Devices, systems, and methods facilitating access to the uterus
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorDale E. Whipple
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A surgical stimulation system includes a sleeve configured for releasable positioning about a portion of a shaft of a surgical instrument. The sleeve includes a sleeve body and a plurality of electrodes disposed on or within the sleeve body. A stimulation generator is electrically coupled to the plurality of electrodes and configured to generate electrical stimulation energy and transmit the electrical stimulation energy to the plurality of electrodes for stimulating tissue in contact with the plurality of electrodes. A surgical system includes the surgical stimulation system and the surgical instrument and a surgical method utilizes the surgical stimulation system to facilitate insertion of the surgical instrument through an opening in tissue.
Claims20
A surgical stimulation system, comprising:
- a sleeve configured for releasable positioning about a portion of a shaft of a surgical instrument, the sleeve including a sleeve body and a plurality of electrodes disposed on or within the sleeve body;
- and
- a stimulation generator electrically coupled to the plurality of electrodes, the stimulation generator configured to generate electrical stimulation energy and transmit the electrical stimulation energy to the plurality of electrodes for stimulating tissue in contact with the plurality of electrodes.
A surgical system, comprising:
- a surgical instrument including a shaft configured for insertion through an opening in tissue;
- and
- a surgical stimulation system, including:
- a sleeve configured for releasable positioning about a portion of the shaft of the surgical instrument, the sleeve including a sleeve body and a plurality of electrodes disposed on or within the sleeve body;
- and
- a stimulation generator electrically coupled to the plurality of electrodes, the stimulation generator configured to generate electrical stimulation energy and transmit the electrical stimulation energy to the plurality of electrodes for stimulating tissue in contact with the plurality of electrodes.
A surgical method, comprising:
- attaching a sleeve to a shaft of a surgical instrument, the sleeve including a sleeve body and a plurality of electrodes disposed on or within the sleeve body;
- activating a stimulation generator to generate electrical stimulation energy and transmit the electrical stimulation energy to the plurality of electrodes;
- and
- inserting the shaft of the surgical instrument, with the sleeve disposed about the shaft, through an opening in tissue, wherein the electrical stimulation energy stimulates tissue surrounding the opening in tissue to facilitate the insertion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.