Insufflator and method of use

• US 20040230155A1
• Filed: 03/05/2004
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Erblan Surgical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Erblan Surgical, Inc.
• Inventors: Blanco, Ernesto E., Wilshire, Gilbert B.
• Application Number:
  US10/792,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20040230155A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3417 Details of tips or shafts, e.g. grooves, expandable, bendable; Multiple coaxial sliding cannulas, e.g. for dilating syringe needles A61M5/32; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3474 Insufflating needles, e.g. Veress needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3494 with safety means for protection against accidental cutting or pricking, e.g. limiting insertion depth, pressure sensors for the peridural space A61B17/3401
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3496 Protecting sleeves or inner probes; Retractable tips for protecting body piercing guide needles A61M25/0612
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00544 pneumatically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/346 with wings

Abstract

A surgical device and method for endoscopic surgical procedures capable of preventing injuries to internal organs during insertion. The surgical device can include one or more of the following: a multiple system of sharp blade edges or a single blade, a mechanical tissue protection device that includes a series of thin plastic guards sliding along the sides of the planar knives and having an angle between their edges smaller than that of the cutting knife edges, one or more fixed conical deflectors to expand the cut tissue passage leaving the guards to contact tissue contact only at their tips, an insufflation passage configured to transport fluid into the body cavity during penetration, a locking system for the guards that prevents accidental reuse of the cutting features, and/or an ergonomic design which facilitates handling.

Claims

1. A surgical device, comprising:

a body configured to be gripped;

a penetrator having a main axis and being attached to said body;

a cutting blade located at a distal end of said penetrator;

a guard positioned in said penetrator which is movable with respect to said cutting blade and is configured to selectively expose said cutting blade;

an insufflation passageway formed in one of said guard, said penetrator, and said body and configured to discharge a pressurized fluid while said cutting blade is inside a body tissue and to transport said pressurized fluid to the body tissue when said cutting blade substantially penetrates the body tissue; and

wherein said guard has an apex such that an angle subscribed in the apex of the guard is smaller than an angle subscribed by said blade for progressively covering said blade during deployment of the penetrator.

2. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein said surgical device further comprises:

an external reservoir configured to supply said insufflation passageway with said pressurized fluid.

3. The surgical device according to claim 2, wherein said surgical device further comprises:

a check valve positioned between said insufflation passageway and an exterior of the surgical device, said check valve being configured to prevent leakage from said insufflation passageway.

4. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein said insufflation passageway is configured to be pressurized during an insertion of said cutting blade into the body tissue.

5. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein said pressurized fluid comprises a gas.

6. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein said insufflation passageway passes through said cylinder penetrator.

7. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein:

said cutting tip includes at least one substantially flat blade connected to said penetration blades and configured to be positioned along the main axis of said penetrator.

8. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein said penetrator is hollow and has a beveled edge for deflecting tissue.

9. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein said guard has slot formed therein which is aligned with said blade, respectively, to permit at least a partial covering of said blade by said guard.

10. The surgical device as claimed in claim 1, which comprises a biasing member positioned within said penetrator for engagement with said guard for moving said guard towards said cutting tip.

11. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein said cutting tip is smaller than or equal to an inner diameter of said penetrator such that a cut made in the tissue by the blade results in a smaller lumen than that of the cannula.

12. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein said penetrator comprises a cylindrical penetrator and said blade has a central recess formed therein to allow increased flow of said pressurized fluid.

24. The surgical device according to claims 1, 16, or 22, wherein said cutting blade comprises:

a blade having a first blade edge, said blade edge being attached to a distal end of said penetrator needle and oriented substantially parallel to a main axis of said penetrator and being configured to produce an opening in a body tissue for an insertion of a surgical cannula.

25. The surgical device according to claim 24, wherein said penetrator needle is hollow and has a passageway for communication of an insulation of a patient.

26. The surgical device according to claim 25, which comprises a lock mechanism for selectively locking the guard into position and unlocking said guard such that multiple layers of tissue can penetrate in a guarded manner each tissue layer.

27. The surgical device according to claim 25, wherein:

said blade is attached to a distal end of said penetrator and is oriented substantially parallel to said guard.

13. A surgical device, comprising:

a body configured to be gripped;

a penetrator having a main axis and being attached to said body;

a cutting blade located at a distal end of said penetrator; and

an insufflation passageway for discharging a pressurized fluid while said cutting blade is inside a body tissue and for transporting said pressurized fluid across said body tissue when said cutting blade substantially penetrates said body tissue;

an external reservoir for supplying said insufflation passageway with said pressurized fluid;

a guard moveable with respect to said cutting blade wherein said guard has an apex such that an angle subscribed in the apex of the guard is smaller than an angle subscribed by said blade for progressively covering said blade during deployment of the penetrator.

