Endoscopic assisted abdominoplasty

• US 5,655,544 A
• Filed: 03/30/1995
• Issued: 08/12/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey William Johnson, Lana Lea Davis
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey William Johnson, Lana Lea Davis
• Inventors: Johnson, Gerald W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROLLINS, ROSILAND STACIE
• Application Number:
  US08/419,383
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 128/897, 128/898, 604/49, 604/51, 606/1, 606/119, 606/139, 606/142, 606/143, 606/144, 606/148, 606/219, 606/220, 606/2, 606/52, 606/32
• US Class Current: 128/898
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0014 removed from the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/08 Lipoids

Abstract

A surgical procedure is an endoscopic assisted abdominoplasty. This procedure eschews the use of abdominal incisions and obtains the desired result with no visible scars on the abdomen of the patient. A traditional or standard abdominoplasty (also called a dermolipectomy of the abdomen) has always required a surgical incision in the abdomen followed by surgical removal of part of the skin, the underlying fat layer, and suturing the opening. The endoscopic assisted abdominoplasty shown herein uses two small hidden incisions, one in the umbilicus or on the abdomen or other areas, in pre-existing scars or other areas such as under the armpit for introduction of the surgical instruments, and a small incision within the pubic hair line for endoscopic and/or direct observation and control of the procedure. While observing the procedure through the endoscope, the surgical instruments are inserted through the umbilical incision to remove fat by liposuction and plicate and repair the muscles by use of a tenaculum and fascial sutures. After removal of the instruments, the small incisions are sutured and the skin layer allowed to retract and tighten. The procedure has had considerable success and leaves no visible scars, which is of great importance to most patients.

Claims

1. A surgical abdominoplasty procedure eschewing the use of large abdominal incisions comprising the steps of

making at least one small hidden incision, under the armpit, or in a pre-existing scar, or on the abdomen or in the umbilicus of inside the pubic hair line,

inserting a surgical cutting and cauterizing instrument through said incision and undermining the skin over a sufficient area of the fascia and muscle to be repaired to permit smooth contraction of the skin over the repaired fascia and muscle,

inserting a surgical clamping instrument through said incision, underneath the skin and above the fascia, to engage the fascia at predetermined spaced points and operating the clamping instrument to plicate the fascia,

inserting a suturing needle and suture through the incision and suturing the plicated fascia,

repeating the procedure at a predetermined spacing along the fascia being repaired to complete the fascial and muscular repair, and

suturing or closing said small incision.

2. A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which

the procedure is carried out to effect complete and effective plication and repair of the muscles and abdominal fascia in the region from the xyphoid process to the pubis.

3. A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which

selected portions of the surface of the fascia beneath the undermined skin are marked to define the portions of the fascia to be plicated and sutured in the procedure.

4. A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which

the surface of the fascia beneath the undermined skin is given an elliptical mark to define the portions of the fascia to be plicated and sutured in the procedure, and

the plication and suturing drawing together and suturing the fascia along said elliptical mark.

5. A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which

a second incision is made within the pubic hair line and an endoscopic tube and endoscopic viewing instrument inserted therein to permit observation of the surgical site during the surgical undermining and plicating and fascial suturing procedures.

6. A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which

fat is removed by liposuction during or after undermining of the skin and prior to plication and fascial suturing.

7. A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which

a further or supplemental undermining of the skin is carried out, as needed, during or after the plication and fascial suturing steps to assure that the skin is undermined a predetermined distance around the fascial and muscular repair and permit subsequent uniform contraction of the skin over the repair.

8. A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which

said surgical cutting and cauterizing instrument is an electrosurgical cutting and cauterizing instrument or a laser instrument operable to be inserted through said incision and undermining the skin over a sufficient area of the fascia and muscle to be repaired to permit smooth contraction of the skin over the repaired fascia and muscle.

9. A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which

said surgical clamping instrument is a cervical tenaculum inserted through said incision, underneath the skin and above the fascia, to engage the fascia at predetermined spaced points and operated to plicate the fascia.

10. A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which

said surgical clamping instrument is a cervical tenaculum inserted through said incision, underneath the skin and above the fascia, to engage the fascia at distances of about 12-24 cm. and operated to plicate the fascia.

11. A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which

the procedure is carried out to effect complete and effective plication and repair of the muscles and abdominal fascia in the region from the xyphoid process to the pubis, and

selected portions of the surface of the fascia beneath the undermined skin are marked to define the portions of the fascia to be plicated and sutured in the procedure.

12. A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which

the procedure is carried out to effect complete and effective plication and repair of the muscles and abdominal fascia in the region from the xyphoid process to the pubis,

the surface of the fascia beneath the undermined skin is given an elliptical mark to define the portions of the fascia to be plicated and sutured in the procedure, and

the plication and fascial suturing drawing together and suturing the fascia along said elliptical mark.

