# US 11,298,475 B2 · Internally pressurized medical devices

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,298,475 B2
- Document ID: US11298475B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/471,688
- Filed: 2017-03-28
- Published: 2017-07-13
- Granted: 2022-04-12
- Earliest claimed: 2010-03-02
- Assignees: Covidien LP
- Applicants: Covidien LP
- Inventors: Michael Zemlok; Russell Pribanic; Adam Ross; Stanislaw Marczyk
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298475B2

## CPC

- A61M 13/00: Insufflators for therapeutic or disinfectant purposes {, i.e. devices for blowing a gas, powder or vapour into the body (hand-held units in which gas flow is produced by muscular energy at the moment of use B05B11/062)}
- A61B 17/00: Surgical instruments, devices or methods (A61B18/00 takes precedence; dental tools A61C3/00; eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/20)
- A61B 17/07207: {the staples being applied sequentially}
- A61B 17/34: Trocars; Puncturing needles
- A61B 17/3474: {Insufflating needles, e.g. Veress needles}
- A61M 13/003: {Blowing gases other than for carrying powders, e.g. for inflating, dilating or rinsing}
- A61M 39/22: Valves or arrangement of valves {(A61M39/02, A61M39/0247, A61M39/16 take precedence; regulating valves in infusion systems A61M5/16881; in devices worn by the patient for the reception of urine, faeces, catamenial or other discharge, or in colostomy devices A61F5/4405)}
- A61B 2017/07271: {characterised by its cartridge}
- A61B 2090/064: {for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension}
- A61M 2202/0225: Carbon oxides, e.g. Carbon dioxide
- A61M 2205/3331: Pressure; Flow
- A61M 2205/3344: Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
- A61M 2205/8225: using incorporated gas cartridges for the driving gas
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

There are provided pressurized surgical instruments for use in pressurized surgical environments. The pressurized surgical instruments include pressurizing systems for maintaining a neutral or positive pressure flow within the surgical instrument during use. The pressurizing systems include a primary sensor for detecting the pressure of the surgical environment and a pressurizing mechanism for balancing the pressure of the surgical instrument with the surgical environment. The pressurizing mechanism includes a controller to receive and compare the signal sent from the primary sensor to the ambient or internal instrument pressure and a pressure delivery system to provide positive pressure to the interior of the surgical instrument in response to a signal received from the controller. The sources of pressure for the pressure delivery systems may be external or self contained within the surgical instrument.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of maintaining a pressure within a surgical instrument with a controller of the surgical instrument, the method comprising:
insufflating a working environment with an insufflation gas from a fluid source;
receiving an environment pressure of the working environment surrounding a portion of an elongate tubular member of the surgical instrument from a first sensor positioned within the elongate tubular member, the first sensor exposed to a lumen defined through the elongate tubular member, the elongate tubular member extending from a body portion of the surgical instrument, the body portion including a pressurization mechanism having the controller connected to the first sensor, and a pressure delivery system connected to the controller, the pressure delivery system including a self-contained gas canister disposed in a stationary handle of the body portion;
comparing an interior pressure of the surgical instrument with the environment pressure; and
activating the pressure delivery system to release a gas from the self-contained gas canister when the interior pressure of the surgical instrument is at or below the environment pressure in order to pressurize an interior of the surgical instrument to maintain a desired pressure within the interior of the surgical instrument.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein maintaining the desired pressure within the interior of the surgical instrument includes maintaining the desired pressure within the elongate tubular member of the surgical instrument.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein maintaining the desired pressure within the interior of the surgical instrument includes receiving the interior pressure of the interior of the surgical instrument from a second sensor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the environment pressure includes receiving the environment pressure from the first sensor positioned adjacent a distal end of the elongate tubular member.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further including inserting a surgical device through the lumen of the elongate tubular member.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein activating the pressure delivery system includes transmitting control signals to a valve in fluid communication with the pressure delivery system.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, further comprising regulating the interior pressure with the control signals to the valve by controlling a position of the valve.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein activating the pressure delivery system includes transmitting control signals to a pump in fluid communication with the pressure delivery system.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method according to claim 8, further comprising drawing fluid into the pump through a draw tube extending outside of the working environment.