Multifunctional probe for minimally invasive surgery
First Claim
1. A probe for performing minimally invasive surgery through a cannula extending through a body wall of a patient and into a body cavity where the surgery is performed, comprising:
- a handle at a proximal end of the probe;
an elongated tube connected to the handle and extending to a distal end of the probe, the tube including a conduit and an electrical conductor which both extend along the length of the tube;
an assembly of a gas nozzle and an electrode positioned within the nozzle, the nozzle and electrode assembly connect to the tube at the distal end of the probe, the conduit communicating gas to the nozzle during gas assisted electro-fulguration, the electrical conductor is connected to the electrode for conducting electrical energy to the electrode during gas assisted electro-fulguration; and
the tube and the nozzle and electrode assembly having a predetermined configuration to permit the tube and the nozzle and electrode assembly to be inserted through the cannula and into the body cavity, the connection of the handle to the tube permitting the distal end to be positioned at a surgical site within the body cavity by manipulation of the handle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A probe for use in minimally invasive surgery incorporates a nozzle and electrode assembly at the distal end of the probe for achieving gas assisted electro-fulguration. In addition, the probe accommodates the simultaneous use of other auxiliary surgical instruments, such as standard electrosurgical electrodes, laser fiber optic conduits and mechanical tools. Further still, the probe includes a passageway for achieving evacuation, irrigation or aspiration at the surgical site. The probe thus allows a surgeon to achieve multiple different surgical functions during a minimally invasive surgical procedure without removing one probe and inserting a different probe to achieve a different surgical function.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A probe for performing minimally invasive surgery through a cannula extending through a body wall of a patient and into a body cavity where the surgery is performed, comprising:
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a handle at a proximal end of the probe; an elongated tube connected to the handle and extending to a distal end of the probe, the tube including a conduit and an electrical conductor which both extend along the length of the tube; an assembly of a gas nozzle and an electrode positioned within the nozzle, the nozzle and electrode assembly connect to the tube at the distal end of the probe, the conduit communicating gas to the nozzle during gas assisted electro-fulguration, the electrical conductor is connected to the electrode for conducting electrical energy to the electrode during gas assisted electro-fulguration; and the tube and the nozzle and electrode assembly having a predetermined configuration to permit the tube and the nozzle and electrode assembly to be inserted through the cannula and into the body cavity, the connection of the handle to the tube permitting the distal end to be positioned at a surgical site within the body cavity by manipulation of the handle.
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2. A probe for performing minimally invasive surgery through a cannula extending through a body wall of a patient and into a body cavity where the surgery is performed, comprising:
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a handle at a proximal end of the probe; an elongated tube connected to the handle and extending to a distal end of the probe, the tube including a conduit and an electrical conductor which both extend along the length of the tube, the tube having a predetermined configuration to permit the tube to be inserted through the cannula and into the body cavity, and the tube further having a predetermined length which is sufficient to extend the distal end 0f the probe through both the cannula and an open space within the body cavity to reach a surgical site within the body cavity and perform the surgery; an assembly of a gas nozzle and an electrode positioned within the nozzle, the nozzle and electrode assembly retained in the conduit within the tube at the distal end of the probe, the conduit communicating gas to the nozzle during gas assisted electro-fulguration, the electrical conductor connected to the electrode for conducting electrical energy to the electrode during gas assisted electro-fulguration; and
the nozzle and electrode assembly further comprises;an elongated electrode; a support structure connected to a rear end of the electrode and supporting the electrode in a forward projecting cantilever manner with a forward portion of the electrode exposed to gas flow therearound; and a hollow sleeve connected to the support structure and surrounding the forward exposed portion of the electrode, an interior of the hollow sleeve forming the nozzle. - View Dependent Claims (3)
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4. A probe for performing minimally invasive surgery through a cannula extending through a body wall of a patient and into a body cavity where the surgery is performed, comprising:
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a handle at a proximal end of the probe; an elongated tube connected to the handle and extending to a distal end of the probe, the tube including a conduit and an electrical conductor which both extend along the length of the tube, and the tube having a predetermined configuration to permit the tube to be inserted through the cannula and into the body cavity; an assembly of a gas nozzle and an electrode positioned within the nozzle, the nozzle and electrode assembly connected to the tube at the distal end of the probe, the conduit communicating gas to the nozzle during gas assisted electro-fulguration, the electrical conductor connected to the electrode for conducting electrical energy to the electrode during gas assisted electro-fulguration; and the tube further comprises a passageway separate from the conduit and the nozzle, said passageway extending along the length of the tube and communicating fluid with the distal end of the probe during a procedure involving the application of at least one of evacuation, irrigation or aspiration during the surgery in which gas assisted electro-fulguration is applied from the nozzle and electrode assembly. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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8. A probe for performing minimally invasive surgery through a cannula extending through a body wall of a patient and into a body cavity where the surgery is performed, comprising:
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a handle at a proximal end of the probe; an elongated tube connected to the handle and extending to a distal end of the probe, the tube including a conduit and an electrical conductor which both extend along the length of the tube, and the tube having a predetermined configuration to permit the tube to be inserted through the cannula and into the body cavity; an assembly of a gas nozzle and an electrode positioned within the nozzle, the nozzle and electrode assembly connected to the tube at the distal end of the probe, the conduit communicating gas to the nozzle during gas assisted electro-fulguration, the electrical conductor connected to the electrode for conducting electrical energy to the electrode during gas assisted electro-fulguration; and the tube further includes means for supporting an elongated auxiliary surgical instrument for longitudinal movement along the tube at the distal end of the probe.
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9. A probe for performing minimally invasive surgery through a cannula extending through a body wall of a patient and into a body cavity where the surgery is performed, comprising:
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a handle at a proximal end of the probe; an elongated tube connected to the handle and extending to a distal end of the probe, the tube including a conduit and an electrical conductor which both extend along the length of the tube, and the tube having a predetermined configuration to permit the tube to be inserted through the cannula and into the body cavity; an assembly of a gas nozzle and an electrode positioned within the nozzle, the nozzle and electrode assembly connected to the tube at the distal end of the probe, the conduit communicating gas to the nozzle during gas assisted electro-fulguration, the electrical conductor connected to the electrode for conducting electrical energy to the electrode during gas assisted electro-fulguration; and a channel extending longitudinally through the tube and into the handle, the channel adapted to accept an elongated auxiliary surgical instrument. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of performing minimally-invasive, gas-assisted electro-fulguration on a patient using a probe having an elongated tube extending to a distal end of the probe and a handle at a proximal end of the probe, comprising:
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inserting a cannula through a body wall of the patient; expanding the body wall to form a body cavity in which to perform the electro-fulguration; connecting an assembly of a gas nozzle and an electrode assembly to the tube at the distal end of the probe, the nozzle and electrode assembly having a predetermined configuration to allow the nozzle and electrode assembly to be inserted through the cannula into the body cavity; inserting the distal end of the probe, the nozzle and electrode assembly and a portion of the tube through the cannula and into the body cavity; directing the distal end of the probe within the body cavity to a surgical site by manipulating the handle outside of the body cavity and exterior of the body wall; communicating gas through the tube to the nozzle during gas assisted electro-fulguration; conducting electrical energy through the tube to the electrode during gas assisted electro-fulguration; and performing gas assisted electro-fulguration at the surgical site by simultaneously delivering gas and electrical energy from the nozzle and electrode assembly at the distal end of the probe within the body cavity. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification