Device for improved visualization of operative sites during surgery
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsMarshall Stoller, Maxwell Meng
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention provides a novel surgical device well suited to use in laparoscopic or other (e.g. open surgical) procedures. In certain embodiments, the device comprises a surgical probe, including a handle comprising at least one channel passing through the handle; and at least one conduit passing through the handle, where wherein at least one effector element is inserted into or through the channel, which effector element effects one or more surgical functions; and where the conduit comprises a distal conduit port that directs gas out of the conduit to substantially remove debris and/or fluid from a surface disposed proximal to the effector and/or from the effector element.
Claims39
A method of performing a surgical procedure, said method comprising:
- providing a surgical probe comprising:
- a handle;
- at least one channel passing through said handle;
- and
- at least one conduit passing through said handle;
- wherein at least one effector element is inserted into or through said channel, which effector element effects one or more surgical functions;
- and
- wherein said conduit comprises a distal conduit port that directs gas out of said conduit to substantially remove debris and/or fluid from a surface disposed proximal to said effector element and/or from said effector element;
- and
- operating said probe to produce a flow of a non-combustible gas through said conduit to remove blood or debris from the tip of a surgical effector comprising said probe and/or from a tissue surface, while said probe is inserted into the body cavity of a mammal.
A method of substantially removing debris from a surface and/or from a surgical device, said method comprising:
- providing said surgical device, which surgical device comprises at least one effector element that effects one or more surgical functions and at least one conduit, which conduit is operably connected to at least one non-combustible gas source;
- and,
- flowing a non-combustible gas from said non-combustible gas source out of said conduit to substantially remove said debris from said surface disposed proximal to said effector element and/or from said effector element.
A method of performing a surgical procedure, said method comprising:
- providing a surgical probe comprising:
- a handle;
- at least one channel passing through said handle;
- and
- at least one conduit passing through said handle;
- wherein at least one effector element is inserted into or through said channel, which effector element effects one or more surgical functions;
- and
- wherein said conduit comprises a distal conduit port that directs gas out of said conduit to substantially remove debris and/or fluid from a surface disposed proximal to said effector element and/or from said effector element;
- and
- operating said probe to produce a flow of a non-combustible gas through said conduit wherein said gas comprises an aerosolized agent and said flow of gas delivers said agent to a surgical site.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.