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Articulating endoscopic surgical apparatus    
United States Patent5490819   
Link to this pagehttp://www.wikipatents.com/5490819.html
Inventor(s)Nicholas; David A. (Norwalk, CT); Russell; Brian G. (Norwalk, CT); Zvenyatsky; Boris (Bronx, NY); Matula; Paul A. (Brookfield, CT); Remiszewski; Stanley H. (Bolton, MA)
AbstractA surgical instrument is provided for use in endoscopic or laparoscopic procedures. The instrument includes a handle portion, an endoscopic portion extending from the handle portion, an articulating section pivotably connected to a distal end of the endoscopic portion, and a retractor assembly operatively associated with the articulating section. Structure is provided for progressively manipulating the articulating section of the instrument relative to the longitudinal axis of the endoscopic portion within an angular sector of rotation.
   














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Patent Text Patent PDF Print Page Summary File History
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Drawing from US Patent 5490819
Articulating endoscopic surgical apparatus - US Patent 5490819 Drawing
Articulating endoscopic surgical apparatus
Inventor     Nicholas; David A. (Norwalk, CT); Russell; Brian G. (Norwalk, CT); Zvenyatsky; Boris (Bronx, NY); Matula; Paul A. (Brookfield, CT); Remiszewski; Stanley H. (Bolton, MA)
Owner/Assignee     United States Surgical Corporation (Norwalk, CT)
Patent assignment
All assignments
Publication Date     February 13, 1996
Application Number     08/300,700
PAIR File History     Application Data   Transaction History
Image File Wrapper   Patent Term   Fees
Litigation
Filing Date     September 2, 1994
US Classification     600/201 600/204 600/210 600/214 606/205 606/206
Int'l Classification     A61B 017/02
Examiner     Apley; Richard J.
Assistant Examiner     Flanagan; Beverly M.
Attorney/Law Firm    
Address
Parent Case     CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/949,071 filed on Sep. 22, 1992, now abandoned which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/925,496 filed on Sep. 4, 1992, now abandoned which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/834,687 filed on Feb. 12, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,888 and a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/874,743 filed on Apr. 27, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,188, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/740,443 filed on Aug. 5, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,419.
Priority Data    
USPTO Field of Search     128/4 128/20 128/751 606/205 606/206 606/170 606/174 600/201 600/204 600/214 600/210
Patent Tags     articulating endoscopic surgical
   
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 Technical Review Submit all comments and votes
 Claims Submit all comments and votes
 


What is claimed is:

1. A surgical apparatus comprising:

a) a handle portion defining a first longitudinal axis;

b) a tubular body extending from said handle portion including an elongated portion having a second longitudinal axis extending therethrough in axial alignment with said first longitudinal axis, and a distal portion articulatable relative to said second longitudinal axis of said elongated portion;

c) a retractor assembly operatively associated with said distal portion and including a plurality of interleaved retractor blades;

d) means including an elongated rod member associated with said handle portion and disposed at least partially within said tubular body for moving said plurality of retractor blades between an open position and a closed position, one of said plurality of interleaved retractor blades mounted to a distal end portion of said elongated rod member; and

e) means associated with said handle portion and said tubular body for progressively articulating said distal portion.

2. A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of interleaved retractor blades has a length distinct from that of an adjacent blade.

3. A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of interleaved retractor blades has a distinct length.

4. A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of interleaved retractor blades includes first through fifth retractor blades each having a length distinct from that of an adjacent blade.

5. A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of interleaved retractor blades are of substantially planar configuration.

6. A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of interleaved retractor blades includes a distal portion depending angularly therefrom.

7. A surgical apparatus are recited in claim 6, wherein said angularly depending distal portion of each of said plurality of interleaved retractor blades includes atraumatic cover means.

8. A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein a distal end portion of each of said plurality of interleaved retractor blades defines an atraumatic surface.

9. A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising external sealing means associated with the distal portion of said tubular body.

10. A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising internal sealing means associated with said tubular body for inhibiting the egress of insufflation gas therethrough.

11. A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising irrigation means extending longitudinally through said tubular body from an inlet port adjacent a proximal end of said handle portion for delivering fluid from said apparatus.

12. A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for moving said plurality of interleaved retractor blades further includes a rotatable driving screw associated with said handle portion and connected to a proximal end of said elongated rod member.

13. A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the remainder of said plurality of interleaved retractor blades are operatively connected to said one of the retractor blades mounted to said elongated rod member.

14. A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for progressively articulating said distal portion of said tubular body includes a drive screw mounted for longitudinal movement relative to said handle portion in response to rotation of a rotator member.

15. A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein an elongated shaft extends from said drive screw to said distal portion of said tubular body for translating longitudinal movement of said drive screw to said distal portion.

16. A surgical apparatus comprising:

a) a handle portion;

b) a tubular body including an elongated proximal portion defining a longitudinal axis extending from said handle portion and a distal portion articulatable relative to said longitudinal axis of said proximal portion;

c) a retractor assembly operatively associated with said distal portion and including a plurality of interleaved retractor blades;

d) rotation means associated with said handle portion and said tubular body for remotely moving said plurality of retractor blades between an open position and a closed position; and

e) a rotatable drive screw assembly mounted for longitudinal movement relative to said handle portion and said tubular body for progressively articulating said distal portion.

17. A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein each of said plurality of retractor blades has a length distinct from that of an adjacent blade.

18. A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein said plurality of retractor blades includes first through fifth retractor blades each having a length distinct from that of an adjacent blade.

19. A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein each of said plurality of retractor blades are of substantially planar configuration.

