METHODS AND DEVICES FOR MAINTAINING VISIBILITY AND PROVIDING IRRIGATION AND/OR SUCTION DURING SURGICAL PROCEDURES

• US 20100010310A1
• Filed: 07/14/2008
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Hess, Christopher J., Weisenburgh, William B. II, Powell, Darrel M., Shurtleff, Carl J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,915,842 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/156
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00091 Nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00135 Oversleeves mounted on the endoscope prior to insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/126 provided with means for cleaning in-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/3132 for laparoscopy

Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for providing irrigation and/or suction to a surgical site and maintaining clear visibility through a lens of a scoping device during a surgical procedure. In general, the methods and devices can allow for a surgical instrument to maintain visibility during a surgical procedure using a fluid conduit coupled to the surgical instrument. A surgical device can include a sheath having at least one lumen extending therethrough configured to allow a surgical viewing instrument to be disposed therein. The sheath can also have a passageway extending therethrough configured to allow fluid to flow therethrough. The fluid conduit can be configured to be movable between positions that can allow alternative directions of fluid toward and/or away from a viewing element on the surgical instrument and fluid away from the viewing element and toward a surgical field in a body cavity.

Claims

1. A surgical device, comprising:

an annular sheath configured to be disposed in a body cavity and to receive a surgical instrument in a lumen thereof, the sheath further having a passageway configured to allow fluid to flow therethrough, the passageway having a proximal opening and a distal opening; and

a fluid conduit at least partially located in a distal portion of the sheath and configured to be movable when the sheath is disposed in a body cavity between at least two positions to change a location of the distal opening of the passageway.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein a first location of the distal opening is in a distal end of the sheath and a second location of the distal opening is proximal to the distal end of the sheath.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the fluid conduit is configured to be in a first position effective to direct fluid flowing through the passageway substantially toward the lumen, and a second position to direct fluid flowing through the passageway away from the lumen and substantially toward a surgical field.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the fluid conduit is configured to selectively allow for fluid irrigation through the passageway and for fluid suction through the passageway.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the surgical instrument comprises a scope having a viewing element at a distal end of the scope.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the fluid conduit in at least one position allows fluid to be directed through the passageway in a direction substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the passageway.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the fluid conduit comprises an axially adjustable arm.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the arm is configured to be movable between a first position where a distal end of the arm is proximal to a distal end of the sheath and a second position where the distal end of the arm is distal to the distal end of the sheath.

9. The device of claim 7, further comprising a self-sealing element disposed at a distal end of the sheath, wherein the arm is configured to be movable between a position proximal to the self-sealing element and a position distal to the self-sealing element.

10. The device of claim 7, further comprising an actuator coupled to a proximal portion of the arm, wherein manipulation of the actuator is effective to move the arm between at least two positions.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the fluid conduit comprises a movable ring disposed at the distal portion of the sheath.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the ring in a first rotated position is configured to allow fluid to flow toward the lumen of the sheath through a distal opening of the passageway proximal to a distal end of the sheath and the ring in a second rotated position is configured to allow fluid to flow away from the sheath through the distal opening of the passageway at the distal end of the sheath.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the ring in the first rotated position is configured to prevent fluid flow through the distal opening of the passageway away from the distal end of the sheath and the ring in the second rotated position is configured to prevent fluid flow through the distal opening of the passageway proximal to the distal end of the sheath.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the ring is configured to be located distal to a distal end of a surgical instrument attached to the sheath.

15. A surgical device, comprising:

an annular sheath having first and second passageways extending therethrough, the first passageway configured to receive a surgical instrument and the second passageway configured to allow fluid to flow therethrough; and

a fluid conduit configured to move between a first position that allows a distal opening of the second passageway to be substantially directed toward a distal end of a surgical instrument disposed in the first passageway and a second position that allows the distal opening of the second passageway to be substantially directed away from a distal end of the sheath and into a body cavity.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the fluid conduit is at least partially located proximate to a distal portion of the sheath.

17. A surgical method, comprising:

passing a sheath having a surgical instrument disposed in a lumen thereof and having a fluid passageway extending therethrough into a body cavity, wherein a distal end of the surgical instrument is located proximal to a distal end of the sheath, and wherein a fluid conduit at least partially located in a distal portion of the sheath is configured to be movable between at least two positions to change a location of a distal opening of the fluid passageway.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein passing the sheath into a body cavity comprises passing the sheath through an introducer device having a working channel extending into a body cavity.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the fluid conduit is movable to expose a distal opening of the fluid passageway effective to selectively irrigate and suction a site distal to the sheath.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the fluid conduit is movable to expose a distal opening of the fluid passageway effective to selectively irrigate and suction a distal end of a surgical instrument disposed in the lumen of the sheath.