# US 10,499,948 B2 · Methods and devices for laparoscopic surgery > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,499,948 B2 - Document ID: US10499948B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/682,469 - Filed: 2017-08-21 - Published: 2017-11-30 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2009-05-19 - Assignees: Teleflex Medical Incorporated - Applicants: Teleflex Medical Incorporated - Inventors: Igor Igov - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10499948B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/34: Trocars; Puncturing needles - A61B 17/00234: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)} - A61B 17/29: Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery - A61B 18/1445: {at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod} - A61B 90/50: Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms - A61B 2017/00287: {Bags for minimally invasive surgery} - A61B 2017/00464: {for use with different instruments} - A61B 2017/0479: {Packages or dispensers for MIS suturing instruments} - A61B 2017/2931: {with releasable head} - A61B 2017/2939: {Details of linkages or pivot points} - A61B 2017/306: {holding by means of suction} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Two part laparoscopic tools and surgical methods using such tools are presented. The tools and methods enable use of multiple surgical tools each having wide tool heads to be used in a body cavity using a single wide trocar and one or more narrow incisions, thereby reducing surgical risk and enhancing patient comfort and shortening recovery time. Additional instruments for facilitating laparoscopic surgery are also presented. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of performing surgery in a body cavity of a body, the body cavity being separated by a space outside the body by a body cavity wall, the method comprising: providing a surgical tool comprising a shaft and an operating head; inserting a trocar through the body cavity wall at a first location; inserting the shaft of the surgical tool from the space outside the body into the body cavity through the body cavity wall at a second location; directing the shaft of the surgical tool towards and through the trocar to the space outside the body cavity while the shaft of the surgical tool is inserted through the body cavity wall at the second location; attaching the operating head to the shaft of the surgical tool in the space outside the body cavity to form an assembled surgical tool; and withdrawing the operating head and the shaft of the assembled surgical tool back into the body cavity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising utilizing the assembled surgical tool within the body cavity to perform an operation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising removing the operating head from the shaft of the assembled surgical tool by passing the operating head through the trocar to a position outside the body cavity, and disconnecting the operating head from the shaft of the assembled surgical tool. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein an internal diameter of the trocar is 4 mm or larger. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a size of an opening through the body cavity wall at the second location is smaller than a diameter of the trocar. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the operating head is at least one of a grasper, scissors, a coagulation device, a harmonic scalpel, a LigaSure, a needle holder, ligatures, a camera, and a suction device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a width of the operating head is greater than a width of the shaft. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the shaft comprises a distal connecting mechanism for connecting to the operating head and a lumen for a movable control element attached to the operating head. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the body cavity wall is an abdominal wall. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising inserting a visual device into the body cavity through the trocar. ### Claim 11 A method of surgery, comprising: providing a surgical tool comprising a shaft and an operating head; inserting a trocar through a body cavity wall of a body cavity; inserting the shaft of the surgical tool through the body cavity wall at a location distant from the trocar, so that a proximal portion of the shaft is external to the body cavity; directing a distal portion of the shaft of the surgical tool towards and through the trocar to a space outside the body cavity; attaching the operating head to the shaft of the surgical tool while the distal portion of the shaft is in the space outside the body cavity; and withdrawing the operating head and the distal portion of the shaft of the surgical tool back into the body cavity. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising utilizing the operating head attached to the shaft within the body cavity to perform an operation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising removing the operating head from the shaft of the surgical tool by passing the operating head through the trocar to a position outside the body cavity, and disconnecting the operating head from the shaft of the surgical tool. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the shaft of the surgical tool includes a sharp distal end configured to penetrate the body cavity wall. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein an internal diameter of the trocar is 4 mm or larger. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the inserting of the shaft of the surgical tool through the body cavity wall of a body cavity includes forming an opening by penetrating the body cavity wall using the sharp distal end of the shaft. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein a size of the opening through the body cavity wall at the location distant from the trocar is smaller than a diameter of the trocar. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the operating head is at least one of a grasper, scissors, a coagulation device, a harmonic scalpel, a LigaSure, a needle holder, ligatures, a camera, and a suction device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein a width of the operating head is greater than a width of the shaft. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising inserting a visual device into the body cavity through the trocar.