Method and apparatus for use in endoscopic procedures
First Claim
1. A method of performing endoscopic operative procedures in an anatomical cavity comprising the steps ofattaching a stabilizer member including a malleable, shape-retaining layer to an external surface of a wall of the anatomical cavity;
- shaping the malleable, shape-retaining layer to a desired configuration to, in turn, provide the cavity wall with a desired configuration;
inserting an instrument through the stabilizer member and the cavity wall to enter the anatomical cavity;
adjusting the longitudinal and angular position of the instrument relative to the cavity wall; and
gripping the instrument with the stabilizer member to maintain the instrument in the adjusted longitudinal and angular position.
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Abstract
A stabilizer member includes a layer of malleable, shape-retaining material to be disposed on an external surface of tissue forming the wall of an anatomical cavity to allow one or more medical instruments to be inserted through the layer and into the anatomical cavity with the layer stabilizing the instruments longitudinally and angularly relative to the cavity wall. The malleable, shape-retaining properties of the layer allow it to be shaped by a surgeon to a desired configuration to, in turn, provide the cavity wall with a desired configuration creating or increasing the size of a space within the anatomical cavity.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method of performing endoscopic operative procedures in an anatomical cavity comprising the steps of
attaching a stabilizer member including a malleable, shape-retaining layer to an external surface of a wall of the anatomical cavity; -
shaping the malleable, shape-retaining layer to a desired configuration to, in turn, provide the cavity wall with a desired configuration; inserting an instrument through the stabilizer member and the cavity wall to enter the anatomical cavity; adjusting the longitudinal and angular position of the instrument relative to the cavity wall; and gripping the instrument with the stabilizer member to maintain the instrument in the adjusted longitudinal and angular position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of performing endoscopic procedures in an anatomical cavity of the body comprising the steps of
attaching a shape-retaining member to an outer surface of a wall of the cavity; -
deforming the member to have a desired shape to provide the cavity wall with a corresponding shape thereby altering the shape of the cavity; and performing an endoscopic procedure in the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Apparatus for facilitating the performance of endoscopic procedures in an anatomical cavity in the body comprising
a layer of deformable, shape-retaining material for attachment to an outer surface of a wall of the cavity; -
means carried by said layer of material for deforming said layer of material to have a desired shape and for shaping the cavity wall to have a shape corresponding to said desired shape thereby altering the shape of the cavity to facilitate performing endoscopic procedures in the cavity; and joint means within the thickness of said layer of material for allowing passage of an instrument through said layer of material and the cavity wall into the anatomical cavity to facilitate performing endoscopic procedures in the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Apparatus for stabilizing instruments introduced into an anatomical cavity in the body for performing endoscopic procedures comprising
a stabilizer member carrying means for securing the member on an external surface of a wall of the anatomical cavity to allow passage of an instrument through said member and the cavity wall into the anatomical cavity and means for gripping the instrument to stabilize the longitudinal and angular position of the instrument relative to the cavity wall, said stabilizer member being made of a layer of deformable material for changing the shape of the cavity wall in response to deformation of said layer of material, said gripping means including an angularly orienting portion within said layer of material for allowing passage of an instrument through said layer and the cavity wall into the anatomical cavity.
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21. Apparatus for stabilizing instruments introduced into an anatomical cavity in the body for performing endoscopic procedures comprising
a stabilizer member carrying means for securing the member on an external surface of a wall of the anatomical cavity to allow passage of an instrument through said member and the cavity wall into the anatomical cavity and means for gripping the instrument to stabilize the longitudinal and angular position of the instrument relative to the cavity wall, said stabilizer member being made of deformable material means for changing the shape of the cavity wall in response to deformation of said material means, said gripping means including a movable joint for receiving the instrument, said joint including a rotatable ball member.
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27. Apparatus for stabilizing instruments introduced into an anatomical cavity in the body for performing endoscopic procedures comprising
a stabilizer member carrying means for securing the member on an external surface of a wall of the anatomical cavity to allow passage of an instrument through said member and the cavity wall into the anatomical cavity and means for gripping the instrument to stabilize the longitudinal and angular position of the instrument relative to the cavity wall, said stabilizer member being made of deformable material means for changing the shape of the cavity wall in response to deformation of said material means, said gripping means including a plurality of spaced movable joints for receiving a plurality of instruments.
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31. Apparatus for facilitating the performance of endoscopic procedures in an anatomical cavity in the body comprising
a deformable, shape-retaining member for attachment to an outer surface of a wall of the cavity, said member being formed of a plurality of portions joined together at frictional joints; - and
means carried by said member for deforming said member to have a desired shape whereby the cavity wall has a shape corresponding to said desired shape thereby altering the shape of the cavity to facilitate performing endoscopic procedures in the cavity.
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Specification