Laparoscopic specimen removal apparatus

• US 6,383,195 B1
• Filed: 04/09/1999
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endoline Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Endoline Incorporated
• Inventors: Richard, Marlon S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robert, Eduardo C.
• Application Number:
  US09/288,686
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 606/114, 606/106, 606/110, 606/127
• US Class Current: 606/114
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22031 Gripping instruments, e.g. forceps, for removing or smashing calculi A61B17/221 takes precedence
• 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 2017/00287 Bags for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2215 having an open distal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/40 Apparatus fixed or close to patients specially adapted for providing an aseptic surgical environment

Abstract

An improved retractable cleat device having a housing and a telescopic cleat member absent a handle. The telescopic cleat member is lockable in the housing in a retracted position via a cam channel having at least one interval engaging a cam follower. The cam channel includes at least one interval which unlocks the telescopic cleat and allows the telescopic cleat to move to an upraised position via a bias force of a compression spring.

Claims

1. A laparoscopic specimen extractor comprising:

(a) an outer tube assembly insertable in an incision or trocar;

(b) an inner tube assembly slidably mounted coaxially in said outer tube to slide between a retracted position to a deployed position and having an operator end and a patient end;

(c) a cage having one end securely coupled to said patient end and a free end wherein, when said inner tube assembly is in said retracted position, said cage is collapsed and contained in said outer tube assembly and, when said inner tube assembly is in said deployed position, said cage is at least partially ejected from said outer tube assembly and said free end automatically opened and expanded into a tulip shape, said cage comprising a plurality of spaced spring loaded strips secured to the inner circumferential wall of said patient end of said inner tube assembly and which project from said patient end wherein said free end of said cage comprises tips of said plurality of spaced spring loaded strips, each strip having a free end twisted approximately 90°

(ninety degrees) with respect to the rest of itself to form a twisted section and a hole is bored in such twisted section wherein said twisted section is substantially perpendicular to a center axis of said inner tube assembly and said cage and wherein as the twisted sections are cinched closed, said cage forms a substantially elliptical or football shape;

(d) means journalled through said inner tube assembly and secured to said free end of said cage for cinching closed said free end; and

,

(e) a pathway coaxially through said inner tube assembly and said cage and adapted to have journalled therethrough said cinching close means, adapted to have inserted coaxially therethrough a grasping laparoscopic instrument for retrieving a specimen, adapted to have retracted therethrough said grasping laparoscopic instrument to deposit said specimen in said cage and adapted to aspirate or morcelate said specimen in said cage therethrough.

2. The extractor of claim 1, wherein said cage is lined with a liner or bag.

3. The extractor of claim 1, wherein said outer tube assembly includes a patient end and an operator end, and first and second finger rings oriented across from each other at said operator end of said outer tube assembly.

4. The extractor of claim 1, wherein said inner tube assembly comprises:

an end cap coupled to said operator end of said inner tube assembly;

a thumb cradle integrated with said end cap;

a center hole formed in said end cap to permit coaxial insertion of said laparoscopic instrument; and

,

an auxiliary hole formed in said end cap for passage of said cinching closed means journalled through said inner tube assembly.

5. The extractor of claim 4, wherein said cinching closed means comprises:

a first drawstring coupled to said tips of a first set of spring loaded strips of said plurality of spring loaded strips and journalled through said inner tube assembly;

a second drawstring coupled to said tips of a second set of spring loaded strips of said plurality of spring loaded strips and journalled through said inner tube assembly; and

,

means coupled to said first and second drawstrings for pulling said first and second drawstrings to cinch close, simultaneously, said tips of said first set of spring loaded strips and said tips of said second set of spring loaded strips.

6. The extractor of claim 5, wherein said pulling means comprises a ring.

7. The extractor of claim 5, wherein said inner tube assembly comprises:

an end cap coupled to said operator end of said inner tube assembly;

a center hole formed in said end cap to permit coaxial insertion of said laparoscopic instrument;

an auxiliary hole formed in said end cap for passage of said first and second drawstrings journalled through said inner tube assembly; and

,

wherein said pulling means comprises a drawstring handle assembly including;

a rod having one end secured to an outer wall of said end cap and projecting therefrom;

a palm rest integrated with a distal end of said rod; and

,

a finger squeeze slide slidably mounted on said rod and having secured thereto said first and second drawstrings wherein squeezing said palm rest and said finger squeeze slide slides said finger squeeze slide upward to said palm rest thus pulling said first and second drawstrings, simultaneously.

