Instrument stabilizer for through-a-port surgery

• US 6,579,281 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2001
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medici Life Sciences Licensing Company LLC (The Medici Portfolio LLC)
• Original Assignee: Popcab, LLC
• Inventors: Francese, Jose Luis, Castaneda, Javier E., Palmer, Matthew A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda C. M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAM, JOCELYN DEBRA
• Application Number:
  US09/893,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20020042607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 600/201, 600/208, 600/210, 600/215, 600/235, 606/1, 606/108, 604/513, 604/533, 604/539, 604/174, 604/164.04
• US Class Current: 606/1
• 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 17/3421 Cannulas
• 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 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00703 correcting for movement of heart, e.g. ECG-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0243 for immobilizing local areas of the heart, e.g. while it beats trocars attached to inner organs or inner body tissue A61B2017/3488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3405 using mechanical guide means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3484 Anchoring means, e.g. spreading-out umbrella-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3492 against the outside of the body

Abstract

An instrument stabilizer minimizes unwanted motion at the distal end of a surgical instrument by applying a damping force to the instrument. According to one embodiment, the instrument stabilizer preferably includes a cannula through which an instrument can extend, and a distal bushing adapted to contact the instrument. The instrument stabilizer also includes a proximal housing which includes a mechanism which applies a stabilizing or damping force to the proximal portion of the cannula. The mechanism which applies the force may be, by way of example, one or more of elastic bands, springs, struts, etc. When a surgical instrument is extended through the cannula and contacts the bushing, movement of the cannula and consequently the surgical instrument is damped by the stabilization force on the proximal portion of the cannula. In addition, a swivel device for angularly orienting the instrument stabilizer relative to a body of patient is also provided.

Claims

1. A stabilization device for a surgical instrument, said stabilization device using a vacuum to at least partially couple said stabilization device on the human body, said device comprising:

a) a proximal housing assembly having a lower surface defining a fluid path, said housing having an adapter to couple said fluid path to a vacuum source;

b) an element which is angularly movable within the housing; and

c) a tubular member extending through said element, said tubular member having means for contacting the surgical instrument such that the surgical instrument is radially stabilized within said tubular member.

2. A stabilization device according to claim 1, wherein:

said tubular member includes first and second portions, said first portion of said tubular member has a first size adapted to permit the surgical instrument to move freely therethrough, and said means for contacting includes said second portion of the said tubular member having a second smaller size adapted to contact the surgical instrument.

3. A stabilization device according to claim 2, wherein:

said second smaller size is defined by at least one of an O-ring and a bushing coupled to said tubular member substantially in alignment with a longitudinal axis of said tubular member.

4. A stabilization device according to claim 1, wherein:

said tubular member is longitudinally movable relative to said element.

5. A stabilization device according to claim 1, further comprising:

d) a damping means in said housing for damping movement of said element relative to said housing.

6. A stabilization device according to claim 5, wherein:

said damping means includes a first set of springs acting on a first side of a plate and a second set of springs acting on a second side of said plate.

7. A stabilization device according to claim 1, wherein:

said housing defines at least one suture hold.

8. A stabilization device according to claim 1, wherein:

said tubular member includes a valve which substantially prevents fluid from passing through said tubular member when said valve is in a closed position.

9. A stabilization device according to claim 1, wherein:

said element has a radius of curvature, and said housing includes a channel having said radius of curvature, said element movable within said channel.

10. A stabilization device according to claim 1, wherein:

said fluid path includes two concentric portions.

11. A stabilization device according to claim 1, wherein:

said fluid path includes a plurality of circular portions in fluid communication.

12. A stabilization device according to claim 1, wherein:

said housing assembly includes a lower plate having said lower surface and an upper portion provided with said element, said upper portion being pivotable relative to said lower plate.

13. A stabilization device according to claim 12, further comprising:

d) locking means for locking said upper portion relative to said lower plate.

14. A stabilization device for a surgical instrument used in performing surgery on the human body, said device comprising:

a) a proximal housing;

b) a base adapted to be coupled to the human body;

c) means for coupling said housing to said base such that said housing may be movably angled relative to said base; and

d) a tubular member extending through and coupled relative to said housing such that said tubular member may be angled relative to said housing, said tubular member having a means for contacting a distal end of the surgical instrument extending therethrough.

15. A stabilization device according to claim 14, wherein:

said tubular member is longitudinally movable relative to said housing.

16. A stabilization device according to claim 14, wherein:

said means for coupling said housing to said base is a ball and socket joint.

17. A stabilization device according to claim 14, further comprising:

e) locking means for locking said housing in an orientation relative to said base.

18. A stabilization device according to claim 14, wherein:

said base includes a lower surface defining a fluid path, and a means for coupling said base to a vacuum source,

wherein when said base is located on the human body and coupled to the vacuum source, negative pressure is formed between said fluid path and the human body.

19. A stabilization device according to claim 14, wherein:

said base includes a plurality of suture holds such that said base may be sutured to the human body.

20. A stabilization device according to claim 14, wherein:

said tubular member includes first and second portions, said first portion of said tubular member has a first size adapted to permit the surgical instrument to move freely therethrough, and said means for contacting includes said second portion of the said tubular member having a second smaller size adapted to contact the surgical instrument.

21. A stabilization device according to claim 20, wherein:

said second smaller size is defined by at least one of an O-ring and a bushing coupled to said tubular member substantially in alignment with a longitudinal axis of said tubular member.

22. A stabilization device for a surgical instrument used in performing surgery on the human body, said device comprising:

a) a proximal housing;

b) a base including means for coupling said base to the human body;

c) means for coupling said housing to said base such that said housing may be movably angled relative to said base;

d) a tubular member extending through and angularly movable relative to said housing; and

e) means for damping movement of said tubular member relative to said housing.

23. A stabilization device according to claim 22, wherein:

said tubular member is longitudinally movable relative to said housing.

24. A stabilization device according to claim 22, wherein:

said means for coupling said housing to said base is a ball and socket joint.

25. A stabilization device according to claim 22, further comprising:

e) locking means for locking said housing in an orientation relative to said base.

26. A stabilization device according to claim 22, wherein:

said base includes a lower surface, and said means for coupling said base to the human body comprises a fluid path provided in said lower surface and a means for communicating said fluid path with a vacuum source, wherein when said base is located on the human body and coupled to the vacuum source, negative pressure is formed between said fluid path and the human body.

27. A stabilization device according to claim 22, wherein:

said means for coupling said base to the human body comprises a plurality of suture holds which permit said base to be sutured to the human body.

28. A stabilization device for a surgical instrument used in performing surgery on the human body, said device comprising:

a) a housing including a cap portion and a base portion, said cap portion and said base portion defining a channel having a radius of curvature;

b) means for coupling said housing to the human body;

c) a tubular member provided with a proximal flange having a radius of curvature, said flange riding in said channel; and

d) means in or coupled to said tubular member for contacting the surgical instrument to radially stabilize the surgical instrument.

29. A stabilization device according to claim 28, wherein:

said flange has a radius of curvature in all directions relative to said tubular member.

30. A stabilization device according to claim 28, wherein:

when said stabilization device is coupled to the human body, the point about which said channel and said flange have a radius of curvature is located within the human body.