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US 5,656,013 AGranted
Method of using an expandable multifunctional manipulating instrument for various medical procedures
AssigneeNone recorded
InventorInBae Yoon
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AssigneeNone recorded
InventorInBae Yoon
Estimating the term…
An expandable multifunctional instrument for performing various diverse operative procedures includes an elongate distensible member having a distal end for being introduced in an anatomical cavity via a relatively small size anatomical opening and being movable from a non-distended position facilitating introduction through the anatomical opening to a distended position wherein the cross-sectional size of the distensible member is increased and a plurality of collars disposed on portions of the distensible member for constraining movement of the distensible member portions to the distended position. The collars are movably mounted on the distensible member for adjusting the location and size of unconstrained distensible portions of the distensible member adjacent the collars. A method of performing an operative procedure in an anatomical cavity includes the steps of introducing a distal end of an elongate distensible member in the anatomical cavity through a relatively small size anatomical opening with the distensible member in a non-distended position, moving the distensible member from the non-distended position to a distended position and constraining selected portions of the distensible member against movement to the distended position to selectively contour the distensible member in the distended position to have a plurality of protuberances.
A method of performing endoscopic procedures in an anatomical cavity comprising the steps of
A method of performing an operative procedure in an anatomical cavity comprising the steps of
A method of performing an operative procedure in an anatomical cavity comprising the steps of
A method of performing an operative procedure in an anatomical cavity comprising the steps of
A method of performing an operative procedure in an anatomical cavity comprising the steps of
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
For holding wounds open, e.g. retractors; Tractors: abdominal wall lifters
Surgical instruments, devices or methods: for minimally invasive surgery
For holding wounds open, e.g. retractors; Tractors: for minimally invasive surgery
Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires: characterised by the location of the occluder
Term ended 12 Aug 2014 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to multifunctional medical instruments for performing various diverse procedures in anatomical cavities and, more particularly, to multifunctional instruments having distal ends for being introduced at the anatomical cavities from externally thereof via relatively small size natural or artificial openings in walls of the anatomical cavities and to methods therefor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 is a side view of an expandable multifunctional instrument according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded side view of the body assembly for the expandable multifunctional instrument of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the body assembly taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1 prior to fluid being supplied between the middle and inner members.
An expandable multifunctional instrument 10 according to the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 1, includes a body assembly 12 and a head assembly 14 mounting a proximal end of body assembly 12. Body assembly 12, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, includes an elongate inner member 16, a middle member 18 receiving inner member 16 and one or more outer collars or spacers 20 disposed on middle member 18, two collars 20a and 20b being shown for instrument 10. Inner member 16 can be made of any suitable rigid, semi-rigid, flexible or bendable medical grade material, such as metal or plastic, and can be solid, hollow or tubular or formed with an internal passage, or partly hollow or tubular in accordance with procedural use. The inner member 16 can have any desirable cross-sectional configuration including cylindrical or tubular configurations; and, as shown, inner member 16 is made of a substantially cylindrical length of metal or plastic tubing. Inner member 16 can be straight as shown in FIG. 2, rigidly curved, bent or angled as shown in FIG. 15, or the inner member can be bent or curved during use as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1 depending on procedural use. Inner member 16 includes a distal end 22, a proximal end 24 and, where the inner member is tubular or hollow or formed with an internal passage, a lumen or passage 25 extending longitudinally between the distal and proximal inner member ends, the lumen 25 being shown in FIG. 3.
Middle member 18 is designed to be movable between a non-distended, non-expanded or collapsed position or condition wherein the middle member 18 has a first cross-sectional size and a distended or expanded position or condition wherein the middle member has a second cross-sectional size larger than the first cross-sectional size. The middle member 18 includes a distal end 26, a proximal end 28 and a lumen or passage 29 for receiving the inner member 16. The middle member 18 can be made of an expandable, distensible, collapsible, flexible, resilient, stretchable or elastic material, such as medical grade silicone or latex rubber or sponge, or of a non-elastic, non-stretchable, rigid material. The outer surface of the middle member can include a mesh or fibers providing a non-smooth, roughened surface for adhering to or gripping tissue. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, middle member 18 is in the nature of an expandable or inflatable tubular membrane or balloon made of stretchable, elastic material; however, the middle member 18 can be made of non-stretchable, non-elastic material and can have any desirable cross-sectional configuration including various preformed predetermined shapes as will be explained further below. The middle member 18 can be made of an electrically conductive material or can include electrically conductive fibers or an electrically conductive spine for electrical coagulation or cauterization of tissue depending on procedural use.
Depending on the size, configuration and materials of the middle member, the middle member 18 can be assembled over the inner member 16 with a snug or tight fit as shown in FIG. 3 or with a loose fit as shown in FIG. 19. As shown in FIG. 3, middle member 18 for instrument 10 is configured to fit snugly over inner member 16 with little or no circumferential gap or space therebetween to minimize the profile of body assembly 12 in the non-expanded position to facilitate introduction in an anatomical cavity via a relatively small size natural or artificial anatomical opening. Accordingly, the middle member 18 can stretch or "give" to fit over or receive the inner member 16 with a snug fit, in which case the middle member lumen 29 can be smaller in size in a non-stretched state than the outer diameter or size of inner member 16, or the lumen 29 can be the same or substantially the same size as inner member 16 to snugly receive the inner member 16 without stretching.