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Method and apparatus for use in endoscopic procedures    

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United States Patent5375588   
Link to this pagehttp://www.wikipatents.com/5375588.html
Inventor(s)Yoon; InBae (2101 Highland Ridge Dr., Phoenix, MD 21131)
AbstractA stabilizer member includes a layer of malleable, shape-retaining material to be disposed on an external surface of tissue forming the wall of an anatomical cavity to allow one or more medical instruments to be inserted through the layer and into the anatomical cavity with the layer stabilizing the instruments longitudinally and angularly relative to the cavity wall. The malleable, shape-retaining properties of the layer allow it to be shaped by a surgeon to a desired configuration to, in turn, provide the cavity wall with a desired configuration creating or increasing the size of a space within the anatomical cavity.
   














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Drawing from US Patent 5375588
Method and apparatus for use in endoscopic procedures - US Patent 5375588 Drawing
Method and apparatus for use in endoscopic procedures
Inventor     Yoon; InBae (2101 Highland Ridge Dr., Phoenix, MD 21131)
Owner/Assignee    
Patent assignment
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Publication Date     December 27, 1994
Application Number     07/930,929
PAIR File History     Application Data   Transaction History
Image File Wrapper   Patent Term   Fees
Litigation
Filing Date     August 17, 1992
US Classification     600/114 604/174 604/180 606/1
Int'l Classification     A61B 001/00
Examiner     Apley; Richard J.
Assistant Examiner     Jalbert; Karen A.
Attorney/Law Firm    
Address
Parent Case    
Priority Data    
USPTO Field of Search     604/174 604/178 604/179 604/180 606/1 606/130 606/108 606/78 602/6 602/41 602/58 128/4 128/20 128/898 128/59 128/96.1
Patent Tags     endoscopic procedures
   
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 Technical Review Submit all comments and votes
 Claims Submit all comments and votes
 


What is claimed is:

1. A method of performing endoscopic operative procedures in an anatomical cavity comprising the steps of

attaching a stabilizer member including a malleable, shape-retaining layer to an external surface of a wall of the anatomical cavity;

shaping the malleable, shape-retaining layer to a desired configuration to, in turn, provide the cavity wall with a desired configuration;

inserting an instrument through the stabilizer member and the cavity wall to enter the anatomical cavity;

adjusting the longitudinal and angular position of the instrument relative to the cavity wall; and

gripping the instrument with the stabilizer member to maintain the instrument in the adjusted longitudinal and angular position.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the instrument is a penetrating instrument including an obturator within a portal sleeve, and said adjusting step includes withdrawing the obturator from the portal sleeve and adjusting the longitudinal and angular position of the portal sleeve relative to the cavity wall.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein said inserting step includes inserting a plurality of portal sleeves at spaced positions through the stabilizer member and the cavity wall to provide access to the anatomical cavity at a plurality of spaced locations.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said shaping step includes shaping the malleable, shape-retaining layer to move the cavity wall in a direction outwardly from the anatomical cavity to have a domed configuration increasing the space between tissue and organ structures in the anatomical cavity and the cavity wall.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 and further comprising the step of grasping the malleable, shape-retaining layer to maintain the domed configuration.

6. A method of performing endoscopic procedures in an anatomical cavity of the body comprising the steps of

attaching a shape-retaining member to an outer surface of a wall of the cavity;

deforming the member to have a desired shape to provide the cavity wall with a corresponding shape thereby altering the shape of the cavity; and

performing an endoscopic procedure in the cavity.

7. A method of performing endoscopic procedures as recited in claim 6 wherein said performing step includes penetrating the shape-retaining member and the cavity wall with a penetrating instrument having an obturator within a portal sleeve to provide access to the cavity.

8. A method of performing endoscopic procedures as recited in claim 7 wherein said performing step includes withdrawing the obturator from the portal sleeve and passing another instrument through the portal sleeve.

9. A method of performing endoscopic procedures as recited in claim 6 wherein said performing step includes penetrating the cavity wall and spaced portions of the shape-retaining member with a plurality of penetrating instruments each having an obturator within a portal sleeve to provide a plurality of spaced access portals to the cavity.

10. A method of performing endoscopic procedures as recited in claim 9 wherein the spaced portions of the shape-retaining member are arranged to designate areas of penetration for the penetrating instruments relating to a specific procedure to be performed.

11. Apparatus for facilitating the performance of endoscopic procedures in an anatomical cavity in the body comprising

a layer of deformable, shape-retaining material for attachment to an outer surface of a wall of the cavity;

means carried by said layer of material for deforming said layer of material to have a desired shape and for shaping the cavity wall to have a shape corresponding to said desired shape thereby altering the shape of the cavity to facilitate performing endoscopic procedures in the cavity; and

joint means within the thickness of said layer of material for allowing passage of an instrument through said layer of material and the cavity wall into the anatomical cavity to facilitate performing endoscopic procedures in the cavity.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said deforming and shaping means includes protrusions for gripping with a hand to deform said member and shape the cavity wall.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein said layer of material includes a layer of flexible material with a metal material embedded therein.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 13 wherein said metal material includes bendable metal strips.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 13 wherein said metal material includes particles of lead.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 13 wherein said metal material is magnetic.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said layer of material includes an adhesive coating for attaching said layer to the cavity wall.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said layer of material is formed of a plurality of connected parts movable relative to each other.