8. A laparoscopic specimen removal apparatus comprising:

(a) a grasping laparoscopic instrument for retrieving a specimen; and

,

(b) a laparoscopic specimen extractor comprising;

(i) an outer tube assembly insertable in an incision or trocar,

(ii) an inner tube assembly slidably mounted coaxially in said outer tube to slide between a retracted position to a deployed position and having an operator end and a patient end,

(iii) a cage having one end securely coupled to said patient end and a free end wherein, when said inner tube assembly is in said retracted position, said cage is collapsed and contained in said outer tube assembly and, when said inner tube assembly is in said deployed position, said cage is at least partially ejected from said outer tube assembly and said free end automatically opened and expanded into a tulip shape, said cage comprising a plurality of spaced spring loaded strips secured to the inner circumferential wall of said patient end of said inner tube assembly and which project from said patient end wherein said free end of said cage comprises tips of said plurality of spaced spring loaded strips, each strip having a free end twisted approximately 90°

(ninety degrees) with respect to the rest of itself to form a twisted section and a hole is bored in such twisted section wherein said twisted section is substantially perpendicular to a center axis of said inner tube assembly and said cage;

(iv) means journalled through said inner tube assembly and secured to said free end of said cage for cinching closed said free end, and,

(v) a pathway coaxially through said inner tube assembly and said cage and adapted to have inserted coaxially therethrough said grasping laparoscopic instrument for retrieving said specimen, adapted to have retracted therethrough said grasping laparoscopic instrument to deposit said specimen in said cage and adapted to aspirate or morcelate said specimen in said cage therethrough.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said cage is lined with a liner or bag.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said outer tube assembly includes a patient end and an operator end, and first and second finger rings oriented across from each other at said operator end of said outer tube assembly.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said inner tube assembly comprises:

an end cap coupled to said operator end of said inner tube assembly;

a thumb cradle integrated with said end cap;

a center hole formed in said end cap to permit coaxial insertion of said laparoscopic instrument; and

,

an auxiliary hole formed in said end cap for passage of said cinching closed means journalled through said inner tube assembly.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said cinching closed means comprises:

a first drawstring coupled to said tips of a first set of spring loaded strips of said plurality of spring loaded strips and journalled through said inner tube assembly;

a second drawstring coupled to said tips of a second set of spring loaded strips of said plurality of spring loaded strips and journalled through said inner tube assembly; and

,

means coupled to said first and second drawstrings for pulling said first and second drawstrings to cinch close, simultaneously, said tips of said first set of spring loaded strips and said tips of said second set of spring loaded strips.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said pulling means comprises a ring.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said inner tube assembly comprises:

an end cap coupled to said operator end of said inner tube assembly;

a center hole formed in said end cap to permit coaxial insertion of said laparoscopic instrument;

an auxiliary hole formed in said end cap for passage of said first and second drawstrings journalled through said inner tube assembly; and

,

wherein said pulling means comprises a drawstring handle assembly including;

a rod having one end secured to an outer wall of said end cap and projecting therefrom;

a palm rest integrated with a distal end of said rod; and

,

a finger squeeze slide slidably mounted on said rod and having secured thereto said first and second drawstrings wherein squeezing said palm rest and said finger squeeze slide slides said finger squeeze slide upward to said palm rest thus pulling said first and second drawstrings, simultaneously.

15. A laparoscopic specimen extractor comprising:

(a) a bag having open ends,

(b) a means for supporting said bag comprising a plurality of spaced spring loaded strips secured to the inner circumferential wall said bag and which project from one end of said bag, said strips having a plurality of tips wherein said support means is spring biased and arranged to automatically open into a tulip shape when ejected to a deployed position, each of said strips having a free end twisted approximately 90°

(ninety degrees) with respect to the rest of itself to form a twisted section and a hole is bored in such twisted section wherein said twisted section is substantially perpendicular to a center axis of said deployed bag;

(c) means coupled to said plurality of tips for cinching closed said support means, and

(d) a pathway, formed coaxially through said laparoscopic specimen extractor and said support means and having said cinching closed means journalled axially therethrough wherein said pathway is adapted to have inserted coaxially therethrough a grasping laparoscopic instrument for retrieving said specimen, adapted to have retracted therethrough said grasping laparoscopic instrument to deposit said specimen in said bag and adapted to aspirate or morcelate said specimen in said bag therethrough.

16. The extractor apparatus of claim 15, wherein said support means cinches closed to a generally elliptical or football shape.