Safety trocar with progressive cutting tip guards and gas jet tissue deflector

• US 6,497,687 B1
• Filed: 06/22/2000
• Issued: 12/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Erblan Surgical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Erblan Surgical, Inc.
• Inventors: Blanco, Ernesto E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thissell, Jeremy
• Application Number:
  US09/598,453
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 604/264, 604/272, 604/274, 604/164.01, 604/164.02, 604/164.06, 604/167.01, 604/167.03, 604/167.06
• US Class Current: 604/274
• 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 17/3474 Insufflating needles, e.g. Veress needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3494 with safety means for protection against accidental cutting or pricking, e.g. limiting insertion depth, pressure sensors for the peridural space A61B17/3401
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3496 Protecting sleeves or inner probes; Retractable tips for protecting body piercing guide needles A61M25/0612
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00424 ergonomic, e.g. fitting in fist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00544 pneumatically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/346 with wings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0811 for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument

Abstract

A surgical device for endoscopic surgical procedures capable of preventing injuries to internal organs during insertion. The surgical device can include one or more of the following: a multiple system of sharp blade edges, a mechanical tissue protection device that includes a series of thin plastic guards sliding along the sides of the planar knives and having an angle between their edges smaller than that of the cutting knife edges, one or more fixed conical deflectors to expand the cut tissue passage leaving the guards to contact tissue contact only at their tips, an insufflation passage configured to transport fluid into the body cavity during penetration, a locking system for the guards that prevents accidental reuse of the cutting features, and/or an ergonomic design which facilitates handling.

Claims

1. A surgical device, comprising:

a handle configured to be gripped;

a penetrator having a main axis and being attached to said handle;

a cutting blade located at a distal end of said penetrator;

a tissue expander expanded at a distal end of the penetrator for expanding a tissue cut by said cutting blade;

an insufflation passageway con figured to discharge a pressurized fluid while said cutting blade is inside a body tissue and to transport said pressurized fluid to the body tissue when said cutting blade substantially penetrates the body tissue; and

a guard movable with respect to said tissue expander and configured to selectively expose said cutting blade;

wherein said guard has an apex such that an angle subscribed in the apex of the guard is smaller than an angle subscribed by said blade for progressively covering said blade during deployment of the penetrator.

2. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein said surgical device further comprises:

an external reservoir configured to supply said insufflation passageway with said pressurized fluid.

3. The surgical device according to claim 2, wherein said surgical device further comprises:

a check valve positioned between said insufflation passageway and an exterior of the surgical device, said check valve being configured to prevent leakage from said insufflation passageway.

4. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein said insufflation passageway is configured to be pressurized during an insertion of said cutting blade into the body tissue.

5. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein said pressurized fluid comprises a gas.

6. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein said insufflation passageway passes through said cylinder penetrator.

7. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein:

said cutting tip includes a plurality of blades configured to intersect substantially at the main axis of said penetrator; and

said insufflation passageway is defined in part by said blades.

8. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein said penetrator is hollow.

9. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein said guard has a plurality of slots formed therein which are aligned with said blades, respectively, to permit at least a partial covering of said blades by said guard.

10. The surgical device as claimed in claim 1, which comprises a stem member positioned within said penetrator for engagement with said guard for moving said guard towards said cutting tip.

11. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein said cutting tip is of a smaller diameter than an inner diameter of said penetrator such that a cut made in the tissue by the blade results in a smaller lumen than that of the cannula.

12. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein said penetrator comprises a cylindrical penetrator.

24. The surgical device according to claims 1, 16, or 22, wherein said cutting blade comprises:

a first blade having a first blade edge, said first blade edge being attached to a distal end of said penetrator and oriented substantially parallel to a main axis of said penetrator and being configured to produce an opening in a body tissue for an insertion of a surgical cannula.

25. The surgical device according to claim 24, wherein said cutting blade further comprises:

a second blade having a second blade edge, wherein;

said second blade being attached to a distal end of said penetrator and oriented substantially parallel to said main axis of said penetrator; and

said second blade being configured to intersect said first blade at an intersection distal to said penetrator.

26. The surgical device according to claim 25, wherein said intersection of said second blade and said first blade being substantially located along said main axis of said penetrator.

27. The surgical device according to claim 25, further comprising at least one further blade having a further blade edge, wherein:

said further blade being attached to a distal end of said penetrator and being oriented substantially parallel to said main axis of said penetrator; and

said further blade being configured to intersect said first blade and said second blade at said intersection distal to said penetrator.

28. The surgical device according to claim 27, wherein said first blade, said second blade, and said further blade are oriented to intersect substantially along the main axis of the penetrator.

29. The surgical device according to claim 28, wherein said first blade edge, said second blade edge, and further blade edge intersect along said main axis of said penetrator.

