# US 2018/0021062 A1 · Methods and apparatus for controlling surgical instruments using a surgical port assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0021062 A1 - Document ID: US20180021062A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/520,966 - Filed: 2015-10-13 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-23 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: Dwight Meglan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180021062A1 ## CPC - A61B 17/3439: {with means for changing the inner diameter of the cannula, e.g. expandable (A61B17/3423, A61B17/3431 take precedence; catheters A61M25/0662)} - A61B 17/3423: {Access ports, e.g. toroid shape introducers for instruments or hands (access sites for liquids A61M39/0247)} - A61B 34/35: for telesurgery - A61B 90/37: {Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation} - A61B 1/05: characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion - A61B 34/70: {Manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery} - A61B 90/361: {Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras} - A61B 2017/00199: {with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display} - A61B 2017/00557: {inflatable (A61B2017/22051 takes precedence)} - A61B 2017/00858: {high friction or non-slip} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract The present disclosure relates to surgical port assemblies including a plurality of inflatable members for applying a force to a portion of a shaft of a surgical instrument which is inserted through an interior space of the surgical port assembly, and to surgical systems including a surgical port assembly, an endoscopic camera, and a control mechanism for controlling inflation and deflation of the plurality of inflatable members of the surgical port assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical port assembly for use with surgical instruments, the surgical port assembly comprising: a body including an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface defining an interior space, the interior space configured to allow a surgical instrument to pass therethrough; and a control interface including a plurality of inflatable members coupled to the body and inflatable to selectively apply a force to a portion of a shaft of the surgical instrument when the shaft is disposed within the interior space, wherein each of the plurality of inflatable members is independently selectively inflatable to move a distal portion of the surgical instrument to a desired position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surgical port assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of inflatable members is configured to apply a force to the surgical instrument in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The surgical port assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of inflatable members includes a friction-enhancing material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The surgical port assembly according to claim 3, wherein a majority of each inflatable member is made from a first material, and wherein the friction-enhancing material is different from the first material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The surgical port assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of inflatable members includes nine inflatable members. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The surgical port assembly according to claim 5, wherein the nine inflatable members include a first set of three axially-aligned inflatable members, a second set of three axially-aligned inflatable members, and a third set of three axially-aligned inflatable members. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The surgical port assembly according to claim 5, wherein the nine inflatable members include a first set of three radially-aligned inflatable members, a second set of three radially-aligned inflatable members, and a third set of three radially-aligned inflatable members ### Claim 8 A surgical system, comprising: a surgical port assembly including a body and a control interface, the body including an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface defining an interior space, the interior space configured to allow a surgical instrument to pass therethrough, the control interface including a plurality of inflatable members coupled to the body and inflatable to selectively apply a force to a portion of a shaft of the surgical instrument when the shaft is disposed within the interior space, wherein each of the plurality of inflatable members is independently selectively inflatable to move a distal portion of the surgical instrument to a desired position; an endoscopic camera, a portion of the endoscopic camera being positionable within a body cavity and configured to view the distal portion of the surgical instrument; and a control mechanism disposed in operative engagement with the surgical port assembly and the endoscopic camera, the control mechanism configured to control inflation and deflation of the plurality of inflatable members. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The surgical system according to claim 8, wherein the control mechanism is configured to control inflation and deflation of each the plurality of inflatable members in response to information received from the endoscopic camera. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The surgical system according to claim 8, further comprising an inflation medium disposed in fluid communication with each of the plurality of inflatable members individually. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The surgical system according to claim 10, wherein the inflation medium is disposed in operative communication with the control mechanism. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The surgical system according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality of inflatable members includes a friction-enhancing material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The surgical system according to claim 12, wherein a majority of each inflatable member is made from a first material, and wherein the friction-enhancing material is different from the first material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The surgical system according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of inflatable members includes nine inflatable members. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The surgical system according to claim 14, wherein the nine inflatable members include a first set of three axially-aligned inflatable members, a second set of three axially-aligned inflatable members, and a third set of three axially-aligned inflatable members. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The surgical system according to claim 14, wherein the nine inflatable members include a first set of three radially-aligned inflatable members, a second set of three radially-aligned inflatable members, and a third set of three radially-aligned inflatable members.