Multifunctional devices for use in endoscopic surgical procedures and method therefor
First Claim
1. A multifunctional device for use in an endoscopically performed procedure of the type where a narrow portal in a body is utilized to access an internal operative site in the body and the device is introduced to the operative site through the narrow portal, said device comprising a length of absorbent material capable of expanding upon absorbing body fluids, said absorbent material having a rigid dry state prior to introduction at the operative site and an expanded, soft wet state after absorbing body fluids at the operative site, a tubular spine extending through said absorbent material, a tubular connector having a distal end connected to said spine and a proximal end for being disposed externally of the body and a medicament for being supplied to said absorbent material through said spine, from externally of the body, after said absorbent material has been introduced at the operative site, said spine having a predetermined non-straight configuration, being maintained in a straight configuration by said absorbent material in said rigid dry state and returning to said predetermined non-straight configuration when said absorbent material is in said soft wet state.
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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
9 Claims
- 1. A multifunctional device for use in an endoscopically performed procedure of the type where a narrow portal in a body is utilized to access an internal operative site in the body and the device is introduced to the operative site through the narrow portal, said device comprising a length of absorbent material capable of expanding upon absorbing body fluids, said absorbent material having a rigid dry state prior to introduction at the operative site and an expanded, soft wet state after absorbing body fluids at the operative site, a tubular spine extending through said absorbent material, a tubular connector having a distal end connected to said spine and a proximal end for being disposed externally of the body and a medicament for being supplied to said absorbent material through said spine, from externally of the body, after said absorbent material has been introduced at the operative site, said spine having a predetermined non-straight configuration, being maintained in a straight configuration by said absorbent material in said rigid dry state and returning to said predetermined non-straight configuration when said absorbent material is in said soft wet state.
Specification