19. Apparatus for stabilizing instruments introduced into an anatomical cavity in the body for performing endoscopic procedures comprising

a stabilizer member carrying means for securing the member on an external surface of a wall of the anatomical cavity to allow passage of an instrument through said member and the cavity wall into the anatomical cavity and means for gripping the instrument to stabilize the longitudinal and angular position of the instrument relative to the cavity wall, said stabilizer member being made of a layer of deformable material for changing the shape of the cavity wall in response to deformation of said layer of material, said gripping means including an angularly orienting portion within said layer of material for allowing passage of an instrument through said layer and the cavity wall into the anatomical cavity.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 19 wherein said angularly orienting portion includes a movable joint for receiving the instrument.

21. Apparatus for stabilizing instruments introduced into an anatomical cavity in the body for performing endoscopic procedures comprising

a stabilizer member carrying means for securing the member on an external surface of a wall of the anatomical cavity to allow passage of an instrument through said member and the cavity wall into the anatomical cavity and means for gripping the instrument to stabilize the longitudinal and angular position of the instrument relative to the cavity wall, said stabilizer member being made of deformable material means for changing the shape of the cavity wall in response to deformation of said material means, said gripping means including a movable joint for receiving the instrument, said joint including a rotatable ball member.

22. The apparatus as recited in claim 20 wherein said joint includes a polygonal configured member.

23. The apparatus as recited in claim 20 and further including means for locking said movable joint in position to stabilize the position of the instrument.

24. The apparatus as recited in claim 20 wherein said joint includes a passage for receiving the instrument and an adapter sleeve received in said passage to change the size of said passage.

25. The apparatus as recited in claim 20 wherein said joint includes a passage for receiving the instrument and further including a multiluminal member rotatably mounted in said joint having a plurality of different size lumens therethrough selectively alignable with said passage to receive instruments of different sizes.

26. The apparatus as recited in claim 20 wherein said joint includes a passage through said stabilizer member having cooperating deformable tabs for engaging the instrument.

27. Apparatus for stabilizing instruments introduced into an anatomical cavity in the body for performing endoscopic procedures comprising

a stabilizer member carrying means for securing the member on an external surface of a wall of the anatomical cavity to allow passage of an instrument through said member and the cavity wall into the anatomical cavity and means for gripping the instrument to stabilize the longitudinal and angular position of the instrument relative to the cavity wall, said stabilizer member being made of deformable material means for changing the shape of the cavity wall in response to deformation of said material means, said gripping means including a plurality of spaced movable joints for receiving a plurality of instruments.

28. The apparatus as recited in claim 19 and further comprising an adapter block engageable with said stabilizer member at selective locations thereon to allow the instrument to pass through said adapter block and said stabilizer member into the anatomical cavity.

29. The apparatus as recited in claim 28 wherein said adapter block and said stabilizer member carry mating protrusions and recesses for engagement of said adapter block with said stabilizer member.

30. The apparatus as recited in claim 19 wherein said gripping means includes a plurality of nubs protruding from said member.

31. Apparatus for facilitating the performance of endoscopic procedures in an anatomical cavity in the body comprising

a deformable, shape-retaining member for attachment to an outer surface of a wall of the cavity, said member being formed of a plurality of portions joined together at frictional joints; and

means carried by said member for deforming said member to have a desired shape whereby the cavity wall has a shape corresponding to said desired shape thereby altering the shape of the cavity to facilitate performing endoscopic procedures in the cavity.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to methods and apparatus for endoscopic procedures and, more particularly, to facilitating such procedures by stabilizing surgical instruments inserted in walls of anatomical cavities and shaping the cavity walls to increase safety and visualization.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

Penetrating instruments having an outer sleeve or cannula and an obturator or penetrating member disposed within the outer sleeve or cannula have become extremely popular for use in surgical procedures to gain access to anatomical cavities, such as the abdomen. Such instruments are used to establish endoscopic portals for many various procedures, most notably laproscopic procedures, with access to the anatomical cavity being established via the outer or portal sleeve positioned to extend through a wall of the cavity upon penetration into the cavity with the penetrating member. Once the portal sleeve extends through the thickness of the cavity wall and projects into the cavity, it is desirable to stabilize or secure the portal sleeve in the cavity wall to prevent withdrawal or backing out of the portal sleeve from the cavity. Additionally, it is desirable in many various procedures to position the portal sleeve at an angle with the cavity wall and to hold the portal sleeve in the angular position to optimize access to tissue and organ structures within the cavity.