Articulated surgical probe and method for use

• US 20060094933A1
• Filed: 11/01/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dynamic Surgical Solutions
• Original Assignee: Dynamic Surgical Solutions
• Inventors: Goldfarb, Michael A., Goldfarb, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,963,976 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/229
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/02 for holding wounds open; Tractors specula A61B1/32 ; drainage appliances for wounds A61M27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0218 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2833 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00323 Cables or rods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00336 with a protective sleeve, e.g. retractable or slidable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00367 Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2947 Pivots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320044 Blunt dissectors blunt suture needles A61B2017/06085
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/17 closed at the distal end

Abstract

A surgical probe includes an articulated digit located at a distal end of a positioning shaft having a longitudinal axis. An actuator is located at a proximal end of the positioning shaft that is operatively connected to the articulated digit so as to move it between a continuous range of positions from an extended position to a substantially curved position while maintaining a kinesthetic relationship between a surgeon'"'"'s finger engaging the actuator and the articulated digit. Preferably, the surgeons finger position and shape directly correspond to the position and shape of the articulated digit. A method is provided for probing, dissecting, and retracting anatomical structures.

Claims

1. A method for surgical manipulation of tissue within a body cavity, said method comprising:

inserting a probe within said body cavity, where said probe includes an elongated section and at least one segmented digit having a size similar to a human finger, where said segmented digit is configured to move through a range of motion substantially similar to a range of motion of said human finger; and

remotely actuating said digit to manipulate said tissue within said body cavity.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein remotely actuating said digit comprises actuating a toggle on a body of said probe, such that movement of an operator'"'"'s finger to actuate said toggle mimics movement of said segmented digit.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein remotely actuating said digit provides a kinesthetic/tactile relationship between an operator'"'"'s finger actuating said toggle and said segmented digit.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said digit further comprises a tip having a gauze wad releasably fixed to a dorsal surface for dissection so that remotely actuating said digit moves said gauze pad into dissecting engagement with tissue located within said body cavity.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said digit is maintained in a selected configuration by a locking mechanism.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein remotely actuating said digit provides a variety of configurations that mimic the shape and contour of a human finger.

7. The method of claim 1 including the step of transluminating tissues by actuating said digit so as to position a tip of said segmented digit behind said tissues.

8. A method for surgical manipulation of tissue within a body cavity, said method comprising:

inserting a probe within said body cavity, where said probe includes an elongated section and at least one segmented digit having a size similar to a human finger, where said segmented digit is configured to move through a range of motion substantially similar to a range of motion of said human finger; and

remotely actuating said digit to dissect said tissue within said body cavity.

9. A method for surgical manipulation of tissue within a body cavity, said method comprising:

inserting at least two probes within said body cavity, where said at least two probes each includes an elongated section and at least one segmented digit having a size similar to a human finger, where said segmented digit is configured to move through a range of motion substantially similar to a range of motion of said human finger; and

remotely actuating each of said digits so as to manipulate said tissue within said body cavity.

10. A method for surgical manipulation of tissue within a body cavity, said method comprising:

inserting a probe within said body cavity, where said probe includes an elongated section and a single segmented digit configured to move through a range of motion substantially similar to a range of motion of a human finger; and

remotely actuating digit to manipulate said tissue within said body cavity.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein remotely actuating said digit comprises actuating a toggle on a body of said probe, such that movement of an operator'"'"'s finger to actuate the toggle mimics movement of segmented digit.

12. A method for surgical manipulation of tissue within a body cavity, said method comprising:

inserting a probe within said body cavity, where said probe includes an elongated section and an articulating digit; and

remotely actuating said digit to manipulate said tissue within said body cavity using a toggle on a body of said probe, such that angular rotation of an operator'"'"'s finger to actuate said toggle mimics angular rotation of said articulating digit.

13. A surgical method comprising the steps of:

(A) providing a surgical probe comprising;

an articulated digit located at a distal end of a positioning shaft having a longitudinal axis; and

an actuator located at a proximal end of said positioning shaft and operatively connected to said articulated digit so as to move between a continuous range of positions from an extended position to a substantially curved position while maintaining a kinesthetic relationship between a surgeon'"'"'s finger engaging said actuator and said articulated digit;

(B) positioning said surgical probe adjacent to an anatomical structure to be manipulated;

(C) moving said actuator with a finger so as to arrange said articulated digit in a configuration that closely corresponds to the configuration of said finger; and

(D) engaging said anatomical structure with said articulated digit.

14. A surgical method comprising the steps of:

(A) inserting into an abdominal cavity of a patient, a surgical probe comprising;

an articulated digit located at a distal end of a positioning shaft having a longitudinal axis; and

an actuator located at a proximal end of said positioning shaft and operatively connected to said articulated digit so as to move said articulated digit between a continuous range of positions from an extended position to a substantially curved position while maintaining a kinesthetic relationship between a surgeon'"'"'s finger engaging said actuator and said articulated digit;

(B) positioning said surgical probe adjacent to an anatomical structure to be palpated;

(C) moving said actuator with a finger so as to arrange said articulated digit in a configuration that closely corresponds to the configuration of said finger; and

(D) palpating said anatomical structure with said articulated digit.

15. A surgical method comprising the steps of:

(A) inserting into an abdominal cavity of a patient, a surgical probe comprising;

(i) an articulated digit located at a distal end of a positioning shaft having a longitudinal axis; and

(ii) an actuator located at a proximal end of said positioning shaft and operatively connected to said articulated digit so as to move said articulated digit between a continuous range of positions from an extended position to a substantially curved position while maintaining a kinesthetic relationship between a surgeon'"'"'s finger engaging said actuator and said articulated digit; and

(iii) a second surgical device having a tip;

(B) positioning said surgical probe adjacent to said second surgical instrument;

(C) moving said actuator with a finger so as to arrange said articulated digit in a configuration that can support said tip so as to optimize a tip angle relative to an anatomical structure.