Optical surgical device for examining genitourinary tissue

• US 5,823,940 A
• Filed: 03/07/1996
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Allen Newman
• Original Assignee: Vista Point Technologies Incorporated (Flex, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Newman, Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leubecker, John P.
• Application Number:
  US08/612,190
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 600/104-105, 600/115, 600/116, 600/135, 600/156, 600/153, 600/138, 600/139, 604/96, 604/104, 604/46, 604/55, 604/280, 606/159, 606/160, 606/161, 128/757, 128/758, 128/750
• US Class Current: 600/105
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00091 Nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00135 Oversleeves mounted on the endoscope prior to insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00142 with means for preventing contamination, e.g. by using a sanitary sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/127 with means for preventing fogging A61B1/253 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/303 for the vagina, i.e. vaginoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/307 for the urinary organs, e.g. urethroscopes, cystoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/062 penetration depth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 with irrigation system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for

Abstract

An optical surgical device includes a detachable, disposable semi-flexible sheath for insertion into a patient'"'"'s body. The sheath is provided with plurality of channels. One of the channels receives an endoscope for optical examination of an operative site within the patient. The remaining channels may be used for suction, drainage or irrigation of the operative site. The disposable sheath provides a significant improvement in the efficiency and sterility of internal surgical procedures.

Claims

1. An optical surgical apparatus operable with an endoscope for examination of the genitourinary tract of a patient, the apparatus comprising:

a. a disposable sheath having;

(1) a proximal end and an open distal end, the sheath being semi-flexible and dimensioned for comfortable insertion into the genitourinary tract of a patient, the distal end defining a scraping tool for scraping tissue, the overall diameter of the distal end being in the range of about 3 mm to about 7 mm, and the distal half of the sheath being slightly curved for ease of insertion and viewing access within a patient;

(2) at least three channels integrally formed within the sheath and extending between the open proximal end and the open distal end of the sheath, including;

i. an endoscope channel for removably receiving the endoscope,

ii. an irrigation channel for directing fluid to the operative site,

iii. a balloon inflation channel for coupling to an inflation source; and

(3) an inflation device, coupled to the inflation channel and substantially disposed about the periphery of the distal end of the sheath, for dilating the operative site when inflated by the inflation source;

wherein the endoscope channel is positioned at the distal end of the sheath for causing the endoscope, when received in the endoscope channel, to provide a view of a tissue surface being scraped by the scraping tool.

2. The optical surgical apparatus of claim 1, further including a drainage channel, having a distal end, for removing tissue and fluid from the operative site through the distal end of the drainage channel.

3. The optical surgical apparatus of claim 1 wherein the proximal end of the endoscope channel is co-axial with the sheath.

4. The optical surgical apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inflation device comprises a balloon.

5. An optical surgical assemblage for examining tissue at an operative site within the genitourinary tract of a patient, comprising:

a. an endoscope removably inserted into one end of an endoscope channel integrally formed within a disposable sheath and extending between an open proximal end and an open distal end of the sheath, the distal end of the sheath defining a scraping tool for scraping tissue at the operative site, the proximal end of the endoscope defining a viewing port, the disposable sheath further including at least two additional channels integrally formed within the sheath and extending between the proximal and distal ends of the sheath, the at least two additional channels including an irrigation channel for directing fluid to the operative site and an inflation channel for coupling to an inflation source, the disposable sheath being semi-flexible and dimensioned for comfortable insertion into the genitourinary tract of a patient, the overall diameter of the distal end being in the range of about 3 mm to about 7 mm, and the distal half of the sheath being slightly curved for ease of insertion and viewing access within a patient;

b. an irrigation source coupled to the irrigation channel; and

c. an inflation device for inflating the operative site, said inflation device being substantially disposed about the periphery of the distal end of the sheath, and coupled to the inflation channel.

6. The assemblage of claim 5 wherein the at least two additional channels further include a drainage channel having a distal end adapted for removing tissue and fluid from the operative site through the distal end of the drainage channel.

7. The assemblage of claim 5 wherein the proximal end of the endoscope channel is co-axial with the sheath.

8. The assemblage of claim 5 wherein the inflation device comprises a balloon.

9. An optical surgical assemblage for examining tissue at an operative site within the genitourinary tract of a patient, comprising:

a. a disposable sheath having a plurality of channels integrally formed within the sheath and extending from a distal end to a proximal end of the sheath, and an inflation device substantially disposed about the periphery of the sheath coupled to the inflation channel, the distal end of the sheath defining a scraping tool for scraping tissue at the operative site, the plurality of channels including an endoscope channel, an irrigation channel, and an inflation channel, the sheath being semi-flexible and dimensioned for comfortable insertion into the genitourinary tract of a patient, the overall diameter of the distal end being in the range of about 3 mm to about 7 mm, and the distal half of the sheath being slightly curved for ease of insertion and viewing access within a patient;

b. an endoscope removably inserted into the endoscope channel, the endoscope extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the sheath, the proximal end of the sheath and endoscope defining a viewing port, the endoscope having, at the distal end of the sheath, a field of view in the vicinity of the scraping tool;

c. an irrigation source coupled to the irrigation channel, the irrigation source being used to irrigate the operative site;

d. an inflation source coupled to the inflation channel;

e. an inflation device substantially disposed about the periphery of the distal end of the sheath coupled to the inflation channel, such that the inflation device can be inflated by the inflation source the inflation device so as to dilate the operative site.

10. The assemblage of claim 9 wherein the plurality of channels further includes a drainage channel for removing tissue and fluid from the operative site.

11. The assemblage of claim 9 having the proximal end of the endoscope channel co-axial with the sheath.

12. The assemblage of claim 9 wherein the inflation device comprises a balloon.