20. A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein each of said plurality of retractor blades includes a distal portion depending angularly therefrom.

21. A surgical apparatus are recited in claim 20, wherein said angularly depending distal portion of each of said plurality of retractor blades includes atraumatic cover means.

22. A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein a distal end portion of each of said plurality of retractor blades defines an atraumatic surface.

23. A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 16, further comprising external sealing means associated with the distal portion of said tubular body.

24. A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 16, further comprising internal sealing means associated with said tubular body for inhibiting the egress of insufflation gas therethrough.

25. A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 16, further comprising irrigation means extending longitudinally through said tubular body from an inlet port adjacent a proximal end of said handle portion for delivering fluid from said apparatus.

26. A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein said rotation means for moving said plurality of retractor blades includes a second rotatable driving screw associated with said handle portion and including an elongated rod member extending through said elongated portion to operatively connect with said retractor blade assembly.

27. A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 26, wherein at least one of said plurality of retractor blades is operatively connected to said elongated rod member.

28. A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein said drive screw assembly includes an elongated shaft which extends from a drive screw to said distal portion of said tubular body for translating longitudinal movement of said drive screw to said distal portion.

29. A surgical apparatus comprising:

a) an axial handle portion defining a first longitudinal axis;

b) a tubular body including an elongated proximal portion defining a second longitudinal axis in axial alignment with said first longitudinal axis and extending distally from said handle portion, and a distal portion articulatable relative to said second longitudinal axis of said proximal portion;

c) a retractor assembly operatively associated with said distal portion and including a plurality of interleaved retractor blades, each of said plurality of interleaved retractor blades having a length distinct from that of an adjacent retractor blade;

d) axially rotatable rotation means associated with said axial handle portion and said tubular body for remotely moving said plurality of interleaved retractor blades between an open position and a closed position; and

e) axially rotatable rotation means associated with said axial handle portion and said tubular body for progressively articulating said distal portion.

30. A surgical apparatus comprising:

a) a handle portion;

b) a tubular body including an elongated proximal portion defining a longitudinal axis extending from said handle portion and a distal portion articulatable relative to said longitudinal axis of said proximal portion;

c) a retractor assembly operatively associated with said distal portion of the tubular body and including a plurality of interleaved retractor blades;

d) a first axial drive screw assembly associated with said handle portion;

e) an elongated control member extending from the first axial drive screw assembly to the retractor assembly for remotely moving said plurality of retractor blades between an open and closed position;

f) a second axial drive screw assembly operatively associated with said handle portion; and

g) an elongated actuation member extending from said second axial drive screw assembly to said distal portion of said tubular body for progressively articulating said distal portion relative to said proximal portion.

31. A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 30, wherein each of said plurality of retractor blades has a length distinct from that of an adjacent blade.

32. A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 30, wherein one of said plurality of retractor blades is connected to a distal end of said elongated control member.

33. A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 32, wherein the remainder of said plurality of retractor blades are operatively connected to the said one of said plurality of retractor blades.
 Description Submit all comments and votes
 


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The subject invention relates to surgical apparatus for performing laparoscopic and endoscopic surgical procedures, and more particularly to apparatus having an end portion which can be articulated in a patient's body during a surgical procedure.

2. Description of Related Art

In laparoscopic and endoscopic surgical procedures a small incision or puncture is made in the patient's body to provide access for a tube or cannula device. Once extended into the patient's body, the cannula allows insertion of various surgical instruments such as scissors, dissectors or retractors to perform the surgery.

An example of an endoscopic surgical instrument is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 2,113,246 which issued to Wappler on Apr. 5, 1938. This patent discloses endoscopic forceps comprising an elongated conduit with jaws at the distal end thereof, a control rod in the conduit for controlling the operation of the jaws, and a control handle at the proximal end of the conduit which is operatively connected to the control rod. This surgical instrument is extremely limited in its applications in that the angle of the conduit portion mounting the jaws cannot be adjusted in relation to the remaining portion of the conduit during a surgical procedure.

Improvements have been made in the art of surgical instruments to increase their range of operability. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,669 which issued to Jaeger on Aug. 16, 1988 discloses a microsurgery instrument with an adjustable angle of operation for obtaining cervical biopsies.

Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,880,015 which issued to Nierman on Nov. 14, 1989 discloses a surgical device having an increased range of operability. In particular, this patent shows a biopsy forceps designed for use through a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope. The biopsy forceps includes a handle connected to a thin elongated flexible shaft with a distal portion thereof hinged to the shaft. A grasping tool or biopsy forceps attached to the distal hinged portion. Control wires extended from the handle to the distal end tot the shaft for controlling the angular rotation of the distal portion of the instrument.

Of the references discussed above, none of these instruments disclose a laparoscopic instrument for insertion into the body cavity through a cannula and adapted for a wide range of laparoscopic surgical applications. Further, the instruments disclosed therein are not provide with means for rotating the tool head about the longitudinal axis of the endoscopic portion of the instrument. Instead, a surgeon using either of these prior art instruments must physically rotate the entire instrument in order to change the rotational orientation of the distal end of the conduit or tube.

Accordingly, it is an object of the subject invention to provide an endoscopic surgical instrument having a tool head which is independently moveable about two axes of rotation relative to the handle while the instrument is in use.

It is another object of the subject invention to provide a lightweight endoscopic surgical instrument which can provide a clearer line of sight for a surgeon during a surgical procedure.

It is still another object of the subject invention to provide an endoscopic surgical instrument in which a wide variety of different tool heads may be employed.

It is yet another object of the subject invention to provide an endoscopic surgical instrument which may be used to perform electrocauterization