Pressure relief system for use with gas-assisted minimally invasive surgical devices
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorAmit Trivedi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrosurgical device is adapted for use through a port and within a body cavity. The device includes a gas supply supplying gas to a distal tip and a valve to regular such supply, and an electric supply for supplying electricity to the distal tip. A pressure relief system is provided to regulate an outflow of gas from within the body cavity to prevent exceeding a predetermined pressure. The inflow of the gas through the valve and outflow of gas through the pressure relief system may occur simultaneously.
Claims15
A method of performing a minimally invasive procedure on a human body, comprising:
- a) inserting an insufflation tube through a first surgical incision through tissue and into a body cavity;
- b) insufflating the body cavity with gas under pressure through the insufflation tube;
- c) inserting a working end of an electrosurgical instrument through a second surgical incision through the tissue and into the body cavity,
- d) delivering gas from a gas supply to a distal tip of the electrosurgical instrument
- e) delivering electrosurgical energy from an electrosurgical energy source to the distal tip while delivering the gas to the distal tip to treat tissue in the body cavity;
- f) inserting a pressure relief device through a third surgical incision through the tissue and into the body cavity;
- and
- g) automatically releasing gas from within the body cavity via the pressure relief device when gas pressure within the body cavity exceeds a predetermined pressure.
A method of performing minimally invasive surgery, comprising:
- forming a first surgical incision through tissue at a first location of an abdominal cavity;
- inserting an insufflation device through the first surgical incision and into the abdominal cavity;
- delivering gas to the abdominal cavity via the insufflation device to insufflate the abdominal cavity;
- forming a second surgical incision through tissue at a second location of the abdominal cavity;
- inserting a trocar through the second surgical incision and into the abdominal cavity;
- inserting at least a portion of an electrosurgical instrument through the inserted trocar and into the abdominal cavity;
- forming a third surgical incision through tissue at a third location of the abdominal cavity;
- inserting a pressure relief device through the third surgical incision and into the abdominal cavity;
- simultaneously delivering gas and electrosurgical energy to the inserted electrosurgical instrument for treating tissue in the abdominal cavity;
- sensing a pressure within the abdominal cavity via a pressure sensor;
- and
- releasing gas from the abdominal cavity through the pressure relief device based on the pressure sensed by the pressure sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.