Laparoscopic surgical gauze and the like

• US 5,203,767 A
• Filed: 01/08/1991
• Issued: 04/20/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David W. Cloyd
• Original Assignee: David W. Cloyd
• Inventors: Cloyd, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Randall L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): REICHLE, KARIN M
• Application Number:
  US07/638,799
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 604/362, 604/1, 604/11, 604/57, 604/904, 604/27, 604/28, 604/36, 604/48, 604/49, 604/286, 604/12-15, 604/16-18, 604/358, 606/191, 606/59, 128/749, 128/751, 128/756, 128/757, 128/759
• US Class Current: 604/11
• 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 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/36 Surgical swabs, e.g. for absorbency or packing body cavities during surgery A61F13/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/44 with radio-opaque material or signalling means for residual material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/2014 for endoscopic procedures

Abstract

A surgical gauze for use in combination with a trocar for laparoscopic surgery comprises a unitary body of surgical gauze of a size to fit through a trocar for use in surgical procedures, an elongated flexible radio-opaque tether of about 24 inches in length connected at one end to the body of gauze, and an anchoring device of a size too large for passage through a trocar connected to the other end of the tether.

Claims

1. A surgical tool for use in laparoscopic surgery comprising:

a surgical gauze formed of a unitary body of a size to fit through a trocar for use in laparoscopic surgical procedures;

an elongated flexible tether connected at one end to said body; and

an article of a size to prevent its passage through a trocar connected to the other end of said tether.

2. A surgical tool according to claim 1 wherein said body is a surgical peanut.

3. A surgical tool according to claim 1 wherein said body is a surgical sponge.

4. A surgical tool according to claim 1 wherein said article is a disc.

5. A surgical tool according to claim 4 wherein said body is a surgical peanut.

6. A surgical tool according to claim 4 wherein said body is a surgical sponge.

7. A surgical tool according to claim 1 wherein said flexible tether is a radio-opaque polytetrafluroethylene cord o order of about twenty-four inches in length.

8. A surgical gauze for use in combination with a trocar for laparoscopic surgery comprising:

a unitary body of surgical gauze of a size to fit through a trocar for use in laparoscopic surgical procedures;

an elongated flexible tether of about 24 inches in length connected at one end to said body of gauze; and

an anchoring device of a size too large for passage through a trocar connected to the other end of said tether.

9. A surgical tool according to claim 8 wherein said body is a surgical peanut.

10. A surgical tool according to claim 9 wherein said anchoring device is a disc.

11. A surgical tool according to claim 9 wherein said anchoring device is a ring.

12. A surgical tool according to claim 9 wherein said flexible tether is a radio-opaque polytetrafluroethylene cord.

13. A surgical tool according to claim 8 wherein said body is a surgical sponge.

14. A surgical tool according to claim 13 wherein said anchoring device is a ring.

15. A method of use of surgical gauzes during laparoscopy surgery in a body cavity comprising the steps of:

selecting and inserting a trocar through an opening into an abdominal body cavity for providing access therethrough to a surgical site within said body cavity;

selecting a surgical gauze of a size to pass through said trocar;

providing said gauze with an elongated flexible radio-opaque tether of a length to extend through said trocar and be manipulated within said body cavity;

providing an outer end of said tether with an anchoring device for preventing its passing through the trocar;

selecting grasping means sized to fit through said trocar for grasping said gauze; and

grasping said surgical gauze with said grasping means and extending said gauze through said trocar into said body cavity.

16. A method of use of surgical gauzes according to claim 15 wherein said step of selecting a surgical gauze comprises selecting a surgical peanut.

17. A method of use of surgical gauzes according to claim 16 wherein said step of providing an outer end of said tether with an anchoring device comprises providing said tether with a circular disc.

18. A method of use of surgical gauzes according to claim 16 wherein said step of providing an outer end of said tether with an anchoring device comprises providing said tether with a circular ring.

19. A method of use of surgical gauzes according to claim 15 wherein said step of selecting a surgical gauze comprises selecting a surgical sponge.

20. A method of use of surgical gauzes according to claim 19 wherein said step of providing an outer end of said tether with an anchoring device comprises providing said tether with a circular disc.