Instrumentation for laparoscopic insertion and application of sheet like surgical material

A method of inserting a sheet of surgical adhesion barrier material into a pelvic area of a patient's abdomen that has been inflated to afford a surgeon a better view of a surgical site within the patient's abdomen, comprising the steps of:

• a) surgically forming an opening in the patient's abdominal wall;
• b) placing a first tubular member, having proximal and distal end portions and an elongated bore, through the surgically formed opening;
• c) furling the sheet of material into a roll to define a furled sheet;
• d) placing the furled sheet into the bore of a second tubular member so that the second tubular member holds the sheet in a furled condition, wherein the sheet is furled about an axial line that coincides with a central longitudinal axis of the second tubular member;
• e) inserting the second tubular member and the contained furled sheet into the bore of the first tubular member;
• f) valving flow gases at the proximal end of the first tubular member with a valve mounted at the proximal end of the first tubular member;
• g) extending the distal end of the second tubular member into the patient's abdomen and adjacent tissue that is subject to form adhesions or scar tissue;
• h) discharging the furled sheet from the second tubular member below the distal end of the first tubular member and into the patient's abdomen;
• and
• i) placing the sheet of material against the selected tissue;
• and
• j) articulating the sheet with respect to the second tubular member during placement so that proper placement is enhanced.

A method of inserting a surgical sheet article into a pelvic area of a patient's abdomen that has been expanded to afford a surgeon a better view of a surgical site within the patient's abdomen, comprising the steps of:

• a) surgically forming an opening in the patient's abdominal wall;
• b) placing a first tubular member, having proximal and distal end portions and an elongated bore, through the surgically formed opening;
• c) gripping the surgical sheet article with an inserter instrument having a pair of active jaws that can be opened and closed by the surgeon for enabling said gripping and releasing;
• d) furling the surgical sheet article into a roll about the jaws of the inserter to define a furled sheet;
• e) placing the furled sheet into the bore of a second tubular member so that the second tubular member holds the sheet in a furled condition, wherein the furled sheet is furled about an axial line that coincides with a central longitudinal axis of the second tubular member;
• f) placing the surgical sheet article against selected tissue by discharging the active jaws and article from the distal end of the second tubular member;
• g) articulating the surgical sheet article with respect to the second tubular member during placement so that proper placement is enhanced;
• and
• h) releasing the sheet by opening the active jaws.

A method of inserting a surgical sheet article into a pelvic area of a patient's abdomen, comprising the steps of:

• a) surgically forming an opening in the patient's abdominal wall;
• b) placing a tubular member, having proximal and distal end portions and an elongated bore, through the surgically formed opening;
• c) gripping the surgical sheet article with an inserter instrument having a pair of active jaws that can be opened and closed by the surgeon for enabling said gripping and releasing;
• d) furling the surgical sheet article into a roll about the active jaws of the inserter to define a furled sheet;
• e) placing the furled sheet into the bore of the tubular member so that the tubular member holds the surgical article sheet in a furled condition, wherein the sheet is furled about an axial line that coincides with a central longitudinal axis of the tubular member;
• f) discharging the active jaws and surgical sheet article from the distal end portion of the tubular member and into the patient's abdomen;
• g) placing the surgical sheet article against selected tissue;
• and
• h) releasing the sheet by opening the active jaws.