Device and Method for Safe Access to a Body Cavity

• US 20080249467A1
• Filed: 04/04/2008
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Theranova, Llc
• Original Assignee: Theranova, Llc
• Inventors: Burnett, Daniel Rogers, Hall, Gregory
• Application Number:
  US12/098,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20080249467A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/117
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/313 for introducing through surgical openings, e.g. laparoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0281 Abdominal wall lifters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1626 Control means; Display units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3401 Puncturing needles for the peridural or subarachnoid space or the plexus, e.g. for anaesthesia local anaesthesia A61M19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3415 for introducing tubes or catheters, e.g. gastrostomy tubes, drain catheters A61B17/3417 takes precedence; body piercing catheter guide needles A61M25/06
• 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 17/3494 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 17/8875 Screwdrivers, spanners or wrenches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00039 Electric or electromagnetic phenomena other than conductivity, e.g. capacity, inductivity, Hall effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00057 Light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output with imaging means A61B90/37, A61B34/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00128 related to intensity or progress of surgical action
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/349 Trocar with thread on outside
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00738 Depth, e.g. depth of ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 : of the patient or his organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/065 : Determining position of the probe employing exclusively positioning means located on or in the probe, e.g. using position sensors arranged on the probe

Abstract

An anatomical space access device having an elongate body; an insertion tip at a distal end of the elongate body; an anatomical space sensor disposed at the distal end of the elongate body, the sensor being adapted to sense a parameter identifying an anatomical space other than a vasculature space and to generate a signal; and an indicator operatively connected to the sensor to receive the signal and to indicate access of the sensor to the anatomical space. The invention also provides a method for providing access to an anatomical space outside of a vasculature space, including the following steps: inserting a distal end of an instrument through a tissue volume into the anatomical space outside of a vasculature space, the instrument comprising an anatomical space sensor; and generating a location indication of the anatomical space sensor.

Claims

1. An anatomical space access device comprising:

an elongate body;

an insertion tip at a distal end of the elongate body;

an anatomical space sensor disposed at the distal end of the elongate body, the sensor being adapted to sense a parameter identifying an anatomical space other than a vasculature space and to generate a signal; and

an indicator operatively connected to the sensor to receive the signal and to indicate access of the sensor to the anatomical space.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the insertion tip is blunt.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the insertion tip is sharp.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises an electrical property sensor.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a tissue compliance sensor.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor.

7. The device of claim 1 further comprising an insertion force sensor.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the elongate body comprises a sheath, the device further comprising a trocar disposed within the sheath.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the sheath comprises a weighted tip.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the elongate body comprises a trocar, the device further comprising a sheath surrounding the trocar.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the elongate body comprises a threaded trocar.

12. The device of claim 1 further comprising a tenting mechanism comprising a tissue attachment mechanism and a handle.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the elongate body is disposed within the tenting mechanism.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the elongate body is movably engaged with the tenting mechanism.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the elongate body comprises threads and the tenting mechanism comprises threads engaged with the elongate body threads.

16. The device of claim 12 further comprising a tissue incision tool disposed within the tenting mechanism.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the tissue incision tool comprises a spring biasing a sharp edge of the tool.

18. The device of claim 1 further comprising a rotation force sensor.

19. The device of claim 1 further comprising a rotation actuator engageable with the elongate body to rotate the elongate body and disengageable with the elongate body if a distally directed insertion force is below a threshold level.

20. The device of claim 1 wherein the anatomical space sensor comprises a distal tip mechanically connected to a first proximal contact such that the distal tip and first proximal contact are movable with respect to the elongate body, the anatomical space sensor further comprising a second proximal contact connected to a proximal end of the elongate body, the first and second proximal contacts having an open position in which the contacts are not in contact and a closed position in which the contacts are in contact.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein the anatomical space sensor further comprises a spring biasing the first and second proximal contacts toward the closed position.

22. The device of claim 20 further comprising an automated actuator operably connected to the elongate body to advance the elongate body only when the first and second proximal contacts are not in contact.

23. A method for providing access to an anatomical space outside of a vasculature space comprising:

inserting a distal end of an instrument through a tissue volume into the anatomical space outside of a vasculature space, the instrument comprising an anatomical space sensor; and

generating a location indication of the anatomical space sensor.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising creating an opening in the tissue volume with the instrument.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the instrument further comprises a blunt tip, the step of creating an opening comprises advancing the blunt tip through the tissue volume.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the anatomical space is a peritoneal cavity.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein generating a location indication comprises sensing a parameter with the anatomical space sensor.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein sensing a parameter comprises sensing an electrical property.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein sensing a parameter comprises sensing temperature.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein sensing a parameter comprises sensing a change in tissue compliance.

31. The method of claim 27 wherein sensing a parameter comprises detecting a breathing pressure waveform.

32. The method of claim 23 further comprising sensing an insertion force during the inserting step.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising indicating insertion force information.

34. The method of claim 23 wherein the instrument further comprises a blunt tip, the method further comprising pushing an anatomical structure aside during the inserting step.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the anatomical structure is vasculature.

36. The method of claim 23 wherein the instrument comprises an insertion trocar and a sheath, the method further comprising removing the trocar and sensor after the inserting and generating steps.

37. The method of claim 23 wherein the instrument comprises a sheath, the method further comprising removing the sheath and sensor after the inserting and generating steps.

38. The method of claim 23 further comprising tenting the tissue volume prior to the inserting step.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the tenting step comprises attaching a handle to the tissue volume.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the inserting step comprises inserting the instrument through the handle.

41. The method of claim 38 further comprising preventing insertion of the instrument in the absence of a threshold tenting force.

42. The method of claim 23 wherein the inserting step comprises rotating the instrument and advancing the instrument distally.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the rotating step comprises rotating a handle with a handle rotation force, the method further comprising disengaging transmission of the handle rotation force from the instrument if an advancement force is below a threshold level.

44. The method of claim 23 wherein the inserting step comprises inserting the instrument with an automated actuator, the method further comprising automatically ceasing operation of the automated actuator when the distal end of the instrument reaches a target cavity.