System for surgical insufflation and gas recirculation

• US 9,295,490 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2014
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2006
• 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): HAYMAN, IMANI N
• Application Number:
  US14/444,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20140336567A1
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: 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 2202/02 Gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3337 Controlling, regulating pressure or flow by means of a valve by-passing a pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3344 Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site

Abstract

A system for facilitating insufflation and recirculation of fluid during a laparoscopic surgical procedure that includes a trocar, an insufflator for delivering insufflation fluid to the abdominal cavity of a patient through the trocar, a pump for delivering pressurized fluid to a supply plenum of the trocar through a supply line to create a fluid seal within the trocar and for receiving spent fluid from a return plenum of the trocar through a return line, a bypass line for connecting the supply line to the return line under certain pressure conditions, a back pressure control valve positioned within the bypass line and a dump valve in communication with the supply line for releasing pressurized fluid out of the system when an over-pressure condition is sensed.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating insufflation and recirculation of fluid during a laparoscopic surgical procedure comprising:

a) a trocar having a proximal housing and an elongated tubular body extending distally from the housing, the housing having a supply plenum and a return plenum, the tubular body having an outer tubular portion and an inner tubular portion defining a central lumen, wherein an insufflation passage is defined between the outer tubular portion and the inner tubular portion;

b) an insufflator for delivering insufflation fluid from a fluid source to an abdominal cavity of a patient through the insufflation passage of the trocar;

c) a pump for delivering pressurized fluid with a supply pressure to the supply plenum of the trocar through a supply line to create a fluid seal within the central lumen of the inner tubular portion of the trocar, and for receiving spent fluid from the return plenum of the trocar through a return line;

d) a bypass line for connecting the supply line to the return line if pressure within the abdominal cavity exceeds a safe limit;

e) a back pressure control valve positioned within the bypass line which permits supply pressure on an upstream side of the control valve only up to a preset value, and when supply pressure exceeds the preset value, the control valve opens to create a short-circuit which directly connects the supply line with the return line, so as to lower the supply pressure to the supply plenum and reduce the fluid seal created within the central lumen of the inner tubular portion of the trocar and thereby allow insufflation fluid from the abdominal cavity to escape through the central lumen; and

f) a dump valve in communication with the supply line for releasing pressurized fluid out of the system to atmosphere when an over-pressure condition is sensed by a pressure sensor monitoring abdominal cavity pressure, wherein the release of pressure by the dump valve is in addition to the short-circuiting action of the back pressure control valve.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the control valve and the pump are incorporated integrally with the insufflator.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the control valve and the pump are independent of the insufflator.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the trocar includes a nozzle in fluid communication with the supply plenum for directing pressurized fluid from the supply plenum into the central lumen of the inner tubular portion of the trocar.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the dump valve is an electro-mechanical dump valve.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the dump valve is a mechanical dump valve.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is a mechanical pressure sensor.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is an electronic pressure sensor.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is in fluid communication with the insufflation passage of the trocar.