30. The surgical device according to claim 24, wherein said first blade is planar.

13. A surgical device, comprising:

a handle configured to be gripped;

a penetrator having a main axis and being attached to said handle;

a cutting blade located at a distal end of said cylinder penetrator; and

an insufflation passageway for discharging a pressurized fluid while said cutting blade is inside a body tissue and for transporting said pressurized fluid across said body tissue when said cutting blade substantially penetrates said body tissue;

an external reservoir for supplying said insufflation passageway with said pressurized fluid;

a check valve positioned between said insufflation passageway and an exterior of the device, said check valve being configured to prevent leakage from said insufflation passageway, wherein said check valve comprises a flap valve openable by said penetrator upon insertion of said penetrator into said handle; and

a guard moveable with respect to said cutting blade wherein said guard has an apex such that an angle subscribed in the apex of the guard is smaller than an angle subscribed by said blade for progressively covering said blade during deployment of the penetrator.

14. The surgical device according to claim 13, which comprises a seal which is concentrically positioned with said penetrator, said seal being positioned in said handle and being sealingly egageable with said flap valve.

15. The surgical device according to claim 13, wherein said penetrator comprises a cylindrical penetrator.

16. A surgical device, comprising:

a handle configured to be gripped;

a penetrator having a main axis and being attached to said handle;

at least one cutting blade located at a distal end of said penetrator;

a tissue expander located at a distal end of said penetrator for expanding a tissue cut by said at least one cutting blade for insertion of said penetrator; and

a guard movable with respect to said tissue expander and configured to expose said cutting blade while said cutting tip is beginning to cut a tissue layer and while said at least one cutting blade is in said tissue layer, and for progressively covering the end of said at least one cutting blade immediately after a most distal point of said cutting blade has substantially passed through said tissue layer;

wherein said at least one cutting blade comprises a plurality of blades substantially parallel to said main axis and having a plurality of blade edges, said plurality of blades being configured to intersect a distal portion of said penetrator and to intersect substantially along said main axis;

wherein said guard comprises a plurality of safety guards substantially parallel to a corresponding blade of said plurality of blades and wherein said plurality of safety guards respectively comprise a plurality of safety guard edges configured to intersect a plane containing said main axis and substantially normal to a corresponding plane defined by said corresponding blade at a safety guard edge angle smaller than a blade edge angle defined by the intersection of said blade edge with said plane.

17. The surgical device of claim 16, wherein said cutting tip comprises:

a plurality of blades substantially parallel to said main axis and having a plurality of blade edges, said plurality of blades being configured to intersect a distal portion of said penetrator and intersect substantially along said main axis.

18. The surgical device of claim 17, wherein said guard comprises:

a plurality of safety guards substantially parallel to a corresponding blade of said plurality of blades.

19. The surgical device of claim 16, further comprising:

a spring configured to allow translation of said guard responsive to a force generated during a driving of said cutting tip into and through said tissue layer.

20. The surgical device of claim 16, wherein said tissue expander further comprises:

tissue expander faces located slightly proximal to said cutting tip.

21. A surgical device, comprising:

a handle configured to be gripped;

a penetrator having a main axis and being attached to said handle;

at least one cutting blade located at a distal end of said cylinder penetrator;

a tissue expander located at a distal end of said penetrator and configured to expand a tissue cut by said cutting tip for insertion of said penetrator; and

a guard movable with respect to said tissue expander and configured to expose said cutting tip while said cutting tip is beginning to cut a tissue layer and while said cutting tip is in said tissue layer, and to progressively cover the end of said cutting tip immediately after a most distal point of said cutting tip has substantially passed through said tissue layer; and

a penetration monitor configured to indicate a position of said guard relative to said cutting tip.

22. A surgical device, comprising:

a handle configured to be gripped;

a penetrator having a main axis and attached to said handle;

at least one cutting blade located at a distal end of said penetrator;

a tissue expander configured to expand a tissue cut by said at least one cutting blade for insertion of said penetrator; and

a guard movable with respect to said tissue expander and being configured to selectively expose said at least one cutting blade wherein said guard has an apex such that an angle subscribed in the apex of the guard is smaller than an angle subscribed by said at least one cutting blade for progressively covering said at least one cutting blade during deployment of the penetrator.

23. The surgical device of claim 22, wherein said guard is slidably affixed between said tissue expander and said cutting tip.

31. A surgical device, comprising:

a handle configured to be gripped;

a penetrator having a main axis and attached to said handle;

a tissue expander positioned on said penetrator;

at least one cutting blade located at a distal end of said penetrator;

a guard configured to slidably cover and uncover said at least one cutting blade, said guard being movable with respect to said tissue expander and being configured to selectively expose said at least one cutting blade; and

a locking mechanism configured to hinder an accidental uncovering of said at least one cutting blade by said guard wherein said guard has an apex such that an angle subscribed in the apex of the guard is smaller than an angle subscribed by said at least one cutting blade for progressively covering said at least one cutting blade during deployment of the penetrator.