14. The surgical device according to claim 13, wherein said penetrator comprises a hollow needle.

15. The surgical device according to claim 13, wherein said penetrator comprises a cylindrical needle.

16. A surgical device, comprising:

a needle body configured to be gripped;

a penetrator having a main axis and being attached to said needle body;

at least one cutting blade located at a distal end of said needle body;

a tissue expander located at a distal end of said penetrator for expanding a tissue cut by said at least one cutting blade for insertion of said penetrator; and

a guard movable with respect to said tissue expander and configured to expose said cutting blade while said cutting tip is beginning to cut a tissue layer and while said at least one cutting blade is in said tissue layer, and for progressively covering the end of said at least one cutting blade immediately after a most distal point of said cutting blade has substantially passed through said tissue layer;

wherein said at least one cutting blade comprises a blade extending substantially parallel to said main axis and having at least one blade edge;

wherein said guard comprises at least one safety guard positioned substantially parallel to said at least one blade.

17. The surgical device of claim 16, wherein said penetrator comprises:

a beveled end surface for deflecting tissue upon penetration of said penetrator into the tissue.

18. The surgical device of claim 17, wherein said guard comprises:

a releasable lock mechanism to selectively lock and unlock the position of said penetrator.

19. The surgical device of claim 16, further comprising:

a spring configured to allow translation of said guard responsive to a force generated during a driving of said cutting tip into and through said tissue layer.

20. The surgical device of claim 16, wherein said tissue expander further comprises:

tissue expander faces located proximal to said cutting tip.

21. A surgical device, comprising:

a needle body configured to be gripped;

a penetrator having a main axis and being attached to said body;

at least one cutting blade located at a distal end of said cylinder penetrator;

a tissue expander flange located at a distal end of said penetrator and configured to expand a tissue cut by said cutting tip for insertion of said penetrator; and

a guard movable with respect to said tissue expander flange and configured to expose said cutting tip while said cutting tip is beginning to cut a tissue layer and while said cutting tip is in said tissue layer, and to progressively cover the end of said cutting tip immediately after a most distal point of said cutting tip has substantially passed through said tissue layer.

22. A surgical device, comprising:

a needle body configured to be gripped;

a penetrator needle having a main axis and attached to said needle body;

at least one cutting blade located at a distal end of said penetrator needle

a tissue expander configured to expand a tissue cut by said at least one cutting blade for insertion of said penetrator; and

a guard movable with respect to said tissue expander and being configured to selectively expose said at least one cutting blade wherein said guard has an apex such that an angle subscribed in the apex of the guard is smaller than an angle subscribed by said at least one cutting blade for progressively covering said at least one cutting blade during deployment of the penetrator.

23. The surgical device of claim 22, wherein said guard is slidably affixed between said tissue expander and said cutting tip.

28. A surgical device, comprising:

a body configured to be gripped;

a penetrator needle having a main axis and attached to said body;

at least one cutting blade located at a distal end of said penetrator needle;

a guard configured to slidably cover and uncover said at least one cutting blade, said guard being movable with respect to said tissue expander and being configured to selectively expose said at least one cutting blade; and

a locking mechanism configured to selectively hinder accidental uncovering of said at least one cutting blade by said guard and which is selectively unlockable wherein said guard has an apex such that an angle subscribed in the apex of the guard is smaller than an angle subscribed by said at least one cutting blade for progressively covering said at least one cutting blade during deployment of the penetrator needle.

29. The surgical device of claim 28, wherein:

said body comprises a needle cannula.

30. A surgical device, comprising:

means for gripping said surgical device;

needle means mounted on said means for gripping said surgical device for passing an object of interest into a hole in a tissue member;

means for expanding the tissue member which is mounted on said means for passing an object into the hole in the tissue member;

cutting means mounted on said needle means for passing the object into the hole in the tissue member for cutting the hole for insertion of said means for passing an object into the hole in the tissue member, said means for cutting the hole in the tissue member being movable with respect to said means for expanding the tissue member; and

means for selectively halting said means for cutting wherein said means for halting comprises means for guarding said means for cutting, said means for guarding said means for cutting being movable with respect to said means for expanding the tissue member wherein said means for guarding said means for cutting has an apex such that an angle subscribed in the apex of the means for guarding is smaller than an angle subscribed by said means for cutting for progressively covering said means for cutting during deployment of said means for expanding the tissue member.

31. The surgical device of claim 30, wherein said means for guarding said means for cutting comprises at least one guard.

32. The surgical device of claim 30, wherein said means for halting comprises:

means for insufflating a tissue beneath said means for cutting.

33. A surgical device, comprising:

a body configured to be gripped;

penetrator needle means having a main axis and being attached to said body;

means for cutting body tissue located at a distal end of said penetrator needle means;

tissue expander means expanded at a distal end of the penetrator needle means for expanding a tissue cut by said means for cutting tissue;

insufflation passageway means configured to discharge a pressurized fluid while said means for cutting tissue is inside a body tissue and to transport said pressurized fluid to the body tissue when the cutting blade means substantially penetrates the body tissue; and

guard means for selectively guarding and unguarding said means for cutting tissue, said guard means being movable with respect to said tissue and unguarding expander means and configured to selectively expose said means for cutting tissue wherein said means for guarding said means for cutting tissue has an apex such that an angle subscribed in the apex of the means for guarding is smaller than an angle subscribed by said means for cutting tissue for progressively covering said means for cutting tissue during deployment of said means for expanding the tissue member.

