Multifunctional devices for use in endoscopic surgical procedures and methods therefor
First Claim
1. A method of packing an operative site in the body for an endoscopically performed procedure comprising the steps ofestablishing a narrow portal through the skin of the body to provide access to an operative site in the body;
- visualizing the operative site endoscopically;
introducing a sponge in a dry state at the operative site through the portal;
positioning the sponge at the operative site to expose anatomical tissue to be treated within the body and to isolate the tissue from surrounding anatomical tissue within the body;
treating the thusly exposed tissue within the body; and
withdrawing the sponge through the portal.
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Accused Products
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
8 Claims
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1. A method of packing an operative site in the body for an endoscopically performed procedure comprising the steps of
establishing a narrow portal through the skin of the body to provide access to an operative site in the body; -
visualizing the operative site endoscopically; introducing a sponge in a dry state at the operative site through the portal; positioning the sponge at the operative site to expose anatomical tissue to be treated within the body and to isolate the tissue from surrounding anatomical tissue within the body; treating the thusly exposed tissue within the body; and withdrawing the sponge through the portal.
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2. A method of packing an operative site in the body for an endoscopically performed procedure comprising the steps of
establishing a narrow portal through the skin of the body to provide access to an operative site in the body; -
visualizing the operative site endoscopically; introducing a sponge in a dry state at the operative site through the portal, the sponge having a tubular spine therein; positioning the sponge at the operative site to expose anatomical tissue to be treated within the body and to isolate the tissue from surrounding anatomical tissue within the body; treating the thusly exposed tissue within the body; aspirating body fluids from the operative site via the tubular spine; and withdrawing the sponge through the portal.
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3. A method of packing an operative site in the body for an endoscopically performed procedure comprising the steps of
establishing a narrow portal through the skin of the body to provide access to an operative site in the body; -
visualizing the operative site endoscopically; introducing a sponge in a dry state at the operative site through the portal, the sponge having a recess therein; positioning the sponge at the operative site to expose anatomical tissue to be treated within the body and to isolate the tissue from surrounding anatomical tissue within the body, said positioning step including supporting the tissue in the sponge recess; treating the thusly isolated tissue within the body; and withdrawing the sponge through the portal.
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4. A method of endoscopically performing an operative procedure at an operative site in the body comprising the steps of
establishing a narrow portal through the skin of the body to provide access to an operative site in the body; -
visualizing the operative site endoscopically; introducing a sponge device in a dry state at the operative site through the portal; manipulating anatomical tissue at the operative site with the sponge device to place the tissue in a desired position; securing the sponge device externally of the body to hold the tissue in the desired position; treating the tissue at the operative site; releasing the tissue from being held in the desired position; and withdrawing the sponge device through the portal.
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5. A method of endoscopically treating tissue at an internal operative site in the body comprising the steps of
establishing a narrow portal through the skin of the body to provide access to an internal operative site in the body; -
introducing a sponge having a passage therein through the portal to the operative site; positioning a probe in the sponge passage; and treating tissue at the operative site in the body with the probe. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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Specification