METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR VIEWING THE INTERIOR OF THE BLADDER THROUGH A SUPRAPUBIC INCISION

• US 3,656,485 A
• Filed: 04/27/1970
• Issued: 04/18/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bonny Kenneth, Mentor Corporation (Johnson & Johnson), Stephen B. Paige
• Original Assignee: Jack R. Robertson
• Inventors: Robertson, Jack R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truluck, Dalton L.
• Application Number:
  US05/032,028
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 128/3-8,303,305,311,328,341,343,348,349R,349B,349BV,35R,35V,351,347
• US Class Current: 600/135
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/06 Body-piercing guide needles or the like

Abstract

A method of and an instrument for locating a suprapubic incision into the bladder and for inserting a viewing unit through the incision into the bladder. A telescope for viewing the interior of the bladder is insertable thereinto through the viewing unit. The viewing unit may be left in place for later viewing of the interior of the bladder therethrough, and may be sutured to the abdominal wall. Also, a retention catheter may be inserted into the bladder through the viewing unit. The insertion instrument is elongated and terminates in a curved distal portion insertable through the urethra into the bladder to bring the distal end of the instrument into engagement with the anterior wall of the bladder in register with the suprapubic area of the abdominal wall. The instrument is provided with a longitudinal passage therethrough from its proximal end to a point adjacent but spaced from its distal end, and has a lateral opening therein at the distal end of the passage. With the distal end of the instrument in engagement with the anterior wall of the bladder, the bladder is inflated with a suitable fluid through the passage and the lateral opening in the instrument. Then, the aforementioned incision is made through the abdominal wall and the anterior wall of the bladder in register with the distal end of the instrument. The distal end of the viewing unit is then connected to the distal end of the insertion instrument, and the distal ends of these devices are then inserted into the bladder through the incision. Subsequently, the distal end of the viewing unit within the bladder, and the insertion instrument is then withdrawn through the urethra, leaving the viewing unit in place for insertion of a telescope therethrough for viewing the interior of the bladder.

Claims

1. A method of inserting a portion of a viewing unit into a body cavity, such as a hollow internal organ, through an incision in the wall of the cavity and the overlying part of the body, the interior of the cavity communicating with the exterior of the body through a body opening, said method being characterized by the use of an instrument having a distal end, and including the steps of:

a. inserting the distal end of the instrument through the body opening into the interior of the cavity and into engagement with the wall of the cavity in register with the desired area of the exterior of the body;

b. making an incision through the overlying part of the body and the wall of the cavity in register with the distal end of the instrument;

c. displacing the distal end of the instrument outwardly through the incision;

d. connecting a portion of the viewing unit to the distal end of the instrument;

e. displacing the distal end of the instrument and a portion of the viewing unit into the interior of the cavity through the incision;

f. disengaging the distal end of the instrument from the viewing unit within the cavity; and

g. withdrawing the instrument from the cavity and the body opening, leaving a portion of the viewing unit within the cavity.

2. A method of inserting a portion of a viewing unit into the bladder, characterized by the use of an instrument having a curved distal portion terminating in a distal end, and including the steps of:

a. inserting the distal end of the instrument through the urethra into the bladder and into engagement with the anterior wall of the bladder in register with the suprapubic area of the abdominal wall;

b. making an incision through the abdominal wall and the anterior wall of the bladder in register with the distal end of the instrument;

c. displacing the distal end of the instrument outwardly through the incision;

d. connecting a portion of the viewing unit to the distal end of the instrument;

e. displacing the distal end of the instrument and a portion of the viewing unit into the bladder through the incision; and

f. withdrawing the instrument from the bladder and the urethra, leaving a portion of the viewing unit within the bladder.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 characterized by the use of a viewing unit which is tubular, and including the additional step of inserting a telescope through the viewing unit into the bladder.

4. A method according to claim 3 including the further step of suturing the viewing unit to the suprapubic area of the abdominal wall.

5. A method as defined in claim 2 characterized by the use of a viewing unit which is tubular, and including the additional step of inserting a retention catheter through the viewing unit into the bladder.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5 including the further step of suturing the viewing unit to the suprapubic area of the abdominal wall.