Surgical tissue morcellator

• US 6,468,228 B1
• Filed: 06/18/1996
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies, LLC (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Vance Products Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Topel, Howard C., Foster, Thomas L.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEISS, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US08/666,661
• Time in Patent Office: 2,317 Days
• Field of Search: 600/562, 600/566, 604/264, 606/184, 606/185, 606/190
• US Class Current: 600/567
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32053 Punch like cutting instruments, e.g. using a cylindrical or oval knife A61B17/326 takes precedence; trepans A61B17/1695; for use on the cornea A61F9/007
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3417 Details of tips or shafts, e.g. grooves, expandable, bendable; Multiple coaxial sliding cannulas, e.g. for dilating syringe needles A61M5/32; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320064 with tissue or sample retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320775 Morcellators, impeller or propeller like means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3488 Fixation to inner organ or inner body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/349 Trocar with thread on outside
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/062 penetration depth

Abstract

A surgical tissue morcellator (10) for percutaneously morcellating and debulking tissue during a minimally invasive, endoscopic surgical procedure. In an insertion configuration, the morcellator includes an outer cutting sheath (11) and an insertion member (15) inserted therethrough and positioned relative thereto via a connector (20). The connector includes an adaptor (18) positioned at the proximal portion (13) of the outer cutting sheath. The adaptor includes a lock member (22) such as a pin extending radially into the bore (19) of the adaptor. A second lock member (23) in the form of a T-shaped slot is formed in the surface of the insertion member to receive and position the pin therein. In a morcellation configuration, the morcellator includes a handle (24) that is positioned in the bore of the adaptor. A tissue fixation member (26) is inserted through the handle and outer sheath passages (25, 14) and includes a distal portion (27) with a helical coil (29) that extends from the distal cutting end (12) of the outer cutting sheath for affixation to a tissue mass (50). The tissue fixation member also includes a plurality (44) of helical grooves (30) of which a plurality (45) of projections (32) extend from the handle and into the grooves. These projections are positioned on the ends of a plurality (49) of rocker arms (33) which are pivotally mounted in the wall (37) of the handle. The engagement projections are extended selectively into and out of the passage of the handle via a retainer ring (43) that longitudinally slides on the neck portion (65) of the handle.

Claims

1. A surgical tissue morcellator assembly (10) comprising:

an outer sheath (11) having a distal cutting end (12), a proximal sheath portion (13), and a sheath passage (14) extending longitudinally therein;

an insertion member (15) having a distal portion (16) which can be inserted through said sheath passage, said distal portion including a distal insertion end (17) that is atraumatic to tissue (50) and extendable from said distal cutting end of said outer sheath; and

a connector (20) disposed on at least one of said outer sheath and said insertion member and configured to position said insertion member relative to said outer sheath.

2. The surgical tissue morcellator assembly of claim 1 wherein said insertion member includes a proximal member portion (21) and wherein said connector includes an adapter (18) connected to said proximal sheath portion and configured to join said proximal sheath portion and said proximal member portion.

3. The surgical tissue morcellator assembly of claim 2 wherein said adapter includes a bore (19) therein communicating with said sheath passage and configured to receive said proximal member portion therein.

4. The surgical tissue morcellator assembly of claim 3 wherein said connector includes a first lock member (22) extending into said bore of said adapter and wherein said proximal member portion includes a second lock member (23) disposed therein to receive said first lock member.

5. The surgical tissue morcellator assembly of claim 1 further comprising a handle (24) having a handle passage (25) communicating with said sheath passage when said handle is positioned relative to said outer sheath and wherein said connector is also configured to position said handle relative to said outer sheath.

6. The surgical tissue morcellator assembly of claim 5 further comprising a tissue fixation member (26) at least a portion (27) of which can be inserted through said sheath and said handle passages and having a distal fixation end (28) that can be extended from said distal cutting end of said outer sheath, said distal fixation end of said tissue fixation member having a part (29) fixable in tissue.

7. The surgical tissue morcellator assembly of claim 6 wherein said tissue fixation member includes a helical groove (30) in an external member surface (31) thereof and wherein said handle includes a projection (32) selectively extending into said handle passage and said helical groove when said helical groove is positioned in said handle passage.

8. The surgical tissue morcellator assembly of claim 7 wherein said handle includes a rocker arm (33) that extends between an external handle surface (34) and said handle passage (25) and wherein said projection is positioned about a first rocker arm end (35) extending into said handle passage.

9. The surgical tissue morcellator assembly of claim 8 wherein said rocker arm is pivotally mounted in a slot (36) extending through a wall (37) of said handle;

wherein said projection is mounted on a first side (38) of said rocker arm at said first rocker arm end;

wherein a second and a third projection (39, 40) are positioned on a second side (41) opposite said first side and at said first and a second rocker arm end (42), respectively; and

wherein said handle further comprises a retainer (43) that selectively moves to engage said second and third projections on said second side of said rocker arm.

