System and method for improved gas recirculation in surgical trocars with pneumatic sealing

• US 8,715,219 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2009
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Surgiquest, Inc. (Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Surgiquest, Inc. (Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stearns, Ralph, Azarbarzin, Kurt, Nolan, Timothy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHMIDT, EMILY LOUISE
• Application Number:
  US12/587,584
• Publication Number:
  US 20100185139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,670 Days
• Field of Search: 604/23, 604/26, 604/33, 604/65, 604/67
• US Class Current: 604/26
• 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 17/3474 Insufflating needles, e.g. Veress needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3498 Valves therefor, e.g. flapper valves, slide valves haemostasis valves A61M39/06; check valves A61M39/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00544 pneumatically
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 13/003 Blowing gases other than for carrying powders, e.g. for inflating, dilating or rinsing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 13/006 with gas recirculation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/201 Controlled valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3337 Controlling, regulating pressure or flow by means of a valve by-passing a pump

Abstract

Systems for insufflation and recirculation of insufflation fluid in a surgical procedure include a control unit having a fluid pump, a supply conduit, a return fluid conduit and a pressure-controlled valve. The pressure-controlled valve is in fluid communication with an insufflation gas supply, the supply conduit and the return conduit and is adapted and configured to respond to pressure control signals to adjust position and thereby system flow parameters, to reduce entrainment of air from the surrounding environment, and to increase the concentration of insufflation gas in an operative space, and/or to reduce an overpressure condition in the operative space.

Claims

1. A system for insufflation and recirculation of pressurized fluid from a surgical operative environment, the system comprising:

a control unit having;

a) a fluid pump adapted and configured to circulate pressurized fluid and maintain a fluid seal within a trocar coupled to the control unit;

b) a supply conduit in fluid communication with an output of the fluid pump for delivering pressurized fluid to an output port of the control unit;

c) a return conduit in fluid communication with an input of the fluid pump for returning pressurized fluid from an input port of the control unit;

d) a valve assembly in fluid communication with a pressurized fluid supply source through a gas conduit, and in fluid communication with the supply conduit and the return conduit, the valve assembly remaining in a closed state in the absence of a control signal corresponding to a change in abdominal pressure and being adapted and configured to;

i) respond to a low pressure control signal by opening a first internal flow path, to place the supply conduit and the return conduit in fluid communication with one another, to reduce supply pressure to the fluid seal within the trocar and entrainment of ambient air by the trocar from the surrounding environment and to place the pressurized fluid supply source in fluid communication with the return conduit, to increase the concentration of pressurized fluid in the system;

ii) respond to a first high pressure control signal by opening a second internal flow path, to place the supply conduit and the return conduit in fluid communication with one another through a bypass conduit, causing pressurized fluid from the supply conduit to be recycled to the return conduit, reducing the effectiveness of the fluid seal within the trocar so as to allow pressurized fluid to escape through the trocar, and thereby lowering abdominal pressure; and

iii) respond to a second high pressure control signal, corresponding to a pressure higher than the first high pressure control signal, by opening a third internal flow path to release pressure from the system as the fluid pump continues to draw pressurized fluid from the trocar through the return conduit, permitting abdominal pressure to normalize; and

a surgical insufflator adapted and configured to receive pressurized fluid from the pressurized fluid supply source, the surgical insufflator having an output port in fluid communication with the trocar through a pressure sensing conduit to supply insufflating fluid to a patient'"'"'s abdominal cavity and permit intermittent measurement of abdominal pressure.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the valve assembly is in fluid communication with the pressure sensing conduit for communicating a control signal corresponding to a pressure value at a distal end thereof.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the valve assembly includes a mechanical diaphragm valve, and the pressure sensing conduit is in fluid communication with a pressure sensing chamber of the diaphragm valve.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a trocar having:

a) an elongated body defining a lumen therein;

b) a nozzle operatively associated with the body for directing pressurized fluid into the lumen;

c) a fluid return plenum adapted and configured to collect spent insufflation fluid;

d) a nozzle supply port in fluid communication with the nozzle, for delivering a pressurized flow of fluid to the nozzle, adapted and configured to receive pressurized fluid from an output port of the control unit; and

e) a fluid return port in fluid communication with the fluid return plenum, adapted and configured for returning fluid from the trocar to an input port of the control unit.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the trocar further comprises a pressure sensing chamber in fluid communication with a patient'"'"'s abdominal cavity and with the valve assembly of the control unit.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit and the surgical insufflator are incorporated into a single housing.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein a low pressure, causing a low pressure control signal, is defined as an abdominal pressure at or below about 4.0 mmHg from a set pressure.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein a first high pressure, causing a first high pressure control signal, is defined as an abdominal pressure at or above 4.0 mmHg from a set pressure.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein a second high pressure, higher than the first high pressure, causing a second high pressure control signal, is defined as an abdominal pressure at or above about 160% of a set pressure.