Apparatus and system for performing surgery

• US 9,259,288 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2013
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Horton, Kenneth W.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFFMAN, MARY C
• Application Number:
  US13/768,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20130158360A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 600/245, 600/249
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/06 with illuminating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• 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 2017/00278 Transorgan operations, e.g. transgastric
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00283 with a device releasably connected to an inner wall of the abdomen during surgery, e.g. an illumination source
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/30 Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/35 Supports therefor

Abstract

An illumination system configured to light an anatomical location of a patient is provided. The illumination system includes an interior illumination device positionable and movable within a body cavity of a patient. The interior illumination device is configured to provide a light having a wavelength that is visible to a clinician. The illumination system includes an exterior illumination device operatively coupled to the interior illumination device and positionable and movable about an exterior of a patient. The exterior illumination device is configured to provide a light having a wavelength that is visible to a clinician.

Claims

1. A method for illuminating an anatomical location of a patient comprising:

positioning a first interior illumination device within a body cavity of a patient;

positioning a first exterior illumination device about an exterior surface of the patient, the first exterior illumination device moveable independent of the first interior illumination device;

coupling the first exterior illumination device to the first interior illumination device; and

moving the first exterior illumination device across the exterior surface of the patient to move the first interior illumination device to a desired location within the body cavity of the patient to illuminate the body cavity.

2. The method according to claim 1, including positioning a second interior illumination device within the body cavity of the patient and a second exterior illumination device about the exterior surface of the patient, the second exterior illumination device configured to couple to one of the first or second interior illumination devices.

3. The method according to claim 1, including providing a light emitting element on each of the first interior and exterior illumination devices.

4. The method according to claim 3, including emitting light in the visible light spectrum, wherein the emitted light is one of continuously and intermittently emitted.

5. The method according to claim 3, including selecting the light emitting element from the group consisting of bulbs and light emitting diodes.

6. The method according to claim 1, including utilizing a surgical procedure selected from the group consisting of a transluminal procedure, endoluminal procedure and laparoscopic procedure to position the first interior illumination device within the body of the patient.

7. The method according to claim 1, including providing at least one of the first interior or exterior illumination devices with at least one magnet configured to magnetically couple the first interior and exterior illumination devices to one another.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein positioning the first interior illumination device includes positioning the first interior illumination device within a peritoneal cavity of the patient.

9. The method according to claim 1, including forming at least a portion of the first interior or exterior illumination devices from a lubricious material.

10. The method according to claim 9, including selecting the lubricious material from the group consisting polytetrafluoroethylene, lanolin, water, mineral oils, natural oils and synthetic oils.

11. The method according to claim 1, including forming the first interior illumination device from a biocompatible material.

12. The method according to claim 1, including encasing the first interior illumination device in a biocompatible material.