Surgical digitizing apparatus and method
AssigneeApplied Medical Resources Corporation
InventorSaid S. Hilal
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A surgical digitizing apparatus and procedure will typically involve a pad having discrete segments which may be arranged in a specific order to accommodate a particular procedure. The individual segments can then be used to accomplish both diagnostic and therapeutic functions. For example, the segments can be interrogated to produce a map of body tissue and then electrosurgically energized to perform a therapeutic function in accordance with the map. Communication with the discrete segments will typically be accomplished through a microprocessor and associated switching circuits.
Claims14
A method for digitizing an operative site on a patient to facilitate an operative procedure involving a tissue surface outside of a patient's body and defining interior regions of the operative site, comprising the steps of:
- providing a pad having a plurality of discrete segments, each with characteristics for performing at least one of a diagnostic function and a therapeutic function associated with the operative procedure;
- placing the pad outside of the patient's body on the tissue surface on the outside of the patient's body;
- receiving information from the plurality of discrete segments to create a map of the interior regions of the operative site;
- measuring tissue conductivity and pressure;
- displaying the map on a computer screen;
- activating a light on one of the plurality of discrete segments;
- and
- supplying the map to a microprocessor.
A method for digitizing an operative site on a patient to facilitate an operative procedure involving a tissue surface outside of a patient's body and defining interior regions of the operative site, comprising the steps of:
- providing a pad having a plurality of discrete segments, each with characteristics for performing at least one of a diagnostic function and a therapeutic function associated with the operative procedure;
- placing the pad outside of the patient's body on the tissue surface on the outside of the patient's body;
- receiving information from the plurality of discrete segments to create a map of the interior regions of the operative site;
- and
- introducing a surgical instrument through an access device carried by the pad;
- wherein the access device carried by the pad comprises a gel seal carried by the pad.
A method for digitizing an operative site on a patient to facilitate an operative procedure involving a tissue surface outside of a patient's body and defining interior regions of the operative site, comprising the steps of:
- providing a pad having a plurality of discrete segments, each with characteristics for performing at least one of a diagnostic function and a therapeutic function associated with the operative procedure;
- placing the pad outside of the patient's body on the tissue surface on the outside of the patient's body;
- receiving information from the plurality of discrete segments to create a map of the interior regions of the operative site;
- measuring tissue conductivity and pressure;
- displaying the map on a computer screen;
- activating a light on one of the plurality of discrete segments;
- supplying the map to a microprocessor;
- and
- activating at least one of the plurality of discrete segments to perform the therapeutic function on the interior regions in a pattern dependent on the map, wherein the activating step includes the step of electrosurgically activating at least one of the plurality of discrete segments.
A method for digitizing an operative site on a patient to facilitate an operative procedure involving a tissue surface outside of a patient's body and defining interior regions of the operative site, comprising the steps of:
- providing a pad having a plurality of discrete segments, each with characteristics for performing at least one of a diagnostic function and a therapeutic function associated with the operative procedure;
- placing the pad outside of the patient's body on the tissue surface on the outside of the patient's body;
- receiving information from the plurality of discrete segments to create a map of the interior regions of the operative site;
- measuring tissue conductivity and pressure;
- displaying the map on a computer screen;
- activating a light on one of the plurality of discrete segments;
- supplying the map to a microprocessor;
- and
- activating at least one of the plurality of discrete segments to perform the therapeutic function on the interior regions in a pattern dependent on the map, wherein the activating step includes the step of electrosurgically activating at least one of the plurality of discrete segments in a bipolar configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.