Method and apparatus for endoscopic access to the vagus nerve
First Claim
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1. A surgical apparatus for gaining access to a nerve region or nerve branch in a minimally invasive manner, the apparatus comprising:
- a cannula including an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end and a cannula lumen extending a length of the body;
a dissection tool adapted to slide within the cannula lumen, the dissection tool including a viewing device, a tissue separating member and an electrode adapted to acutely stimulate the nerve region or nerve branch; and
a cradle assembly adapted to slide within the cannula lumen, the cradle assembly having a first leg and a second leg extending proximally from a C-ring generally adapted to cradle a portion of the nerve region or nerve branch, an electrode cuff adapted to be disposed over an exterior surface of the C-ring, and a deployment device adapted to deploy the electrode cuff from the C-ring.
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Abstract
An apparatus for performing a minimally-invasive surgical procedure in the vagus nerve region includes a cannula, an endoscopic dissection tool and a cradle assembly slideably disposed in a cannula lumen. The cradle assembly includes a C-ring, an electrode cuff disposed over an exterior surface of the C-ring, and a deployment device. The electrode cuff is adapted to wrap around the target nerve region or nerve branch to be stimulated when deployed from the C-ring using the deployment device. A method of performing a minimally invasive surgical procedure is also described.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A surgical apparatus for gaining access to a nerve region or nerve branch in a minimally invasive manner, the apparatus comprising:
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a cannula including an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end and a cannula lumen extending a length of the body; a dissection tool adapted to slide within the cannula lumen, the dissection tool including a viewing device, a tissue separating member and an electrode adapted to acutely stimulate the nerve region or nerve branch; and a cradle assembly adapted to slide within the cannula lumen, the cradle assembly having a first leg and a second leg extending proximally from a C-ring generally adapted to cradle a portion of the nerve region or nerve branch, an electrode cuff adapted to be disposed over an exterior surface of the C-ring, and a deployment device adapted to deploy the electrode cuff from the C-ring. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A surgical apparatus for use with a cannula including an endoscopic dissection tool to deploy an electrode cuff about a target nerve site, the surgical apparatus comprising:
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a cradle assembly including a first leg and a second leg extending proximally from a C-ring generally adapted to cradle a portion of a nerve, wherein the C-ring has an exterior surface and an interior surface, the cradle comprising at least one electrode located on the interior surface, wherein the electrode is adapted to acutely stimulate the nerve region or nerve branch; an electrode cuff coupled to an exterior of the cradle; and a deployment device adapted to deploy the electrode cuff from the cradle to the target nerve site. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for gaining access to and stimulating a targeted nerve region or nerve branch, the method comprising:
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accessing the targeted nerve region or nerve branch using a surgical apparatus comprising a cannula, a dissection tool including a viewing device and an electrode for acutely stimulating the nerve, and a cradle assembly including a C-ring and an electrode cuff including at least one electrode adapted to chronically stimulate a nerve, the electrode cuff disposed over an exterior surface of the C-ring and adapted to be deployed from the exterior surface of the C-ring to a nerve region or nerve branch to be chronically stimulated; identifying and isolating potential target nerve regions or nerve branches; acutely stimulating potential target nerve regions or nerve branches using the dissection tool electrode or the electrode on the interior surface of the C-ring; selecting the target nerve region or branch to receive chronic stimulation; deploying the electrode cuff to the target nerve region or nerve branch; and chronically stimulating the target nerve region or nerve branch. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification