# US 2013/0158348 A1 · Introducer for an internal magnetic camera

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

- Number: US 2013/0158348 A1
- Document ID: US20130158348A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/325,791
- Filed: 2011-12-14
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-14
- Assignees: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
- Inventors: Rudolph H. Nobis; James T. Spivey; Alexander P. Kondor; Kempton K. Carroll, II; Christopher J. Hess; Sean P. Conlon; David B. Griffith
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130158348A1

## CPC

- A61B 1/00158: {using magnetic field}
- A61B 1/00154: {using guiding arrangements for insertion}
- A61B 1/041: {Capsule endoscopes for imaging}
- A61B 1/3132: {for laparoscopy}
- A61B 17/3468: {for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires (devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069)}
- A61B 2017/00283: {with a device releasably connected to an inner wall of the abdomen during surgery, e.g. an illumination source}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

An introducer for an internal magnetic camera is provided. The introducer may be arranged to enable the camera to be placed inside of a body cavity through an otomy or incision and then oriented next to the tissue of the body cavity opposite an External Control Unit (“ECU”) outside of the body cavity. The camera may be retained in the introducer by a magnet or a magnetic material, by a selectively engageable retainer, or by covering the camera within a cavity. The camera may be retained in the introducer by a latch. The camera may include a keyed surface that only can align with a matching keyed surface on the retainer in a single orientation. The introducer may include a spring to eject the camera from the introducer when the retainer is disengaged.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An introducer for an internal magnetic camera, comprising:
a shaft comprising a distal end and a proximal end, at least a portion of the shaft being hollow, the hollow portion having an inner diameter configured to carry an internal magnetic camera therein, the hollow portion further comprising a port through which the internal magnetic camera may be inserted into the shaft or removed from the shaft; and
a retainer arranged to selectively maintain the internal camera in the hollow portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The introducer of claim 1, wherein the retainer comprises a magnetic material in the hollow portion, the magnetic material providing a magnetic coupling force between the magnetic material and a magnet in the internal magnetic camera that is weaker than a magnetic coupling between an external control unit (ECU) and the magnet in the internal magnetic camera.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The introducer of claim 1, wherein the retainer comprises a clip configured to mate with a surface of the internal magnetic camera; and
the retainer further comprises an engagement member moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the engagement member is positioned relative to the clip to capture the internal magnetic camera, and wherein in the second position the engagement member is positioned relative to the clip such that the internal magnetic camera is not captured.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The introducer of claim 3, wherein the clip further comprises a mating surface that is configured to engage a corresponding mating surface on the internal magnetic camera, wherein the mating surfaces, when engaged, orient the internal magnetic camera relative to the clip.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The introducer of claim 3, further comprising a spring coupled to the engagement member structured to bias the engagement member in the first position.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The introducer of claim 3, further comprising a spring coupled to the engagement member structured to bias the engagement member in the second position.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The introducer of claim 3, further comprising a handle coupled to the shaft; and
further comprising a plunger having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the plunger being coupled to the engagement member, the proximal end of the plunger being accessible on the handle, and wherein movement of the plunger from a first position to a second position moves the engagement member from the engagement member's first position to the engagement member's second position.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The introducer of claim 1, wherein the retainer comprises a first portion that defines an opening configured to receive a protrusion on the internal magnetic camera, and the retainer further comprises a second portion that is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position magnetic the first and second portions of the retainer are positioned to retain the internal magnetic camera, and wherein in the second position the first and second portions are positioned such that the internal magnetic camera is not retained.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The introducer of claim 8, wherein the retainer further comprises a mating surface that is configured to engage a corresponding mating surface on the internal magnetic camera, wherein the mating surfaces, when engaged, orient the internal magnetic camera relative to the retainer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The introducer of claim 8, further comprising a spring coupled to the second portion of the retainer structured to bias the movable portion of the retainer in the first position.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The introducer of claim 8, further comprising a spring coupled to the second portion of the retainer structured to bias the movable portion of the retainer in the second position.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The introducer of claim 8, further comprising a handle coupled to the shaft; and
further comprising a plunger having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the plunger being coupled to the second portion of the retainer, the proximal end of the plunger being accessible on the handle, and wherein movement of the plunger from a first position to a second position moves the second portion of the retainer from the second portion's first position to the second portion's second position.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The introducer of claim 1, further comprising a longitudinal slot in the shaft configured to accommodate a tether attached to an internal magnetic camera.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The introducer of claim 1, wherein the port comprises an opening at the distal end of the hollow portion.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The introducer of claim 1, wherein the port comprises an opening in a wall of the shaft along the hollow portion.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The introducer of claim 1, wherein the shaft defines a passage for receiving a trocar shaft, the trocar shaft further comprising a tip.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The introducer of claim 16, wherein the tip comprises a transparent plastic material.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The introducer of claim 16, wherein the tip comprises an opaque material and an aperture through which the internal magnetic camera may receive an image.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The introducer of claim 16, wherein the tip comprises a cutting surface.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The introducer of claim 1, further comprising an ejection member that is configured to eject the internal magnetic camera, wherein the ejection member is restrained from ejecting the internal magnetic camera when the retainer maintains the camera in the hollow portion, and wherein the ejection member ejects the internal magnetic camera when the retainer does not selectively maintain the camera in the hollow shaft.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The introducer of claim 20, wherein the ejection member comprises a spring.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The introducer of claim 1, wherein the shaft includes a proximal section and a distal section, wherein the proximal and distal sections are at an angle relative to each other.

### Claim 23 (depends on 1)

The introducer of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the shaft comprises an open region configured to conformingly mate to an exterior surface of a trocar, and wherein the open region is further configured to slide relative to the exterior surface of the trocar.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The introducer of claim 23, wherein the hollow shaft further comprises an open end at its proximal end; and
further comprising a ram rod configured to slide relative to the hollow shaft through the open end at the proximal end of the hollow shaft, wherein distal movement of the ram rod relative to the hollow shaft displaces the internal magnetic camera from the hollow shaft.

### Claim 25

An introducer for an internal magnetic camera, comprising:
a channel comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the distal portion is configured to retain an internal magnetic camera; and
a plunger arranged in the channel, wherein the plunger includes a receiver at a distal end configured to engage the internal magnetic camera, wherein the plunger is configured to slide relative to the channel, and wherein the plunger dislodges the retained internal magnetic camera from the channel when the plunger moves distally relative to the channel.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The introducer of claim 25, further comprising a longitudinal slot in the plunger extending from the distal end of the plunger.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The introducer of claim 26, further comprising a seal covering the longitudinal slot in the plunger.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The introducer of claim 27, further comprising a longitudinal slit in the seal.

### Claim 29 (depends on 27)

The introducer of claim 27, further comprising at least one aperture in the seal.

### Claim 30 (depends on 25)

The introducer of claim 25, wherein the distal portion of the channel comprises an arcuate cross-section.

### Claim 31 (depends on 1)

The introducer of claim 1, further comprising a heating element that is engageable with the shaft, the heating element heating the shaft and the internal magnetic camera retained therein when the heating element is engaged with the shaft.