Expandable endoscopic portal and methods therefor

• US 6,228,068 B1
• Filed: 02/03/1999
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inbae Yoon
• Original Assignee: Inbae Yoon
• Inventors: Yoon, InBae
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Anhtuan T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RODRIGUEZ, CRIS LOIREN
• Application Number:
  US09/243,114
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 604/105, 604/904, 604/104, 604/523, 604/264, 604/93, 604/913, 604/286, 604/1-3, 604/11-19, 604/164.01, 604/164.03, 604/164.09, 604/164.1, 604/164.11 , 604/167.01, 604/167.06, 604/246, 606/192
• US Class Current: 604/246
• 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 17/3439 with means for changing the inner diameter of the cannula, e.g. expandable A61B17/3423, A61B17/3431 take precedence; catheters A61M25/0662
• 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 2017/3419 Sealing means between cannula and body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3486 Balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3492 against the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3614 using optical fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0024 Expandable catheters or sheaths
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0233 specifically adapted for attaching to a body wall by means which are on both sides of the wall, e.g. for attaching to an abdominal wall
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1013 with concentrically mounted balloons, e.g. being independently inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/04 in the body, e.g. expansible A61M25/10, A61M16/0488 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0662 Guide tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/02 Dilators made of swellable material balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104

Abstract

An expandable endoscopic portal for providing a passage through a body cavity wall includes a cannula comprising an absorbent member having a distal end for positioning in the body cavity, a proximal end for positioning external of the body cavity and a passage between the distal and proximal ends for receiving instruments. The absorbent member has a compressed dry state prior to introduction through the cavity wall and an expanded wet state when supplied with fluid upon introduction of the distal end in the body cavity. The absorbent member is rigid in the dry state to facilitate passage through the cavity wall and is soft in the wet state. The absorbent member has an initial cross sectional size in the dry state for introduction through an opening in the cavity wall corresponding in size to the initial cross sectional size. The absorbent member in the wet state has a cross sectional size greater than the initial cross sectional size to dilate the opening and/or form a seal along the thickness of the cavity wall. Instruments of various cross sectional sizes can be introduced in the body cavity through the passage in sealing relation. A method of establishing a passage through a cavity wall includes introducing an elongate absorbent member in an opening in the cavity wall with the absorbent member in a dry state such that the absorbent member extends longitudinally through the cavity wall and hydrating the absorbent member to place the absorbent member in a wet state to cause the absorbent member to expand radially within the opening.

Claims

1. An endoscopic portal for providing a passage through a body cavity wall to provide access to a body cavity, comprising:

an elongate absorbent member for being introduced through the body cavity wall and having a distal end for being positioned in the body cavity, a proximal end for being positioned externally of the body cavity and a lumen between said distal and proximal ends defining the passage through the body cavity wall when the proximal end is positioned externally of the body cavity and the distal end is positioned in the body cavity to provide access thereto, said absorbent member having a dry state prior to introduction through the body cavity wall and a wet state upon introduction of said distal end in the body cavity, said absorbent member being rigid in said dry state and being soft in said wet state wherein, said absorbent member has a first cross sectional size in said dry state and a second cross sectional size, greater than said first cross sectional size, in said wet state and expands longitudinally in said wet state to increase the length of said absorbent member; and

a valve disposed within the lumen and operative between a normally closed state and an opened stated, wherein in the opened state, the valve forms an opening sized and adapted to slidably receive an instrument such that the valve surrounds the instrument and maintains substantial contact with the instrument.

2. An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 1 and further including a spine disposed in said absorbent member for controlling the size and configuration of said absorbent member in said wet state.

3. An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 2 wherein said spine is tubular and has a distal end communicating with the body cavity and a proximal end connectable with a source of fluid for supplying fluid to the body cavity through said spine.

4. An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 2 wherein said spine is tubular and has a plurality of holes therein, said spine including a proximal end connectible with a source of fluid for supplying fluid to said absorbent member to obtain said wet state.

5. An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 1 and further including a membrane disposed around said absorbent member, said membrane including a plurality of perforations through which body fluid is supplied to said absorbent member to obtain said wet state.

6. An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 1 wherein said absorbent member includes a longitudinal axis and said membrane defines a plurality of different size pleats about said longitudinal axis.

