Laparoscopic surgical instrument for in situ tool exchange

• US 20060287641A1
• Filed: 02/07/2006
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alfred Perlin
• Original Assignee: Alfred Perlin
• Inventors: Perlin, Alfred
• Application Number:
  US11/349,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20060287641A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00464 for use with different instruments with hole for different instruments A61B2017/22072
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/291 the position of the handle being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/292 connection of actuating rod to handle, e.g. ball end in recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2947 Pivots

Abstract

A method is presented for replacing a tool through a sleeve of a laparoscopic instrument without removing the sleeve from a body. The method includes rotating a housing portion of the laparoscopic instrument to expose an end of a first tool to be removed, removing the first tool from the sleeve, and inserting a second tool into the sleeve without removing it from the body.

Claims

1. A method of replacing a tool from a sleeve of a laparoscopic instrument without removing the sleeve from a body, comprising:

rotating a housing assembly of the laparoscopic instrument to expose an end of the tool to be removed;

removing the tool from the sleeve of the laparoscopic instrument without removing the sleeve from the body; and

inserting a second tool into the laparoscopic instrument.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising registering the exposed end of the tool in at least one of a ball-receiving slot and a ball-receiving hole of the housing portion when the housing assembly portion is in a locked position.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the ball-receiving slot is included in a housing of the housing assembly.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the ball-receiving hole is included in a drum of the housing assembly.

5. The method of claim 1, pressing a locking lever to unlock the housing assembly from a locked position.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the rotating includes rotating the housing portion about an axis of the laparoscopic instrument selected from a group consisting of an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis, wherein the X-axis is any axis lying in the 3-dimensional space occupied by the laparoscopic instrument.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the rotating includes rotating the housing assembly about a hinge of the laparoscopic instrument, the housing assembly being pivotably coupled to the hinge via a hinge pin.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising grasping a pair of handles when rotating the housing assembly, the pair of handles being attached to the housing assembly.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising linearly displacing the tool when the housing assembly is in a locked position to manipulate a tool device located at an opposing end of the tool.

10. A laparoscopic instrument comprising:

a housing assembly including a pair of handles; and

a hinge portion pivotally connected to the housing portion and including a tool knob extension for insertion into an incision of a body, the knob extension having an open end and an elongated hollow shaft for receiving a first tool for insertion into the hollow shaft through the open end, the hinge portion being pivotable between a closed position and an open position, the hinge portion being positioned in the open position with the knob extension remaining in the body when changing the first tool with a second tool.

11. The laparoscopic instrument of claim 10, wherein the housing assembly includes a drum assembly having at least two drums connected to respective ones of the pair of handles, the drums rotating independently of one another to permit movement of the handles relative to one another, the drums also rotating together in a fixed relationship about an axis passing through the center of the drums to permit rotation of the handles in a fixed relationship about the axis.

12. The laparoscopic instrument of claim 10, wherein the. hinge in the closed position rotates around an axis perpendicular to an axis of the knob extension to achieve the open position.

13. The laparoscopic instrument of claim 10, wherein the hinge portion in the closed position rotates around an axis parallel to an axis of the knob extension to achieve the open position.

14. The laparoscopic instrument of claim 10, wherein the hinge portion further includes a locking lever for locking the hinge portion in at least the locked position and the open position.

15. The laparoscopic instrument of claim 10, wherein the housing assembly includes a ball-receiving slot for receiving a ball end of any of the first tool and the second tool when the hinge portion is in the closed position.

16. A method of replacing a tool of a laparoscopic instrument, comprising:

inserting a laparoscopic instrument into an incision of a body, the laparoscopic instrument having a first tool and a pair of handles coupled to the first tool;

rotating a housing assembly of the laparoscopic instrument from a locked position to an open position to expose an end of the first tool;

removing the first tool from a sleeve of the laparoscopic instrument and inserting a second tool without removing the sleeve from the body; and

rotating the housing assembly from the open position to the locked position to couple the second tool to the handles of the laparoscopic instrument.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising pressing a locking lever to release the housing assembly from the locked position.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising pressing the locking lever to release the housing assembly from the open position.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising rotating one of the handles to cause a linear movement of a tool device of the first tool or the second tool.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising rotating the housing assembly about any axis of the laparoscopic instrument lying in the 3-dimensional space occupied by the laparoscopic instrument.

21. A method of exchanging tools in a surgical instrument, comprising:

inserting a first tool through an elongated sleeve of the surgical instrument;

moving part of the surgical instrument to permit removal of the first tool from the elongated sleeve;

removing the first tool from the elongated sleeve; and

inserting a second tool into the elongated sleeve.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the surgical instrument is a laparoscopic instrument or an arthroscopic instrument.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising inserting the surgical instrument together with its elongated sleeve through a cannula into the body.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the moving includes rotating a housing assembly of the surgical instrument to expose an end of the first tool to be removed.