus, comprising:

a tubular member extending along a central longitudinal axis to define a lumen and having a distal end and a proximal end disposed opposite the distal end;

a pair of occluding fingers projecting from the distal end of the tubular member, flaring outward, and converging together in an opposing relationship, each one of the pair of occluding fingers terminating in an occluding end effector with the occluding end effectors being movable relative to one another to and between an opened state wherein the occluding end effectors are spaced apart from one another and a closed state wherein the fingers flare outward from said tubular member to straddle healthy tissue and then converge together into contact with one another in order for said end effectors to operatively occlude targeted tissue;

whereby a proximal end of the tubular member is operative in conjunction with the occluding fingers to move the occluding end effectors to and between the opened and closed states.

24. The occlusion apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising a central channel running through said tubular member between the pair of occluding fingers and opening outward between said end effectors.

25. The spot coagulating and occluding apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising an actuating device that moves the occluding end effectors to the closed state from the opened state by pulling the pair of occluding fingers into the lumen thereby pulling the occluding end effectors toward the distal end of the tubular member and moves the occluding end effectors to the opened state from the closed state by pushing the pair of occluding fingers outwardly from the lumen thereby pushing the occluding end effectors away from the distal end of the tubular member.