Vibratory trocar

• US 7,981,092 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2008
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Duke, Daniel H.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRUONG, KEVIN THAO
• Application Number:
  US12/116,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20090281478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 606/167, 606/171, 606/79, 606/184, 606/169, 606/174, 604/164.1, 604/264, 604/272, 600/437, 600/464, 600/471, 600562-572
• US Class Current: 604/264
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/126 provided with means for cleaning in-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/34 Trocars; Puncturing needles pointed biopsy instruments A61B10/0233; devices for piercing the ear-lobes A44C7/001; seals or hemostasis valves A61M39/06
• 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 17/3476 Powered trocars, e.g. electrosurgical cutting, lasers, powered knives
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00212 using remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3437 with means for removing or absorbing fluid, e.g. wicks or absorbent pads
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/70 Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments

Abstract

Devices and methods are provided for removing fluid from a trocar or from surgical instruments passed therethrough, and for preventing such fluid from accumulating. For example, an exemplary method for removing fluid from a trocar can include positioning a trocar to extend into a body cavity and vibrating the trocar to prevent fluid in the trocar from being deposited on surgical instruments passed therethrough. In one embodiment, the trocar can be selectively vibrated by activating a foot pedal or remote control, or according to an output of a sensor.

Claims

1. A method for removing fluid from a trocar, comprising:

positioning a trocar to extend into a body cavity;

inserting an instrument through the trocar;

removing the instrument from the trocar; and

after removing the instrument from the trocar, activating a vibrator coupled to the trocar to vibrate the trocar and dislodge fluid deposited in the trocar.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vibrator comprises an ultrasonic transducer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the transducer is activated by a remote control.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid is deposited on at least one seal disposed within the trocar.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein vibrating the trocar causes the dislodged fluid to pass into a cannula of the trocar.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising passing a second instrument through the trocar and vibrating the trocar while the second instrument is passed therethrough.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the vibrator is selectively activated according to an output of a sensor that detects the presence of an instrument in the trocar.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a sensor detects the presence of fluid at a location within the trocar and an indicator is selectively activated according to an output of the sensor.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the vibrator is selectively activated according to the output of the sensor.

10. A method for removing fluid from a trocar, comprising:

activating a transducer coupled to a trocar while the trocar is inserted into a body cavity to vibrate at least one seal disposed within the trocar and thereby remove fluid deposited on the at least one seal by an instrument passed therethrough;

wherein the transducer is activated after the instrument is removed from the trocar.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein vibration causes the fluid to pass from the at least one seal into a cannula of the trocar.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the transducer is activated while an instrument is passed through the trocar.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein a sensor detects the presence of an instrument in the trocar and the transducer is selectively activated according to an output of the sensor.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein a sensor detects the presence of fluid at a location within the trocar and an indicator is selectively activated according to an output of the sensor.

15. A method for removing fluid from a trocar, comprising:

inserting the trocar through tissue to form a working channel extending through the trocar into a body cavity;

passing an endoscope through the trocar;

removing the endoscope from the trocar; and

after removing the endoscope from the trocar, activating a vibrator coupled to the trocar to vibrate the trocar and remove fluid deposited within the trocar by the endoscope.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the trocar is vibrated ultrasonically.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the trocar is vibrated mechanically.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one seal disposed within the trocar is vibrated to remove fluid from the at least one seal.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the vibrator is selectively activated by at least one sensor disposed within the trocar.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least one sensor senses when the endoscope is disposed within the trocar.