Multifunctional devices for use in endoscopic surgical procedures and methods-therefor
First Claim
1. A device for use in an endoscopically performed operative procedure of the type where a narrow portal is established through the skin to provide access to an operative site and the device is introduced to the operative site through the narrow portal, said device comprising a length of absorbent material means for absorbing body fluids, said absorbent material means having at least a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being capable of expanding in any direction to a first size when body fluids are absorbed by said absorbent material means and said second portion being capable of expanding in any direction to a second size greater than said first size when body fluids are absorbed by said absorbent material means.
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Abstract
A multifunctional device for use in an endoscopically performed operative procedure of the type where a narrow portal is established through the skin to provide access to an operative site and the multifunctional device is introduced to the operative site through the narrow portal. The multifunctional device is formed of an absorbent material, preferably expandable, having a substantially rigid dry state prior to introduction to the operative site and a soft, flexible wet state after absorbing fluids. The absorbent material can be formed with a spine therein of either a continuous or a discontinuous, segmented construction, and the spine can be branched and tubular or solid. The absorbent material can have portions or segments thereof expandable to different sizes to produce rounded protuberances to facilitate manipulation at the operative site and can have predetermined, non-straight configurations in the wet state, the predetermined configurations being controlled by the spine in the absorbent material or the method of forming the absorbent material. The multifunctional device can have a passage therethrough to accommodate laser, electrosurgical, biopsy or culturing instruments.
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Citations
13 Claims
- 1. A device for use in an endoscopically performed operative procedure of the type where a narrow portal is established through the skin to provide access to an operative site and the device is introduced to the operative site through the narrow portal, said device comprising a length of absorbent material means for absorbing body fluids, said absorbent material means having at least a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being capable of expanding in any direction to a first size when body fluids are absorbed by said absorbent material means and said second portion being capable of expanding in any direction to a second size greater than said first size when body fluids are absorbed by said absorbent material means.
- 10. A device for packing an internal operative site comprising a length of absorbent material means for absorbing body fluids, said absorbent material means having a longitudinal axis, a dry state prior to absorbing body fluids, a uniform profile when in said dry state and at least first and second portions capable of expanding in any direction to different first and second sizes in said wet state to define at least one rounded protuberance disposed outwardly of said axis.
Specification