Tissue marker and method for use

• US 20060247516A1
• Filed: 04/05/2006
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Voegele, James W., Hess, Christopher J., Weisenburgh, William B. II, Gill, Robert P., Geis, William P.
• Application Number:
  US11/399,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20060247516A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/426
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/32 Devices for opening or enlarging the visual field, e.g. of a tube of the body dilators A61M29/00
• 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 17/0281 Abdominal wall lifters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/122 Clamps or clips , e.g. for the umbilical cord for the vas deferens A61F6/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1227 Spring clips
• 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 17/3417 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 17/3423 Access ports, e.g. toroid shape introducers for instruments or hands access sites for liquids A61M39/0247
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3462 with means for changing the diameter or the orientation of the entrance port of the cannula, e.g. for use with different-sized instruments, reduction ports, adapter seals expandable cannulas A61B17/3417
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3474 Insufflating needles, e.g. Veress needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3476 Powered trocars, e.g. electrosurgical cutting, lasers, powered knives
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/4241 Instruments for manoeuvring or retracting the uterus, e.g. during laparoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00265 Hand assisted surgery, i.e. minimally invasive surgery with at least part of an assisting hand inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00287 Bags for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00362 Packages or dispensers for MIS instruments A61B2017/0479 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00893 : pharmaceutically effective
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0419 : H-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0461 : with features cooperating with special features on the suture, e.g. protrusions on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0462 : One way system, i.e. also tensioning the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 : for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0647 : having one single leg, e.g. tacks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2825 : Inserts of different material in jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2829 : with a removable cover
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2931 : with releasable head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 : holding by means of suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3405 : using mechanical guide means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3437 : with means for removing or absorbing fluid, e.g. wicks or absorbent pads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3445 : used as instrument channel for multiple instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3447 : Linked multiple cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3449 : whereby the instrument channels merge into one single channel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3466 : for simultaneous sealing of multiple instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3908 : Soft tissue, e.g. breast tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3925 : ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3937 : Visible markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3954 : magnetic, e.g. NMR or MRI
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3987 : Applicators for implanting markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/30 : Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 : Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/50 : Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0063 : Implantable repair or support meshes, e.g. hernia meshes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0072 : Delivery tools therefor

Abstract

A method is provided for planning a surgical procedure on a patient. The method includes surgically accessing a body cavity of the patient, identifying a key, anatomical structure within the body cavity; and marking the key, anatomical structure. The key, anatomical structure may be a distal or proximal end point of tissue to be resected, a vessel that supplies arterial blood to tissue to be resected, or the cutting line for the tissue to be resected. A tissue marker is also provided for marking soft, internal tissue during a surgical procedure. The tissue marker may be mechanically attachable to tissue, or the tissue marker may comprise a marking fluid.

Claims

1. A method for planning a surgical procedure on a patient, the method comprising:

surgically accessing a body cavity of the patient;

identifying a key, anatomical structure within the body cavity;

providing a tissue marker; and

marking the key, anatomical structure with the tissue marker.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the key, anatomical structure is a distal end point of tissue to be resected.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the key, anatomical structure is a proximal end point of tissue to be resected.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the key, anatomical structure is a vessel that supplies arterial blood to tissue to be resected.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the key, anatomical structure is the cutting line for tissue to be resected.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue marker comprises a mechanical fastener attachable to soft, internal tissue.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the tissue marker comprises a disc having a central, fluted aperture, wherein drawing tissue into the aperture attaches the tissue marker to the tissue.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the tissue marker comprises a pair of deformable legs.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the tissue marker comprises a retractable hook.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the tissue marker comprises a T-fastener.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the tissue marker comprises a clip.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the tissue marker comprises a staple.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue marker includes an identifying feature to signify a type of key, anatomical structure.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the identifying feature is a printed information, a handwritten information, a color, a pattern, or a physical feature.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the physical feature is a flag.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue marker comprises a marking fluid.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the marking fluid comprises a dye or stain.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the marking fluid comprises a biocompatible, colored adhesive.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the marking fluid is applicable to tissue inside of the body cavity with a marking fluid applier operable from the outside of the patient'"'"'s body.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the marking fluid applier comprises a pair of remotely operable, opposable end effectors for grasping tissue therebetween, and at least one of the end effectors has a multiplicity of holes on a tissue interface surface and contains a marking fluid reservoir, whereby marking fluid is transferable from the reservoir to the grasped tissue.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the marking fluid applier comprises a dispensing tip fluidly connected by a tube to a syringe containing the marking fluid.

22. A tissue marker for marking soft, internal tissue of a surgical patient, the tissue marker being mechanically attachable to the tissue.

23. The tissue marker of claim 22, further comprising a disc having a central, fluted aperture, wherein drawing tissue into the aperture attaches the tissue marker to the tissue.

24. The tissue marker of claim 22, further comprising a pair of legs that are deformable into a deployed configuration.

25. The tissue marker of claim 22, further comprising a retractable hook.

26. The tissue marker of claim 22, further comprising a T-fastener.

27. The tissue marker of claim 22, further comprising a clip.

28. The tissue marker of claim 22, further comprising a staple.

29. The tissue marker of claim 22, further comprising an identifying feature to signify a type of key, anatomical structure.

30. The tissue marker of claim 29, wherein the identifying feature is a printed information, a handwritten information, a color, a pattern, or a physical feature.

31. The tissue marker of claim 29, wherein the physical feature is a flag.

33. The tissue marker of claim 30, wherein the marking fluid comprises a dye or stain.

34. The tissue marker of claim 30, wherein the marking fluid comprises a biocompatible, colored adhesive.

35. The tissue marker of claim 30, wherein the marking fluid is applicable to tissue inside of the body cavity with a marking fluid applier operable from the outside of the patient'"'"'s body.

36. The tissue marker of claim 35, wherein the marking fluid applier comprises a pair of remotely operable, opposable end effectors for grasping tissue therebetween, and at least one of the end effectors has a multiplicity of holes on a tissue interface surface and contains a marking fluid reservoir, whereby marking fluid is transferable from the reservoir to the grasped tissue.

37. The tissue marker of claim 35, wherein the marking fluid applier comprises a dispensing tip fluidly connected by a tube to a syringe containing the marking fluid.

32. A tissue marker for marking soft, internal tissue of a surgical patient, the tissue marker comprising a marking fluid.