Multi-Purpose Minimally Invasive Instrument That Uses a Micro Entry Port
First Claim
1. A multi-purpose minimally invasive instrument for medical, non-medical, surgical, therapeutic, and investigative applications in spaces and cavities having a wall blocking access thereto, and also having a larger entry port opening and at least one smaller entry port opening formed in the wall, said instrument comprising:
- a handle;
an electrically operated tool that uses electrical power to perform at least one function, said electrically operated tool has a working end configured for performing said at least one function and an opposed connecting end;
a small diameter elongated rod having a first end in fixed association with said handle, and a second end configured for removable engagement with said connecting end of said electrically operated tool;
an introducer with a pivoting cradle configured for engaging and transporting said electrically operated tool through the larger entry port opening in the wall, said pivoting cradle also configured for easy release of said electrically operated tool once said connecting end of said operated tool becomes engaged with said second end of said elongated rod, said introducer further comprising a longitudinal bore configured and dimensioned to allow insertion of an optical system so that said introducer and the optical system can concurrently extend through the larger entry port opening in the wall, and said introducer also having a control knob configured to adjust the degree of tilting of said cradle for tool attachment from a location outside the space;
supportive entry port means adapted for providing an entry means for said elongated rod through the smaller entry port opening in the wall and support of said elongated rod during its use, said supportive entry port means also comprising a first part configured for extending through the smaller entry port opening in the wall and a second part configured for connection to said handle;
electrical transmission means adapted for connecting said handle and said electrically operated tool to a power source; and
activation means adapted for initiating, controlling, and terminating said electrically operated tool in performing said at least one function, said activation means also adapted for electrical communication with said electrical transmission means, whereby when said introducer is inserted through the larger entry port opening in the wall visually guided by an optical system concurrently inserted with said introducer through the wall via positioning within said longitudinal bore of said introducer, and when said cradle of said introducer also engages and transports said electrically operated tool through the wall, and further under guidance of the optical system said supportive entry port means is positioned to provide an entry means for said elongated rod through the smaller entry port opening in the wall and said elongated rod is inserted through said supportive entry port means so that its second end extends beyond the wall and also beyond said supportive entry port means, under the guidance of the optical system said control knob can then be used to manipulate said cradle while said handle is used to manipulate said elongated rod for joining said connecting end of said electrically operated tool with said second end of said elongated rod, whereby said electrically operated tool is released from said cradle and thereafter said introducer is removed from the larger entry port opening in the wall with the optical system being concurrently removed, the optical system is then reintroduced through the larger entry port opening in the wall so that said electrically operated tool via said electrical transmission means and said activation means can perform said at least one function under optical system guidance, and after said electrically operated tool has performed said at least one function, said optical system is removed from the larger entry port opening in the wall, said introducer is then re-inserted through the larger entry port opening in the wall visually guided by said optical system concurrently inserted with said introducer through the wall via positioning within said longitudinal bore of said introducer, under optical system guidance said introducer with said optical system, said control knob is then used to manipulate said cradle while said handle is concurrently used to manipulate said elongated rod for removing said connecting end of said electrically operated tool from said second end of said elongated rod and transferring said electrically operated tool from said elongated rod to said cradle, after which said introducer is removed from the larger entry port opening in the wall with said electrically operated tool secured to said cradle and further with said optical system also being concurrently removed from the larger entry port opening.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-purpose minimally invasive instrument having a small diameter elongated rod with a distal end that receives different interchangeable tools for a variety of uses, and also a handle used by an operator to control the interchangeable tool by manipulating the electricity it receives from a generator. The rod enters a cavity through a very small diameter telescopic port, which provides it with added support during its use. Interchangeable tools comprising imaging/surgical/sensing/electromagnet/radiofrequency/laser/heat-generating probes and/or other devices enter the cavity, supported by an introducer removed after tool attachment, one-at-a-time through a regular-size port that is concurrently used by an endoscope/camera. The instrument is adaptable for therapeutic, investigative, and/or other applications, in any space. An important medical benefit is the usage of many tools simultaneously while employing only one regular-size port and a very small diameter port for each additional tool used, which expedites patient recovery with excellent cosmetic outcome.
196 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A multi-purpose minimally invasive instrument for medical, non-medical, surgical, therapeutic, and investigative applications in spaces and cavities having a wall blocking access thereto, and also having a larger entry port opening and at least one smaller entry port opening formed in the wall, said instrument comprising:
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a handle; an electrically operated tool that uses electrical power to perform at least one function, said electrically operated tool has a working end configured for performing said at least one function and an opposed connecting end; a small diameter elongated rod having a first end in fixed association with said handle, and a second end configured for removable engagement with said connecting end of said electrically operated tool; an introducer with a pivoting cradle configured for engaging and transporting said electrically operated tool through the larger entry port opening in the wall, said pivoting cradle also configured for easy release of said electrically operated tool once said connecting end of said operated tool becomes engaged with said second end of said elongated rod, said introducer further comprising a longitudinal bore configured and dimensioned to allow insertion of an optical system so that said introducer and the optical system can concurrently extend through the larger entry port opening in the wall, and said introducer also having a control knob configured to adjust the degree of tilting of said cradle for tool attachment from a location outside the space; supportive entry port means adapted for providing an entry means for said elongated rod through the smaller entry port opening in the wall and support of said elongated rod during its use, said supportive entry port means also comprising a first part configured for extending through the smaller entry port opening in the wall and a second part configured for connection to said handle; electrical transmission means adapted for connecting said handle and said electrically operated tool to a power source; and activation means adapted for initiating, controlling, and terminating said electrically operated tool in performing said at least one function, said activation means also adapted for electrical communication with said electrical transmission means, whereby when said introducer is inserted through the larger entry port opening in the wall visually guided by an optical system concurrently inserted with said introducer through the wall via positioning within said longitudinal bore of said introducer, and when said cradle of said introducer also engages and transports said electrically operated tool through the wall, and further under guidance of the optical system said supportive entry port means is positioned to provide an entry means for said elongated rod through the smaller entry port opening in the wall and said elongated rod is inserted through said supportive entry port means so that its second end extends beyond the wall and also beyond said supportive entry port means, under the guidance of the optical system said control knob can then be used to manipulate said cradle while said handle is used to manipulate said elongated rod for joining said connecting end of said electrically operated tool with said second end of said elongated rod, whereby said electrically operated tool is released from said cradle and thereafter said introducer is removed from the larger entry port opening in the wall with the optical system being concurrently removed, the optical system is then reintroduced through the larger entry port opening in the wall so that said electrically operated tool via said electrical transmission means and said activation means can perform said at least one function under optical system guidance, and after said electrically operated tool has performed said at least one function, said optical system is removed from the larger entry port opening in the wall, said introducer is then re-inserted through the larger entry port opening in the wall visually guided by said optical system concurrently inserted with said introducer through the wall via positioning within said longitudinal bore of said introducer, under optical system guidance said introducer with said optical system, said control knob is then used to manipulate said cradle while said handle is concurrently used to manipulate said elongated rod for removing said connecting end of said electrically operated tool from said second end of said elongated rod and transferring said electrically operated tool from said elongated rod to said cradle, after which said introducer is removed from the larger entry port opening in the wall with said electrically operated tool secured to said cradle and further with said optical system also being concurrently removed from the larger entry port opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification