# US 12,178,504 B2 · Surgical system and method of use

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

- Number: US 12,178,504 B2
- Document ID: US12178504B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/203,685
- Filed: 2016-07-06
- Published: 2017-03-02
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2015-07-06
- Assignees: Hermes Innovations LLC
- Applicants: Cirrus Technologies KFT
- Inventors: Csaba Truckai
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178504B2

## CPC

- A61B 18/18: by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves
- A61B 17/32002: {with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments}
- A61B 17/320068: {using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic (A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745)}
- A61B 17/42: Gynaecological or obstetrical instruments or methods {(ligaturing clamps or clips for the umbilical cord A61B17/122; curettage A61B17/320708)}
- A61B 18/082: {Probes or electrodes therefor}
- A61B 18/14: Probes or electrodes therefor
- A61B 90/30: Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure
- A61B 17/320016: {Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes (A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence)}
- A61B 2017/00026: {Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue}
- A61B 2017/00039: {Electric or electromagnetic phenomena other than conductivity, e.g. capacity, inductivity, Hall effect}
- A61B 2017/00057: {Light}
- A61B 2017/00106: {ultrasonic}
- A61B 2017/00119: {alarm; indicating an abnormal situation}
- A61B 2017/00973: {pedal-operated}
- A61B 2017/320064: {with tissue or sample retaining means}
- A61B 2017/320078: {Tissue manipulating surface}
- A61B 2017/320082: {for incising tissue}
- A61B 2017/4216: {Operations on uterus, e.g. endometrium}
- A61B 2018/00601: {Cutting}
- A61B 2018/00636: {Sensing and controlling the application of energy}
- A61B 2018/00642: {with feedback, i.e. closed loop control}
- A61B 2018/00702: {Power or energy}
- A61B 2018/00875: {Resistance or impedance}
- A61B 2018/00898: {Alarms or notifications created in response to an abnormal condition}
- A61B 2018/00904: {Automatic detection of target tissue}
- A61B 2018/1807: {using light other than laser radiation}
- A61B 2090/306: {using optical fibres}
- A61B 2090/309: {using white LEDs}
- A61B 2217/005: with suction drainage system
- A61B 2217/007: with irrigation system
- A61F 2/0063: {Implantable repair or support meshes, e.g. hernia meshes}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)

## Abstract

Systems and devices for resecting and removing tissue or organs from the interior of a patient's body, in a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure while preventing any dispersion of potentially malignant tissue during the resection process.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of resecting tissue, comprising:
positioning a stretchable structure having a thin wall around an exterior of a uterus, where the stretchable structure comprises an electrically conductive material that enhances a sensitivity of a sensor system;
introducing a probe into an interior of the uterus, the probe having an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve, wherein a working end of the probe includes a motor-driven cutter on the inner sleeve exposed at a window of the outer sleeve, wherein the working end carries an electrical component of the sensor system that is configured to detect the electrically conductive material of the stretchable structure such that the sensor system detects the motor-driven cutter approaching a surface of the uterus;
activating the motor-driven cutter to resect uterine tissue at the window with the motor-driven cutter;
providing an electrical current to the electrical component and using a controller to monitor impedance between the electrical component and the electrically conductive material of the stretchable structure, wherein the controller is configured to detect that the electrical component on the working end of the motor-driven cutter is approaching the electrically conductive material of the stretchable structure from the interior of the uterus;
and removing a substantial volume of the uterus from within the interior of the uterus without the motor-driven cutter perforating the surface of the uterus to prevent dispersion of potentially malignant tissue outside of the uterus.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the sensor system comprises at least one of a capacitance sensing mechanism, an impedance sensing mechanism, an optical sensing mechanism and an ultrasound mechanism.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the motor-driven cutter includes a moveable blade edge configured for resecting tissue.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the motor-driven cutter includes an energy transmission element configured for resecting tissue.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4 wherein the energy transmission element comprises at least one of an electrode element, a resistively heated element, an inductively heated element, an ultrasound transmission element and a light energy transmission element.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the controller generates a signal when the moto-driven cutter approaches the stretchable and the signal consist of at least one of aural, visible or tactile signals.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 wherein the controller includes an algorithm for de-activating de-activates the motor-driven cutter when the sensor system mechanism detects that the motor-driven cutter is within a pre-determined proximity to the surface of the uterus or the stretchable structure.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 wherein de-activating the motor-driven cutter comprises at least one of stopping movement of the motor-driven cutter or stopping energy delivery to the motor-driven cutter.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 wherein the controller includes an algorithm for modulating a speed of movement of the motor-driven cutter in response to the signal that the motor-driven cutter is within a pre-determined proximity to the surface of the uterus or the stretchable structure organ.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 wherein the controller includes an algorithm for modulating energy delivery to the motor-driven cutter in response to the signal that the motor-driven cutter is within a pre-determined proximity to the surface of the uterus.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the motor-driven cutter is moveable relative to the window by at least one of rotation and reciprocation.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising applying a negative pressure source to extract resected tissue from the working end through a passageway in the probe.