Endoscopic surgical device

• US 5,906,621 A
• Filed: 05/14/1996
• Issued: 05/25/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Endoscopy Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: United States Endoscopy Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Younker, Marlin E., Secrest, Dean J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson, Glenn K.
• Application Number:
  US08/649,893
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 606/106, 606/110, 606/113, 606/114, 606/127, 606/128, 606/151, 606/157, 606/159, 606/167, 600/37
• US Class Current: 606/114
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/221 Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32056 Surgical snare instruments for removing or smashing calculi A61B2017/2212; tonsillotomes A61B17/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2212 having a closed distal end, e.g. a loop

Abstract

An endoscopic surgical device for severing tissue within a subject and for retrieving severed tissue from within the subject is disclosed. The device has a support unit, a tissue severing snare system, and a tissue retrieving net system. The snare and net systems are carried by the support unit and may be inserted into the subject through an orifice or small incision and individually operated to sever and retrieve tissue. The snare system includes a snare, a snare actuator, and a snare deployment and retrieval assembly for transmitting motion between the actuator and the snare. The net system includes a net, a net actuator, a net deployment and retrieval assembly for transmitting motion between the net and its actuator and a net controller for assuring the net is fully opened when deployed.

Claims

1. An endoscopic surgical device for retrieving severed tissue from within a patient'"'"'s body, the device comprising:

a. a support unit comprising;

i. a body defining a passage therethrough; and

ii. an elongated introducer member having a first end section proximal and fixed with respect to said body and a second end section remote from the body, the introducer member defining a passage aligned with the body passage and opening at said second end section; and

,

b. a tissue retrieving net system comprising;

i. a net comprising a wire-like resilient loop and a net element having a mouth section slidably disposed on the loop and a tissue receiving pouch section, said net disposed adjacent said second end for deployment and retrieval through said introducer passage opening;

ii. a net deployment and retrieval assembly extending substantially through said introducer passage and connected to the net, said assembly comprising a motion transmitting member extending in said introducer passage to said loop; and

,

iii. a net actuator unit comprising a first handle fixed with respect to said body and a second handle fixed with respect to said motion transmitting member and movable relative to said first handle so that shifting the second handle relative to said first handle shifts said net into and out of said introducer passage opening;

c. said introducer member passage having a diametrical extent substantially smaller than the width of said loop when said loop is deployed, said introducer member engaging said loop at said opening and resiliently collapsing and elongating said loop as said net is retrieved and moves into said introducer member passage, said loop resiliently returning to an uncollapsed configuration as an is deployed;

d. said net system further comprising a net controller for assuring that said net mouth extends fully about said loop when said loop is deployed, said controller comprising a net tether having one end anchored within said introducer member passage a distance from said second introducer member end section equal to at least half the length of said loop in an collapsed condition, an opposite end secured to said net mouth, and a free length equal to said distance, said tether assuring full net mouth opening when the net is deployed while permitting said mouth to be closed when tissue is disposed in said net pouch and the loop is retrieved.

2. The surgical device claimed in claim 1 further including an anchor to which said net tether is secured, said anchor extending at least part way about the interior of said introducer passage in tight engagement with said introducer member and part of said tissue retrieving net system extends within said introducer passage past said anchor.

3. An endoscopic surgical device for severing tissue within a subject and for retrieving severed tissue from within the subject, the device comprising:

a. a tissue severing snare system comprising a snare, a snare actuator unit, and a snare deployment and retrieval assembly between the actuator unit and the snare for transmitting motion to the snare;

b. a tissue retrieving net system comprising a net comprised of a wire-like loop and a pouch-like net element slidably disposed on the loop, a net loop actuator unit, and a net loop deployment and retrieval assembly between the net loop and the net loop actuator unit for transmitting motion to the net; and

,

c. a support unit for the systems comprising a body for supporting each of said actuator units and a snare and net introducer having a first end section proximal and fixed with respect to said body and a second end section operable to position said net and snare at desired locations remote from said body;

d. the introducer supporting said net and snare adjacent said second end section and supporting at least part of each deployment and retrieval assembly, said deployment and retrieval assemblies coextending through said introducer, said introducer member defining first and second lumens at said second end section with said snare and net each deployed and retrieved through a respective lumen;

e. each deployment and retrieval assembly comprising a thin, flexible wire-like motion transmitting member between its associated actuator unit and its associated net or snare, said motion transmitting member extending within an introducer guide passage that closely surrounds said motion transmitting member and constrains said member for translational longitudinally motion within said passage;

f. each deployment and retrieval assembly further comprising a connector between said motion transmitting member and its associated net or snare, said connector shaped to preclude rotation of the motion transmitting member and associated net or snare in said introducer.

4. An endoscopic surgical device for retrieving severed tissue from within a patient'"'"'s body, the device comprising:

a. a support unit comprising;

1. a body defining a passage therethrough; and

2. an elongated introducer member having a first end section proximal and fixed with respect to said body and a second end section remote from the body, the introducer member defining a passage aligned with the body passage and opening at said second end section; and

,

b. a tissue retrieving net system comprising;

1. a net comprising a wire-like resilient loop and a net element, said net element having a mouth section slidably disposed on the loop and a tissue receiving pouch section, said net disposed adjacent said second end for deployment and retrieval through said passage opening; and

,

2. a net deployment and retrieval assembly extending substantially through said passage and connected to the net, said assembly comprising a motion transmitting member extending in said passage to said loop;

c. said introducer member passage having a diametrical extent substantially smaller than the width of said loop when said loop is deployed, said introducer member engaging said loop at said second end section opening and resiliently collapsing and elongating said loop as said net is retrieved and moves into said introducer member passage, said loop resiliently returning to an uncollapsed configuration as it is deployed;

d. said net system further comprising a net controller for assuring that said net mouth extends fully about said loop when said loop is deployed, said controller comprising a net tether having one end fixed within said introducer member passage proximal to said introducer member end section opening and an opposite end secured to said net mouth, and a free length at least equal to the distance between said fixed end and said introducer end section opening.

5. The surgical device claimed in claim 4 further comprising an anchor to which said one end of said net tether is secured, and wherein said anchor extends at least part way about the interior of said passage in tight engagement with said introducer member and part of said tissue retrieving net system extends within said passage past said anchor.