Laparoscope having means for removing image impeding material from a distal lens

A laparoscope comprising

• a rigid elongated sheath tube having interior side walls, a selected length and a distal section, said distal section having a means for defining a distal tip including fluid tight, transparent member capable of passing an optical image, said transparent member having an exterior surface located at said distal tip;
• means located within said rigid elongated sheath tube for defining at said distal tip a nozzle for directing a fluid flow across the exterior surface of said transparent member to remove therefrom optical image impeding agents;
• said image passing means and fluid directing means being positioned within said rigid elongated sheath tube to define spaces between said interior side walls, said image passing means and said fluid directing means;
• and
• means located within said rigid elongated sheath tube for defining fiber optic elements which are distributed within said spaces and around the exterior surface for forming a light guide to illuminate an operative site.

A laparoscope for performing laparoscopic surgery comprising

• a rigid elongated sheath tube having interior side walls, an elongated axis, a selected length, a distal section and a proximal section with terminates in a proximal end, said distal section having a means for defining a distal tip including fluid tight image passing means, said image passing means having an exterior surface located at said distal tip;
• said image passing means and fluid directing means being positioned within said rigid elongated sheath tube to define spaces between said interior side walls, said image passing means and said fluid directing means;
• means located within said rigid elongated sheath tube for defining fiber optic elements which are distributed within said spaces and around the exterior surface for forming a light guide to illuminate an operative site;
• means located within said rigid elongated sheath tube for defining at said distal tip a nozzle for directing a fluid flow across the exterior surface of said image passing means to remove therefrom image impending agents;
• means defining a first channel which extends axially from the proximal end of the rigid elongated sheath tube to the distal tip thereof, said first channel being operatively coupled to said means defining at said nozzle, said first channel including means for defining the proximal end an opening which is adapted to be operatively connected to a source of pressurized fluid;
• and
• means defining a second channel which extends axially from the proximal end of the rigid elongated sheath tube to the distal tip thereof.

A method for performing a procedure in a cavity comprising the steps of

• providing a laparoscope including a rigid elongated sheath tube having interior side walls, a selected length, a distal section and a proximal section, said distal section including a means for defining a distal tip including a fluid tight, transparent member capable of passing an image, said transparent member having an exterior surface located at said distal tip, said image passing means and fluid directing means being positioned within said rigid elongated sheath tube to define spaces between said interior side walls, said image passing means and said fluid directing means, means located within said rigid elongated sheath tube for defining fiber optic elements which are distributed within said spaces and around the exterior surface for forming a light guide to illuminate an operative site and a means for defining at said distal tip means for directing a fluid flow across the exterior surface of said transparent member to remove therefrom image impeding agents;
• applying fluid under a predetermined pressure through the fluid flow directing means to remove image impeding means from the exterior surface of the transparent member;
• and
• viewing from the proximal section of the rigid elongated sheath tube said cavity through said transparent member in the laparoscope.

A system for performing laparoscopic procedures comprising

• a laparoscope comprising
• a rigid elongated sheath tube having interior side walls, an elongated axis, a distal section and a proximal section which terminates in a proximal end, said distal section having a means for defining a distal tip including fluid tight distal lens, said distal lens having an exterior surface located at said distal tip;
• means for defining an image transferring means which extends from the distal tip to the proximal end of the rigid elongated sheath tube;
• said image passing means and fluid directing means being positioned within said rigid elongated sheath tube to define spaces between said interior side walls, said image passing means and said fluid directing means;
• means located within said rigid elongated sheath tube for defining fiber optic elements which are distributed within said spaces and around the exterior surface for forming a light guide to illuminate an operative site;
• means located within said rigid elongated sheath tube for defining at said distal tip a nozzle for directing a fluid flow across the exterior surface of said distal lens to remove therefrom optical image impeding agents;
• means defining a first channel which extends axially from the proximal end of the rigid elongated sheath tube to the distal tip thereof, said first channel being operatively coupled to said means defining said nozzle, said first channel including means for defining the proximal end an opening which is adapted to be operatively connected to a source of pressurized fluid;
• means for defining a second channel which extends axially from the proximal end of the right elongated sheath tube to the distal tip thereof;
• means for defining an orifice for directing a stream of fluid along a path which is substantially in alignment with the direction of view of said image transferring means;
• a cannula and trocar assembly for forming an opening in the peritoneal cavity and including means for passing the distal section of the laparoscope into the peritoneal cavity, said annular and trocar assembly including means for passing an insufflator gas therethrough into the peritoneal cavity to insufflate the same;
• means defining a source of insufflation gas and means for regulating the flow rate and pressure of the insufflation gas operatively connected to means for passing the insufflation gas;
• means including a video camera and video signal processing means operatively coupled to the proximal end of the laparoscope for processing a video image of the laparoscopy procedures;
• a light source operatively connected to the fiber optic light guide means at the proximal end of the laparoscope;
• and
• means including a source of fluid under pressure operatively connected to the proximal end of the laparoscope for selectively applying fluid under pressure to at least one of said first channel to direct a fluid flow across the exterior surface of the transparent member and said second channel to produce an irrigating fluid along a path substantially parallel to the direction of view of the laparoscope.