Magnetic retraction system for laparoscopic surgery and method of use thereof

• US 6,358,196 B1
• Filed: 12/29/1999
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Titan Medical Inc.
• Original Assignee: Reiza Rayman
• Inventors: Rayman, Reiza
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirsch, Paul J.
• Application Number:
  US09/474,924
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 600/12, 600/13, 600/15, 600/9, 600/14, 600/201
• US Class Current: 600/12
• 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 2017/00876 magnetic

Abstract

A novel magnetic retraction system is provided herein. The magnetic retraction system includes magnetic means for applying a magnetic field around a defined area of the magnetic retraction system. An articulatable support is provided for such magnetic means. The magnetic means includes an upper (North) magnetic pole. A lower (South) magnetic pole is induced in the intestine of a patient into which has been introduced a magnetic or magnetizable material. The induced lower pole is spaced a selectable spaced distance from the upper (North) magnetic pole. The upper pole may have its strength and/or the orientation of its magnetic field varied to adjust and/or to manipulate the intestine.

Claims

1. A magnetic retraction system for assisting in laparoscopic surgery on a patient, said system comprising:

a) an articulatable arm;

b) a securing member for securing one end of said articulatable arm to a support member;

c) a magnet which is disposed at another end of said articulatable arm, for applying a magnetic field around a defined area below said another end of said articulatable arm, said magnet including an upper magnetic pole;

d) a patient adapted to be disposed below said upper magnetic pole, said patient having ingested a magnetizable or magnetic element whereby, when said patient is disposed prone below said upper magnetic pole, a lower opposite magnetic pole is induced in said patient through polarization of magnetizable material within the intestine of said patient; and

e) a controllable element which is operatively-associated with said upper pole and which is selectively-controllable to vary the magnetic field, and/or adjust the upper pole in height above said patient, and/or tilt, and/or roll.

2. The magnet retraction system of claim 1, wherein said support comprises a base of a cart.

3. The magnetic retraction system of claim 2, wherein said cart is a wheeled cart.

4. The magnetic retraction system of claim 1, wherein said opposite magnetic pole which is induced within the intestine of said patient is provided by polarization of a plurality of coated particles of magnetic or magnetizable material which are contained in a viscous medium.

5. The magnetic retraction system of claim 4, wherein said viscous medium is glycerol.

6. The magnetic retraction system of claim 4, wherein said coated particles comprise a plurality of plastic-coated iron spheres, or cellulose-coated iron spheres, or acrylic-coated iron spheres, or plastic-coated steel spheres, or cellulose-coated steel spheres, or acrylic-coated steel-spheres, or plastic-coated nickel alloy spheres, or cellulose-coated nickel alloy spheres, or acrylic-coated nickel alloy spheres, or plastic-coated ALNICO™

spheres, or cellulose-coated ALNICO™

spheres, or acrylic-coated ALNICO™

spheres.

7. The magnetic retraction system of claim 6, wherein said plastic of said plastic-coated spheres is a food-grade, synthetic plastic material.

8. The magnetic retraction system of claim 7, wherein said food-grade, synthetic plastic material in polyethylene.

9. The magnetic retraction system of claim 6, wherein said spheres are about 1 mm to about 2 mm±

0.1 mm in diameter.

11. The magnetic retraction system of claim 1, wherein said magnet comprises at least one permanent magnet.

13. The magnetic retraction system of claim 1, wherein said support member comprises the ceiling of an operating room.

14. The magnetic retraction system of claim 2, wherein said base of said cart supports said magnet by way of an upwardly-extending said, articulatable arm.

15. The magnetic retraction system of claim 1, wherein a lower face of said upper magnetic pole is curved to approximate the curvature of the abdomen of a patient.

17. The magnetic retraction system of claim 1, wherein said opposite magnetic pole which is induced within the intestine of said patient is provided by polarization of a ferromagnetic fluid which becomes gel-like and magnetic in the presence of a magnetic field.

18. The magnetic retraction system of claim 1, in combination with a magnetically-inert operating table.

19. The magnetic retraction system of claim 1, in combination with magnetically-inert laparoscopic instruments.

10. The magnetic retraction system of claim 24, wherein said magnet comprises an electromagnet.

16. The magnetic retraction system of claim 10, including means which are operatively-associated with said upper pole and which are selectively-engageable to adjust the strength of the electromagnetic field of said upper pole.

12. The magnetic retraction system of 1, wherein said support member comprises a wall of an operating room.