32. A surgical device, comprising:

a handle configured to be gripped;

a penetrator having a main axis and attached to said handle;

at least one cutting blade located at a distal end of said penetrator;

wherein said handle includes;

a tissue expander configured to expand a tissue cut by said at least one cutting blade;

a guard for slidably covering and uncovering said at least one cutting blade, said guard being moveable with respect to said tissue expander;

at least one side horn configured to facilitate pushing, pulling, rotation, and tilting of said surgical device wherein said guard has an apex such that an angle subscribed in the apex of the guard is smaller than an angle subscribed by said blade for progressively covering said at least one cutting blade during deployment of the penetrator.

33. The surgical device of claim 32, further comprising:

a cannula attached to a removable portion of said handle.

34. A surgical device, comprising:

means for gripping said surgical device;

means mounted on said means for gripping said surgical device for passing an object of interest into a hole in a tissue member;

means for expanding the tissue member which is mounted on said means for passing an object into the hole in the tissue member;

means mounted on said means for passing the object into the hole in the tissue member for cutting the hole for insertion of said means for passing an object into the hole in the tissue member, said means for cutting the hole in the tissue member being movable with respect to said means for expanding the tissue member; and

means for halting said means for cutting wherein said means for halting comprises means for guarding said means for cutting, said means for guarding said means for cutting being movable with respect to said means for expanding the tissue member wherein said means for guarding said means for cutting has an apex such that an angle subscribed in the apex of the means for guarding is smaller than an angle subscribed by said means for cutting for progressively covering said means for cutting during deployment of said means for expanding the tissue member.

35. The surgical device of claim 34, wherein said means for guarding said means for cutting comprises a plurality of guards.

36. The surgical device of claim 34, wherein said means for halting comprises:

means for insufflating a tissue beneath said means for cutting.

37. A surgical device, comprising:

a handle configured to be gripped;

penetrator means having a main axis and being attached to said handle;

means for cutting body tissue located at a distal end of said penetrator means;

tissue expander means expanded at a distal end of the penetrator means for expanding a tissue cut by said means for cutting tissue;

insufflation passageway means configured to discharge a pressurized fluid while said means for cutting tissue is inside a body tissue and to transport said pressurized fluid to the body tissue when the cutting blade means substantially penetrates the body tissue; and

guard means for guarding said means for cutting tissue, said guard means being movable with respect to said tissue expander means and configured to selectively expose said means for cutting tissue wherein said means for guarding said means for cutting tissue has an apex such that an angle subscribed in the apex of the means for guarding is smaller than an angle subscribed by said means for cutting tissue for progressively covering said means for cutting tissue during deployment of said means for expanding the tissue member.

38. The surgical device according to claim 37, wherein said surgical device further comprises:

an external reservoir configured to supply said insufflation passageway means with said pressurized fluid.

39. The surgical device according to claim 38, wherein said surgical device further comprises:

a check valve means positioned between said insufflation passageway means and an exterior of a surgical device, said check valve means being configured to prevent leakage from said insufflation passageway means.

40. The surgical device according to claim 38, wherein said insufflation passageway means is configured to be pressurized during insertion of said cutting tip into the body tissue.

41. A surgical device, comprising:

a handle configured to be gripped;

a penetrator having a main axis and being attached to said handle;

a cutting blade located at a distal end of said penetrator;

a tissue expander expanded at a distal end of the penetrator for expanding a tissue cut by said cutting blade;

an insufflation passageway configured for discharging a pressurized fluid while said cutting blade is inside a body tissue and for transporting said pressurized fluid to the body tissue when said cutting blade substantially penetrates the body tissue; and

a guard movable between said cutting blade and said expander and being movable with respect to said tissue expander, said guard being configured to selectively expose said cutting blade.

42. A surgical device, comprising:

a handle configured to be gripped;

a penetrator having a main axis and being attached to said handle;

a cutting blade located at a distal end of said penetrator;

a tissue expander expanded at a distal end of the penetrator for expanding a tissue cut by said cutting blade;

an insufflation passageway configured for discharging a pressurized fluid while said cutting blade is inside a body tissue and for transporting said pressurized fluid to the body tissue when said cutting blade substantially penetrates the body tissue; and

a guard movable with respect to said tissue expander and configured to selectively expose said cutting blade, said guard having a substantially planar portion thereof extending substantially parallel to said cutting blade.

43. A surgical device, comprising:

a handle configured to be gripped;

a penetrator having a main axis and being attached to said handle;

a cutting tip located at a distal end of said penetrator;

a tissue expander located at a distal end of said penetrator for expanding a tissue cut by said cutting tip for insertion of said penetrator;

a guard movable with respect to said tissue expander for exposing said cutting tip while said cutting tip is beginning to cut a tissue layer and while said cutting tip is in said tissue layer, and for progressively covering the end of said cutting tip immediately after a most distal point of said cutting tip has substantially past through said tissue layer;

wherein said cutting tip comprises at least one blade substantially parallel to said main axis and having at least one blade edge, said guard being positioned substantially parallel to said at least one blade and wherein said safety guard further comprises a safety guard edge having a guard edge angle smaller than a blade edge angle defined by an intersection of said at least one blade edge with said main axis.