10. The surgical tissue morcellator assembly of claim 7 wherein said tissue fixation member includes a plurality (44) of said helical groove and wherein said handle includes a plurality (45) of said projection selectively extending into said plurality of said helical groove.

11. A surgical tissue morcellator assembly (10) comprising:

an outer sheath (11) having a distal cutting end (12), a proximal sheath portion (13), and a sheath passage (14) extending longitudinally therein; and

a handle (24) removably connected to said proximal sheath portion and having a handle passage (25) extending longitudinally therethrough and communicating with said sheath passage, said handle also having a slot (36) extending through a wall (37) thereof and a rocker arm (33) pivotally mounted in said slot and communicating with said handle passage and an external handle surface (34), said rocker arm on a first side (38) and at a first rocker arm end (35) having a first projection (32) communicating with and extendable into said handle passage, said rocker arm having a second side (41) opposite said first side and communicating with said external handle surface, said handle further comprising a retainer (43) disposed about said rocker arm and movable to engage selectively said first and a second end (42), whereby longitudinal and rotational movement of said outer sheath causes said distal cutting end to rotate and core tissue affixed to a tissue fixation member (26) positioned in said handle and said sheath passages and engaging said first projection on said first rocker arm end.

12. The surgical tissue morcellator assembly of claim 11 wherein said morcellator further comprises an adapter (18) disposed on said proximal sheath portion and having a bore (19) therein communicating with said handle and said sheath passages, said handle being configured for positioning in said bore of said adaptor.

13. The surgical tissue morcellator assembly of claim 12 wherein said adapter includes a first lock member (22) extending into said bore and wherein said handle includes a second lock member (47) disposed therein to receive said first lock member.

14. The surgical tissue morcellator assembly of claim 11 wherein said handle further comprises a plurality (49) of said rocker arm (33) pivotally mounted in a respective plurality (48) of said slot (37).

15. The surgical tissue morcellator of claim 14 further comprising a tissue fixation member (26) at least a portion (27) of which can be inserted through said sheath and said handle passages and having a distal fixation end (28) which can be extended from said distal cutting end of said outer sheath, said distal fixation end having a part (29) fixable in tissue.

16. The surgical tissue morcellator assembly of claim 15 wherein said tissue fixation member includes a plurality (44) of said helical groove and wherein said plurality of said rocker arm includes a plurality (45) of said projection selectively extending into said plurality of said helical groove.

17. The surgical tissue morcellator assembly of claim 11 wherein said surgical tissue morcellator further comprises a tissue fixation member (26) at least a portion (27) of which can be inserted through said sheath and said handle passages and having a distal fixation end (28) which can be extended from said distal cutting end of said outer sheath, said distal fixation end having a part (29) fixable in tissue;

wherein said tissue fixation member includes a helical groove (30) in an external member surface (31) thereof; and

wherein said handle includes a projection (32) selectively extending into said handle passage and said helical groove when said helical groove is positioned in said handle passage.

18. The surgical tissue morcellator assembly of claim 11 further comprising an insertion member (15) at least a portion (16) of which can be inserted through said sheath passage and having a distal insertion end (17) which is atraumatic to tissue (50) and can be extended from said distal cutting end of said outer sheath when said at least said portion of said insertion member is inserted through said sheath passage.

19. The surgical tissue morcellator assembly of claim 17 wherein said surgical tissue morcellator further comprises a connector (20) disposed on said proximal sheath portion and configured to position said insertion member relative to said outer sheath.

20. A surgical tissue morcellator assembly (10) comprising:

an outer sheath (11) having a distal cutting end (12), a proximal sheath portion (13), and a sheath passage (14) extending longitudinally therein;

a handle (24) removably connected to said proximal sheath portion and having a handle passage (25) extending longitudinally therethrough and communicating with said sheath passage, said handle also having a plurality of slots (48) extending through a wall (37) thereof and a respective plurality of rocker arms (49) pivotally mounted in said plurality of slots and communicating with said handle passage and an external handle surface (34), each of said plurality of rocker arms on a first side (38) and at a first end (35) having a first projection (32) communicating with and extendable into said handle passage, each of said plurality of rocker arms on a second side (41) opposite the first side and at the first and a second end having a second (39) and a third projection (40), respectively, said handle further having a retainer (43) positioned around said plurality of rocker arms and slidable to engage selectively the second and third projections on each of said plurality of rocker arms;

an adapter disposed on said proximal sheath portion and having a bore (19) therein communicating with said handle and said sheath passages, said bore being configured to position said handle therein, said adapter including a pin (22) extending radially into said bore;

a tissue fixation member (26) at least a portion (27) of which can be inserted through said sheath and said handle passages and having a distal fixation end (28) which can be extended from said distal cutting end of said outer sheath, said distal fixation end of said tissue fixation member having a part (29) fixable in tissue;

wherein said tissue fixation member includes a plurality of helical grooves (44) in an external surface (31) thereof;

wherein the first projections of said handle selectively extend into said plurality of said helical grooves; and

wherein said tissue fixation member includes a cross member (51) transversely positionable on said tissue fixation member about a proximal end (52) thereof.