Surgical access apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A laparoscopic insufflation needle adapted for movement across an abdominal wall of a patient to insufflate an abdominal region of the patient, the insufflation needle comprising:
- an elongate tube having a blunt distal tip, an inflation channel extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the elongate tube being adapted at the proximal end for connection to a source of fluid under pressure, and being adapted at the distal end to expel the fluid under pressure to insufflate the abdominal region of the patient; and
an optical element disposed at the distal end of the elongate tube to facilitate visualization of the abdominal wall and the abdominal region of the patient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A laparoscopic insufflation device is provided in the configuration of a coil with a blunt tip. The device is capable of passing through the abdominal wall without cutting tissue, and exiting the abdominal wall substantially parallel to the inner surface. While rotation of the coiled device results in forward movement through the abdominal wall, a counter force can be applied to the device to create a safety space between the wall and the interior organs. With the blunt distal tip, parallel exit angle, and safety space, there is substantially no threat to the interior organs during placement of the device. Further space can be generated with the use of pressured gas to produce an abdominal cavity for the subsequent placement of trocars. By rotatably attaching the coiled insufflation device to a trocar, the advantage of a counter force can be used not only to establish the safety space but also to pull the trocar into the abdominal wall with a counterforce which resists tenting.
108 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A laparoscopic insufflation needle adapted for movement across an abdominal wall of a patient to insufflate an abdominal region of the patient, the insufflation needle comprising:
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an elongate tube having a blunt distal tip, an inflation channel extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the elongate tube being adapted at the proximal end for connection to a source of fluid under pressure, and being adapted at the distal end to expel the fluid under pressure to insufflate the abdominal region of the patient; and
an optical element disposed at the distal end of the elongate tube to facilitate visualization of the abdominal wall and the abdominal region of the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An insufflation needle adapted for penetrating an abdominal wall having an inner surface defining an abdominal region containing interior organs of a patient, the needle comprising:
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an elongate tube having a blunt distal tip, an inflation channel extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the elongate tube being adapted at the proximal end for connection to a source of fluid under pressure and being adapted at the distal end to expel the fluid under pressure to insufflate the abdominal regions; and
the distal tip is free of sharp edges to inhibit cutting the abdominal wall during penetration of the abdominal wall and to inhibit cutting the interior organs following penetration of the abdominal wall. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for using an access device to create an abdominal cavity in an abdominal region containing interior organs of the patient comprising the steps of:
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providing an elongate shaft having a blunt distal tip and an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end;
moving the shaft across the abdominal wall to place the distal end of the shaft in the abdominal region; and
pulling on the elongate shaft to move the abdominal wall away from the interior organs and to create the abdominal cavity around the interior organs in the abdominal region of the patient. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A laparoscopic insufflation needle adapted for movement across an abdominal wall of a patient to insufflate an abdominal region of the patient, the insufflation needle comprising:
an elongate tube having a blunt distal tip, an inflation channel extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the elongate tube being adapted at the proximal end for connecting to a source of fluid under pressure, and being adapted at the distal end to expel the fluid under pressure to insufflate the abdominal region of the patient; and
the elongate tube being formed into a coil.- View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
Specification