13. A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which

the procedure is carried out to effect complete and effective plication and repair of the muscles and abdominal fascia in the region from the xyphoid process to the pubis,

the surface of the fascia beneath the undermined skin is given an elliptical mark to define the portions of the fascia to be plicated and sutured in the procedure,

the plication and fascial suturing drawing together and suturing the fascia along said elliptical mark,

a second incision is made within the pubic hair line and an endoscopic tube and endoscopic viewing instrument inserted therein to permit observation of the surgical site during the surgical undermining and plicating and fascial suturing procedures, and

excessive fat is removed by liposuction.

14. A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which

the procedure is carried out to effect complete and effective plication and repair of the muscles and abdominal fascia in the region from the xyphoid process to the pubis,

the surface of the fascia beneath the undermined skin is given an elliptical mark to define the portions of the fascia to be plicated and sutured in the procedure,

the plication and fascial suturing drawing together and fascial suturing the fascia along said elliptical mark,

a second incision is made within the pubic hair line and an endoscopic tube and endoscopic viewing instrument inserted therein to permit observation of the surgical site during the surgical undermining and plicating and fascial suturing procedures, and

a further or supplemental undermining of the skin is carried out, as needed, during or after the plication and fascial suturing steps to assure that the skin is undermined a predetermined distance around the fascial and muscular repair and permit subsequent uniform contraction of the skin over the repair.

15. A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which

the procedure is carried out to effect complete and effective plication and repair of the muscles and abdominal fascia in the region from the xyphoid process to the pubis,

the surface of the fascia beneath the undermined skin is given an elliptical mark to define the portions of the fascia to be plicated and sutured in the procedure,

the plication and fascial suturing drawing together and suturing the fascia along said elliptical mark,

a second incision is made within the pubic hair line and an endoscopic tube and endoscopic viewing instrument inserted therein to permit observation of the surgical site during the surgical undermining and plicating and fascial suturing procedures, and

a further or supplemental undermining of the skin is carried out, as needed, during or after the plication and fascial suturing steps to assure that the skin is undermined a predetermined distance around the fascial and muscular repair and permit subsequent uniform contraction of the skin over the repair, and

fat is removed by liposuction during or after undermining of the skin and prior to plication and fascial suturing.

16. A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which

the procedure is carried out to effect complete and effective plication and repair of the muscles and abdominal fascia in the region from the xyphoid process to the pubis,

the surface of the fascia beneath the undermined skin is given an elliptical mark to define the portions of the fascia to be plicated and sutured in the procedure,

the plication and fascial suturing drawing together and fascial suturing the fascia along said elliptical mark,

said surgical cutting and cauterizing instrument is an electrosurgical cutting and cauterizing instrument or a laser instrument operable to be inserted through said incision and undermining the skin over a sufficient area of the fascia and muscle to be repaired to permit smooth contraction of the skin over the repaired fascia and muscle,

a second incision is made within the pubic hair line and an endoscopic tube and endoscopic viewing instrument inserted therein to permit observation of the surgical site during the surgical undermining and plicating and fascial suturing procedures, and

a further or supplemental undermining of the skin is carried out, as needed, during or after the plication and fascial suturing steps to assure that the skin is undermined a predetermined distance around the fascial and muscular repair and permit subsequent uniform contraction of the skin over the repair, and

excessive fat is removed by liposuction.

17. A surgical abdominoplasty procedure according to claim 1 in which

the procedure is carried out to effect complete and effective plication and repair of the muscles and abdominal fascia in the region from the xyphoid process to the pubis,

the surface of the fascia beneath the undermined skin is given an elliptical mark to define the portions of the fascia to be plicated and sutured in the procedure,

the plication and fascial suturing drawing together and fascial suturing the fascia along said elliptical mark,

said surgical cutting and cauterizing instrument is an electrosurgical cutting and cauterizing instrument or a laser instrument operable to be inserted through said incision and undermining the skin over a sufficient area of the fascia and muscle to be repaired to permit smooth contraction of the skin over the repaired fascia and muscle,

said surgical clamping instrument is a cervical tenaculum inserted through said incision, underneath the skin and above the fascia, to engage the fascia at predetermined spaced points and operated to plicate the fascia,

a second incision is made within the pubic hair line and an endoscopic tube and endoscopic viewing instrument inserted therein to permit observation of the surgical site during the surgical undermining and plicating and fascial suturing procedures, and

a further or supplemental undermining of the skin is carried out, as needed, during or after the plication and fascial suturing steps to assure that the skin is undermined a predetermined distance around the fascial and muscular repair and permit subsequent uniform contraction of the skin over the repair, and

fat is removed by liposuction during or after undermining of the skin and prior to plication and fascial suturing.