34. The surgical device according to claim 33, wherein said surgical device further comprises:

an external reservoir configured to supply said insufflation passageway means with said pressurized fluid.

35. The surgical device according to claim 34, wherein said surgical device further comprises a plurality of blades.

37. A surgical device, comprising:

a body configured to be gripped;

a needle penetrator having a main axis and being attached to said body;

a cutting blade located at a distal end of said needle penetrator;

a tissue expander expanded at a distal end of the needle penetrator for expanding a tissue cut by said cutting blade;

an insufflation passageway configured for discharging a pressurized fluid while said cutting blade is inside a body tissue and for transporting said pressurized fluid to the body tissue when said cutting blade substantially penetrates the body tissue; and

a guard selectively movable between said cutting blade and said expander and being movable with respect to said tissue expander, said guard being configured to selectively expose said cutting blade.

38. A surgical device, comprising:

a body configured to be gripped;

a needle penetrator having a main axis and being attached to said body;

a cutting blade located at a distal end of said needle penetrator;

a tissue expander expanded at a distal end of the needle penetrator for expanding a tissue cut by said cutting blade;

an insufflation passageway configured for discharging a pressurized fluid while said cutting blade is inside a body tissue and for transporting said pressurized fluid to the body tissue when said cutting blade substantially penetrates the body tissue; and

a guard selectively movable with respect to said tissue expander and configured to selectively expose and cover said cutting blade, said guard having a substantially planar portion thereof extending substantially parallel to said cutting blade.

36. The surgical device according to claim 38, wherein said insufflation passageway means is configured to be pressurized during insertion of said cutting tip into the body tissue.

39. A surgical device, comprising:

a body configured to be gripped;

a needle penetrator having a main axis and being attached to said body;

a cutting tip located at a distal end of said needle penetrator;

a tissue expander located at a distal end of said needle penetrator for expanding a tissue cut by said cutting tip for insertion of said penetrator;

a guard selectively movable with respect to said tissue expander for exposing said cutting tip while said cutting tip is beginning to cut a tissue layer and while said cutting tip is in said tissue layer, for progressively covering the end of said cutting tip immediately after a most distal point of said cutting tip has substantially past through said tissue layer and for reexposing said cutter for subsequent recovery;

wherein said cutting tip comprises at least one blade substantially parallel to said main axis and having at least one blade edge, said guard being positioned substantially parallel to said at least one blade and wherein said safety guard further comprises a safety guard edge having a guard edge angle smaller than a blade edge angle defined by an intersection of said at least one blade edge with said main axis.

40. A method of inserting a guarded, bladed surgical needle into an individual, comprising the steps of:

cutting a hole in a body tissue layer of the individual using a cutting tip of a bladed needle, said hole being suitable for insertion of a cannula body of the needle;

forcing simultaneously a pressurized fluid into said hole for inserting the pressurized fluid beneath the body tissue layer; and

halting cutting by projection of a guard beyond the cutting tip of the bladed needle.

41. The method according to claim 40, wherein said pressurized fluid comprises a gas.

42. The method according to claim 40, wherein said cutting tip comprises at least one cutting blade edge.

51. The method as claimed in claim 40, which comprises shaping the guard so as to have an apex such that an angle subscribed in the apex of the guard is smaller than an angle subscribed at the cutting blade for progressively covering the cutting blade tip during deployment of the guard.

43. A method of inserting a guarded, bladed surgical needle through a tissue of an individual using a penetrator needle, a cutting blade and a guard, which comprises:

shaping the guard so as to have an apex such that an angle subscribed in the apex of the guard is smaller than an angle subscribed at the cutting blade for progressively covering the cutting blade tip during deployment of the penetrator needle;

connecting the cutting blade to a distal end portion of the penetrator needle for cutting the tissue; and

moveably positioning the guard within the penetrator for selectively covering and exposing the cutting blade and progressively covering the blade with the guard during deployment of the penetrator needle.

44. The method as claimed in claim 43, which comprises positioning a tissue expander at the distal end of the penetrator needle for expanding a portion of the tissue cut by the cutting blade.

45. The method as claimed in claim 43, which comprises connecting the penetrator needle to a body for manipulating the penetrator needle during cutting of the tissue.

46. The method as claimed in claim 45, which comprises providing an insufflation passageway through the penetrator for discharging a pressurized fluid therethrough upon penetration of the tissue by the cutting blade.

47. The method according to claim 46, which comprises positioning a valve between the insufflation passageway and an exterior of the penetrator needle for preventing leakage of the pressurized fluid from the penetrator needle.

48. The method according to claim 43, which comprises utilizing a locking mechanism for preventing accidental exposure of the cutting blade, said locking mechanism being selectively unlockable and relockable.

49. The method as claimed in claim 46, wherein said fluid comprises a gas.

50. The method as claimed in claim 43, which comprises forming a distal tip portion of the blade so as to be one of a substantially dull tip and a substantially rounded tip.