Surgical access port and method for accessing a patient's body cavity

• US 6,142,936 A
• Filed: 05/21/1999
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: University Of Massachusetts
• Inventors: Verdura, Javier, Carroll, Maureen E., Beane, Richard, Ek, Steve, Niemann, Allison C., Stamm, Edward I. Jr., Hasslinger, Randall J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jeffrey A.
• Application Number:
  US09/316,192
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 600/201, 600/207, 600/208, 600/235, 600/245, 128/850, 128/852, 128/856, 128/887, 606/213
• US Class Current: 600/207
• 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 17/0293 with ring member to support retractor elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3423 Access ports, e.g. toroid shape introducers for instruments or hands access sites for liquids A61M39/0247
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3431 being collapsible, e.g. made of thin flexible material A61B17/3423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3462 with means for changing the diameter or the orientation of the entrance port of the cannula, e.g. for use with different-sized instruments, reduction ports, adapter seals expandable cannulas A61B17/3417
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3419 Sealing means between cannula and body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3466 for simultaneous sealing of multiple instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3484 Anchoring means, e.g. spreading-out umbrella-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/306 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 42/00 Surgical gloves; Finger-stalls specially adapted for surgery; Devices for handling or treatment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 42/10 Surgical gloves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/40 Apparatus fixed or close to patients specially adapted for providing an aseptic surgical environment

Abstract

A device for retracting edges of an incision in a surface to form an opening including: a flexible, tubular skirt having an upper end, a lower end, and a channel therebetween; a ring connected to the lower end of the skirt for maintaining the lower end in an open configuration and defining an exit opening to the channel; and an inflatable collar connected to the skirt and surrounding the upper end. The ring is designed to fit through the incision and remain under the surface when it is oriented parallel to surface. The collar, when inflated, maintains the upper end in an open configuration and defines an entry opening to the channel. During use, the ring is inserted through the incision and the collar is inflated while remaining outside of the incision, thereby drawing the skirt against the edges of the incision and retracting the edges of the incision to form the opening. The retracting device can be included in a surgical access port, which further includes a flexible sleeve connected to at least one of the inflatable collar and the skirt, extending the channel from the exit opening of the skirt to an open end of the flexible sleeve distal to the skirt. The device can include a light source in the vicinity of the exit opening.

Claims

1. A surgical access port comprising:

a retracting device comprising an inflatable upper portion configured to overlie tissue surrounding an incision into a patient'"'"'s body cavity, a lower portion insertable through the incision and configured to underlie the tissue surrounding the incision, and a flexible, gas-impermeable skirt having an upper end connected to the upper portion and a lower end connected to the lower portion, the lower portion configured to maintain the lower end in an open configuration, and the skirt, upper portion, and lower portion defining an open channel extending through the incision; and

a flexible gas-tight sleeve releasably connected to the retracting device and extending the channel away from the incision.

2. A surgical access port comprising:

a retracting device comprising an upper portion configured to overlie tissue surrounding an incision into a patient'"'"'s body cavity, a lower portion insertable through the incision and configured to underlie the tissue surrounding the incision, and a flexible, gas-impermeable skirt having an upper end connected to the upper portion and a lower end connected to the lower portion, the lower portion configured to maintain the lower end in an open configuration, and the skirt, upper portion, and lower portion defining, an open channel extending through the incision; and

a flexible gas-tight sleeve releasably connected to the retracting device and extending the channel away from the incision,

wherein the upper portion of the retracting device comprises a groove surrounding the channel and the sleeve comprises a ring configured to mate with the groove, the mated groove and ring defining the releasable connection.

3. A surgical access port comprising:

a retracting device comprising an upper portion configured to overlie tissue surrounding an incision into a patient'"'"'s body cavity, a lower portion insertable through the incision and configured to underlie the tissue surrounding the incision, and a flexible, gas-impermeable skirt having an upper end connected to the upper portion and a lower end connected to the lower portion, the lower portion configured to maintain the lower end in a open configuration, and the skirt, upper portion, and lower portion defining an open channel extending through the incision;

a flexible gas-tight sleeve releasably connected to the retracting device and extending the channel away from the incision; and

a surgical glove connected to an end of the sleeve distal to the retracting device, the glove sealing the channel and configured to be inverted and passed through the channel into the patient'"'"'s body cavity.

4. The surgical access port of claim 3, wherein the glove is releasably connected to the sleeve.

5. A method for accessing a patient'"'"'s body cavity through an incision, the method comprising:

providing a retracting device comprising a lower ring, an upper toroid, and a flexible, gas-impermeable skirt connected at a lower end to the ring and at an upper end to the toroid;

inserting the ring through the incision and orienting the ring to underlie and contact the tissue surrounding the incision;

orienting the toroid to overlie and contact the tissue surrounding the incision;

drawing the skirt outward from the incision to retract the incision into an opening and define a channel into the paticnt'"'"'s body cavity by inflating the upper toroid;

releasably attaching a sleeve to the toroid to extend the channel; and

accessing the patienit'"'"'s body cavity through the extended channel.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising insufflating the patient'"'"'s body cavity.

7. A method for accessing a patient'"'"'s body cavity through an incision, the method comprising:

providing a retracting device comprising a lower ring, an upper toroid, and a flexible, gas-impermeable skirt connected at a lower end to the ring and at an upper end to the toroid;

inserting the ring through the incision and orienting the ring to underlie and contact the tissue surrounding the incision;

orienting the toroid to overlie and contact the tissue surrounding the incision;

drawing the skirt outward from the incision to retract the incision into an opening and define a channel into the patient'"'"'s body cavity;

releasably attaching a sleeve to the toroid to extend the channel; and

accessing the paticnt'"'"'s body cavity through the extended channel by inverting the sleeve into the channel.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising insufflating the patient'"'"'s body cavity.

9. A surgical access port comprising:

a retracting device comprising an upper portion configured to overlie tissue surrounding an incision into a patient'"'"'s body cavity, a lower portion insertable through the incision and configured to underlie the tissue surrounding the incision, and a flexible, gas-impermeable skirt having an upper end connected to the upper portion and a lower end connected to the lower portion, the lower portion configured to maintain the lower end in an open configuration, and the skirt, upper portion, and lower portion defining an open channel extending through the incision; and

an iris valve secured to the retracting device and configured to selectively seal the upper end of the channel or seal around a surgeon'"'"'s arm inserted through the upper end of the channel.

10. The surgical access port of claim 9, wherein the skirt comprises rubber.