Surgical Device For Minimal Access Surgery

• US 20100081875A1
• Filed: 08/21/2009
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: EndoRobotics Inc.
• Original Assignee: EndoRobotics Inc.
• Inventors: Fowler, Dennis, Allen, Peter
• Application Number:
  US12/545,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20100081875A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/114
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00149 using articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00183 for variable viewing angles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00188 with focusing or zooming features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00193 adapted for stereoscopic vision
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/313 for introducing through surgical openings, e.g. laparoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/3137 for examination of the interior of blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3476 Powered trocars, e.g. electrosurgical cutting, lasers, powered knives
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00221 with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32007 with suction or vacuum means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3447 Linked multiple cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/301 for introducing or steering flexible instruments inserted into the body, e.g. catheters or endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/742 Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 : Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/32 : operating autonomously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/71 : Manipulators operated by drive cable mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/72 : Micromanipulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 : using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 : Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 : Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 : Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 : Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 : for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6882 : Anchoring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 : Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• 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 90/361 : Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras

Abstract

The present invention is directed to devices and methods for performing minimal access surgery; in various embodiments, to a surgical device comprising an insertable instrument attached to a trocar, as well as methods of performing a surgical procedure comprising inserting in insertable instrument/trocar combination into the body of a patient through an incision.

Claims

1. A surgical device comprising:

(a) an insertable instrument; and

(b) a trocar attached to the insertable instrument.

2. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the trocar is attached to the insertable instrument by adhesion, a hook, a magnet, a clamp, a snap, welding, a thread or string, a wire, soldering, a pin, a screw, threading or a plastic connector.

3. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the insertable instrument is chosen from a cutting implement, a dissector, a retractor, a cauterizer, a suction device, a probe, a magnifier, scissors, tweezers, forceps, a coagulator, an ultrasonically activated shears or probe, other monopolar or bipolar cutting and coagulating devices, any other energy source for cutting, dissection, or hemostasis.

4. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the insertable instrument is an imaging device.

5. The surgical device of claim 4, wherein the imaging device comprises a camera.

6. The surgical device of claim 5, wherein the imaging device comprises a scope.

7. The surgical device of claim 6, wherein the scope is chosen from an endoscope, a laparoscope, a thoracoscope, a gastroscope or a colonoscope.

8. The surgical device of claim 7, wherein the scope is rigid or flexible.

9. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the surgical device is attached to the wall of the abdomen of a patient by adhesion, a hook, a magnet, a clamp, a snap, welding, a thread or string, a wire, soldering, a pin, a screw, threading or a plastic connector.

10. The surgical device of claim 6, wherein the scope provides direct image transmission or fiberoptic image transmission.

11. The surgical device of claim 6, wherein the scope is a videoscope with a video camera in it.

12. The surgical device of claim 3, wherein the insertable instrument is a probe chosen from an ultrasound probe or a radioactivity detection probe.

13. The surgical device of claim 4, wherein the surgical device is a microscopic or spectroscopic imaging device.

14. The surgical device of claim 4, wherein the imaging device is movable on one or more of the following:

a pan axis, a tilt axis, a translation axis and a zoom axis.

15. The surgical device of claim 1, further comprising an actuation mechanism.

16. The surgical device of claim 15, wherein the actuation mechanism is mechanically or electrically controlled.

17. The surgical device of claim 16, wherein the actuation is motor driven, remotely controlled or directly controlled.

18. A surgical device comprising an insertable instrument attached to a trocar to provide an insertable instrument/trocar combination,

wherein the insertable instrument is capable of being inserted into a single incision in the skin of a patient to permit a surgical procedure on the patient.

19. The surgical device of claim 18, wherein the insertable instrument comprises an imaging device.

20. The surgical device of claim 18, wherein the surgical device is capable of being inserted into a single incision to create an opening having a diameter of about 3 cm or less in the skin of the patient.

21. The surgical device of claim 19, wherein the surgical device is capable of being inserted into a single incision to create an opening having a diameter of about 1 cm to about 3 cm in the skin of a patient.

22. The surgical device of claim 19, wherein the surgical device is capable of being inserted into a single incision to create an opening having a diameter of about 5 mm to about 10 mm in the skin of a patient.

23. The surgical device of claim 18, wherein the insertable instrument attached to the trocar by a magnet.

24. A method of performing a procedure on a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) making an incision in the skin of a patient to provide an opening having a diameter of about 3 cm or less; and

(b) inserting an insertable instrument having a trocar attached thereto through the opening.

25. A method of performing a surgical procedure on a patient, the method comprising:

(a) inserting a trocar into an incision on the surface of a patient'"'"'s body, such that the trocar touches the incision and maintains an opening in the skin of the patient;

(b) inserting an insertable instrument into the interior of a patient'"'"'s body through the trocar; and

(c) attaching the trocar to the insertable instrument via a point of attachment on the surface of the trocar or the insertable instrument;

wherein at least a portion of the point of attachment is within the interior of the patient'"'"'s body.

27. The method of claim 25 or 26, further comprising the step of inserting at least one additional item through the opening, the additional item chosen from a grasper, a dissector, a grasper, scissors, a scalpel, a tool delivering cautery, ultrasonic energy or a laser, a clip applier, a stapler, a probe, a suction device, a delivery device for an adhesive, anti-adhesive or hemostatic agent, a mesh, a prosthesis or an implantable device.

26. A method of performing a surgical procedure on a patient, the method comprising:

(a) making an incision in the skin of a patient to provide an opening having a diameter of about 3 cm or less;

(b) attaching a trocar to an insertable instrument to form an insertable instrument/trocar combination; and

(c) inserting at least a portion of the insertable instrument/trocar combination through the incision into the patient'"'"'s body, such that the trocar touches the incision and maintains an opening in the skin of the patient, and such that at least a portion of the insertable instrument is within the interior of the patient'"'"'s body.