# US 12,758,258 B2 · Apparatus and methods for hybrid endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery

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- Number: US 12,758,258 B2
- Document ID: US12758258B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/438,091
- Filed: 2024-02-09
- Published: 2024-11-07
- Granted: 2026-10-13
- Earliest claimed: 2009-02-27
- Assignees: Modular Surgical, Inc.
- Applicants: Modular Surgical, Inc.
- Inventors: Amir Belson; James J. Leary
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12758258B2

## CPC

- A61B 17/3423: {Access ports, e.g. toroid shape introducers for instruments or hands (access sites for liquids A61M39/0247)}
- A61B 1/00087: {Tools (A61B17/00234 takes precedence)}
- A61B 1/044: {for absorption imaging}
- A61B 1/3132: {for laparoscopy}
- A61B 1/32: Devices for opening or enlarging the visual field, e.g. of a tube of the body
- 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 17/00234: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)}
- A61B 17/0218: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)}
- A61B 17/0469: {Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery}
- A61B 17/29: Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
- A61B 17/3201: Scissors (for biopsy A61B10/02)
- A61B 34/30: Surgical robots
- A61B 34/37: Leader-follower robots (A61B34/35 takes precedence)
- A61B 90/361: {Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras}
- A61B 2017/00278: {Transorgan operations, e.g. transgastric}
- A61B 2017/00362: {Packages or dispensers for MIS instruments (A61B2017/0479 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/00411: {actuated by application of energy from an energy source outside the body}
- A61B 2017/00464: {for use with different instruments}
- A61B 2017/00477: {Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/00539: {hydraulically}
- A61B 2017/00544: {pneumatically}
- A61B 2017/00876: {magnetic}
- A61B 17/0483: {Hand-held instruments for holding sutures (A61B17/0469 takes precedence; other holders for needles or sutures A61B17/06061; surgical forceps A61B17/28; surgical pincettes A61B17/30)}
- A61B 2017/2901: {Details of shaft}
- A61B 2017/2902: {characterized by features of the actuating rod}
- A61B 2017/2931: {with releasable head}
- A61B 2017/2943: {Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion}
- A61B 2090/306: {using optical fibres}
- A61B 2090/3614: {using optical fibre}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

Apparatus and methods are described allow the techniques of endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery to be combined into a minimally invasive hybrid surgical technique called NOTES-assisted laparoscopic surgery. Manual and robotic-controlled versions of a modular laparoscopic tool are described having a small diameter shaft that is delivered laparoscopically to a surgical site. Larger diameter working tips are delivered through a NOTES delivery tube inserted to the surgical site through a natural orifice and joined to the shaft of the modular laparoscopic tool. Larger diameter working tips improve the effectiveness of the modular laparoscopic tools and the number and size of laparoscopic ports used can also be reduced.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A surgical tool system comprising:
a surgical tool shaft having a distal end configured to be advanced through a laparoscopic port into a location within a patient's body and a proximal end configured to remain outside of the patient's body;
a handle attached to the proximal end of the shaft;
a magnetizable surgical tool tip detachably connectable to the distal end of the surgical tool shaft;
a latch on the shaft for selectively engaging the surgical tool tip; and
a magnet on the shaft configured to attract the surgical tool tip and align said tip with the shaft, wherein the surgical tool tip is positioned to be mechanically engaged by the shaft after magnetic alignment.