Visually directed trocar for laparoscopic surgical procedures and method of using same
First Claim
1. A new and improved laparoscopic instrument comprising an elongated, hollow tubular member of inflexible material compatible with human flesh, and having a tipped and suitable for insertion through human flesh to form a hollow trocar, said tipped end formed essentially of light transparent material with a substantially solid piercing point, said tipped end affixed to said hollow tubular member and shaped to form a light transmission and imaging element for projecting light outwardly into an abdominal or other cavity of a patient and for imaging light images received back onto a suitable light image receptor.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A new and improved laparoscopic trocar and sleeve assembly in which the trocar is provided with a transparent tip and accommodates a light telescope for supplying a video console so that while the trocar is being surgically inserted through the abdominal wall and into the abdominal cavity, visualization on the video console will be possible to avoid injury to blood vessels in the abdominal cavity wall or injury to any of the internal organs located in the abdominal cavity. Once clear visualization is established, conventional laparoscopic procedures can be carried out safely.
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Citations
29 Claims
- 1. A new and improved laparoscopic instrument comprising an elongated, hollow tubular member of inflexible material compatible with human flesh, and having a tipped and suitable for insertion through human flesh to form a hollow trocar, said tipped end formed essentially of light transparent material with a substantially solid piercing point, said tipped end affixed to said hollow tubular member and shaped to form a light transmission and imaging element for projecting light outwardly into an abdominal or other cavity of a patient and for imaging light images received back onto a suitable light image receptor.
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11. A new and improved laparoscopic procedure comprising the steps of:
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a) employing a novel hollow laparoscopic trocar with a tipped end formed essentially of transparent material and a substantially solid piercing point extending from said tipped end, said tipped end being designed for surgical insertion into human flesh where said tipped end is shaped to form a light transmission and receiving element; b) mounting a miniaturized light source, suitable miniaturized light receptors, power supply conductors, and fiber optic coupling and light receptor devices of a conventional light telescope in the hollow trocar; c) coupling the light source to an electric power source for energizing the light source; d) coupling the output of the light receptors to a video display; e) placing said tipped end at the point on a patient'"'"'s abdomen to be penetrated while observing such placement on the video display; f) surgically inserting said trocar into and slowly through the layers of skin and wall of the patient'"'"'s abdomen while observing the progress of said trocar on the video display as said trocar travels into and through the navel; and g) maneuvering said trocar to assure that said trocar does not penetrate blood vessels in the abdominal cavity wall or injure internal organs within the abdominal cavity. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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14. A surgical penetration device comprising:
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a) an inflexible elongated member having a first end, b) light transmission and imaging means provided at the first end of said elongated member to project light and receive light images, c) said light transmission and imaging means including means for piercing human flesh to permit surgical insertion of said light transmission and imaging means through human flesh into a body cavity, d) said light transmission and imaging means being affixed to said first end of said inflexible elongated member and formed essentially of transparent material, e) said piercing means having a substantially solid piercing point, and f) said elongated member having means for containing a lighting means and a light image receiving means to cooperate with said light transmission and imaging means. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26)
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25. A method of visualizing insertion of a surgical device through flesh into a body cavity comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a novel hollow trocar with a tubular body and a tipped end formed essentially of transparent material, said tipped end having a substantially solid piercing point and forming a light transmission and imaging member such that said light transmission and imaging member pierces human flesh for surgical insertion through human flesh, b) joining said light transmission and imaging member to one end of said tubular body formed of a biocompatible material, c) locating a conventional lighting means and light image receiving means in said hollow trocar proximate said light transmission and imaging member to enable light from the lighting means to project outwardly away from said light transmission and imaging member and to permit the light image receiving means to receive light images that pass from outside said light transmission and imaging member through said light transmission and imaging member while said light transmission and imaging member is being inserted through the flesh into a body cavity, whereby said light transmission and imaging member provides a receivable image of the flesh and body cavity being entered. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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Specification