7. An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 1 wherein said absorbent member includes a longitudinal axis and said membrane defines a plurality of accordion-like pleats along said longitudinal axis, each of said pleats having an outer bend circumscribing said longitudinal axis.

8. An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 1 further comprising a liner including a tubular membrane made of stretchable material.

9. An endoscopic portal for providing a passage through a body cavity wall to provide access to a body cavity comprising

an elongate absorbent member for being introduced through the body cavity wall and having a distal end for being positioned in the body cavity, a proximal end for being positioned externally of the body cavity and a passage between said distal and proximal ends, said absorbent member having a dry state prior to introduction through the body cavity wall and a wet state upon introduction of said distal end in the body cavity, said distal end of said absorbent member being rigid and having a configuration in said dry state for penetrating the body cavity wall, said distal end of said absorbent member being soft and blunt in said wet state to prevent damage to internal anatomical tissue, said passage having a variable cross sectional size in said wet state to receive instruments of various cross sectional sizes in sealing relation;

and

a valve disposed within the passage and operative between a normally closed state and an opened stated, wherein in the opened state, the valve forms an opening sized and adapted to slidably receive an instrument such that the valve surrounds the instrument and maintains substantial contact with the instrument.

10. An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 9 wherein said absorbent member includes a longitudinal axis and said absorbent member expands in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis in said wet state.

11. An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 9 wherein said absorbent member expands longitudinally in said wet state.

12. An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 9 wherein said absorbent member includes a sponge having a lumen therethrough defining said passage.

13. An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 9 and further including a membrane disposed over said absorbent member.

14. An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 13 wherein said membrane has a plurality of perforations therein through which body fluid is supplied to said absorbent member to obtain said wet state.

15. An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 9 wherein said passage is of fixed cross sectional size in said dry state.

16. An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 9 wherein said passage has an initial cross sectional size in said dry state, is enlargeable from said initial cross sectional size a finite amount in said dry state and is enlargeable from said initial cross sectional size more than said finite amount in said wet state.

17. An endoscopic portal for providing a passage through a body cavity wall to provide access to a body cavity comprising

a cannula including an elongate absorbent member for being introduced through the body cavity wall and having a distal end for being positioned in the body cavity, a proximal end for being positioned externally of the body cavity and a passage between said distal and proximal ends through which instruments can be introduced, said absorbent member having a compressed dry state prior to introduction through the body cavity wall and an expanded wet state upon introduction of said distal end in the body cavity, said absorbent member having a first external cross sectional size in said dry state for being introduced through an opening in the body cavity wall corresponding in size to said first cross sectional size, said absorbent member having a second external cross sectional size, greater than said first cross sectional size, in said wet state such that said cannula dilates said opening and sealingly engages the body cavity wall along the thickness of the body cavity wall;

and

a valve disposed within the passage and operative between a normally closed state and an opened stated, wherein in the opened state, the valve forms an opening sized and adapted to slidably receive an instrument such that the valve surrounds the instrument and maintains substantial contact with the instrument.

18. An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 17 wherein said absorbent member has a predetermined external configuration in said wet state.

19. An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 18 wherein said absorbent member expands in said wet state and includes portions expandable to different sizes to obtain said predetermined external configuration.

20. An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 18 and further including a spine in said absorbent member having a normal extended configuration and maintained in a contracted configuration by said absorbent member in said dry state, said spine returning to said extended configuration when said absorbent member is in said wet state to shape said absorbent member to assume said predetermined external configuration.

21. An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 20 wherein said spine is tubular and is provided with a plurality of perforations, said spine being connectible with a source of fluid for supplying fluid to said absorbent member to obtain said wet state.

22. An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 17 wherein said absorbent member in said wet state permits said passage to be enlarged to different sizes to receive instruments of various sizes therethrough in sealing relation.

23. An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 22 and further including a liner in said absorbent member defining said passage.

24. An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 17 and further including a channel through said absorbent member communicating with the body cavity and connectible with a source of fluid for supplying fluid to the body cavity.

25. An endoscopic portal as recited in claim 17 and further including a channel through said absorbent member communicating with the body cavity and connectible with a source of suction for evacuating substances from the body cavity.