STIMULATION PROBE FOR ROBOTIC AND LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY

• US 20170304617A1
• Filed: 07/11/2017
• Published: 10/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hacker, David C., Li, Wenjeng, McFarlin, Kevin Lee
• Granted Patent: US 11,103,700 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/377 using evoked responses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4893 Nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin

Abstract

A stimulation probe includes a proximal end connector and a flexible wire coupled to the end connector. A handle is coupled to the wire and a needle extends from the handle and terminates at a conductive tip.

Claims

1-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A method for providing stimulation to tissue, comprising:

introducing an arm and an instrument positioned at a distal end of the arm into a laparoscopic surgical site within a patient;

accessing a stimulation probe including a flexible wire, a handle and a needle extending from the wire and terminating at a conductive tip;

introducing the probe into the laparoscopic site such that the handle and needle are within the patient;

operating the arm and instrument to grasp the handle of the stimulation probe;

moving the stimulation probe using the arm such that the conductive tip contacts a tissue site; and

delivering stimulation to the tissue site using the stimulation probe.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the handle has a proximal end coupled to the wire and a distal end coupled to the needle, and wherein a length of the handle and the needle, as measured from the proximal end to the conductive tip, is less than 2.0 centimeters.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the probe includes a first needle and a second needle coupled to the handle, the first needle delivering stimulation to the tissue site and the second needled sensing signals from the tissue site.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the needle is covered in an insulating sheath extending from the handle to the conductive tip, wherein the conductive tip is characterized by an absence of the insulating material.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising grasping the needle and bending the needle to a desired shape.