Laparoscopic cholangiogram device

Claim 1

A surgical instrument for performing a laparoscopic cholangiogram comprising: (a) an elongated outer tubular member dimensioned to fit through a trocar insertable through the abdominal wall of a patient, said outer tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending therebetween; (b) an inner tubular member coaxially disposed within said outer tubular member and extending from said proximal end toward, but short of, said distal end of said outer tubular member and reciprocally movable therein between first and second positions, said inner tubular member also having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending therebetween; and (c) a rigid hollow needle having first and second longitudinal segments integrally joined by an offset segment, a distal end portion of said rigid hollow needle bent at a predetermined angle relative to said second longitudinal segment, and a beveled distal tip defining a sharp point, said needle having a proximal end sealingly joined to said distal end of said inner tubular member, said distal tip of said needle being shielded when said inner tubular member is in said first position and exposed when in said second position; and (d) a plug member inserted into said distal end of said outer tubular member and having a slot receiving said offset segment therein and being more narrow in width than the length of said offset segment for precluding rotation of said rigid hollow needle relative to said outer tubular member.

Claim 8

A method for performing a laparoscopic cholangiogram procedure comprising the steps of: (a) inserting a trocar through the abdominal wall of a patient; (b) inserting an elongated tubular member having a reciprocally displaceable inner tubular member coaxially disposed therein with a hook-shaped hollow needle secured to the distal end of said inner tubular member, through said trocar; (c) hooking said elongated tubular member to the patient's cystic duct by inserting said hook-shaped hollow needle through the wall of said duct, and retracting said hook-shaped hollow needle against the inside wall of said duct; and (d) injecting a contrast fluid through said inner tubular member and said hollow needle into the cystic duct.

Claim 9

A method for performing a laparoscopic cholangiogram procedure comprising the steps of: (a) inserting a trocar through the abdominal wall of a patient; (b) inserting an elongated tubular member having a reciprocally displaceable inner tubular member coaxially disposed therein with a hook-shaped hollow needle secured to the distal end of said inner tubular member, through said trocar; (c) hooking said elongated tubular member to the patient's cystic duct by inserting said hook-shaped hollow needle through the wall of said duct, and retracting said hook-shaped hollow needle against the inside wall of said duct; and (d) injecting a contrast fluid through said inner tubular member and said hollow needle into the cystic duct.

Claim 10

A method for performing a laparoscopic cholangiogram procedure comprising the steps of: (a) inserting a trocar through the abdominal wall of a patient; (b) inserting an elongated tubular shaft having a finger grip affixed to a proximal end of said shaft and a spring-loaded plunger reciprocally movable within said grip, with the plunger being affixed to an inner tubular member coaxially disposed within the lumen of said tubular shaft, and a hook-shaped hollow needle connected in fluid communication with said inner tubular member through said trocar; (c) bringing the distal end of said shaft into close proximity of the patient's cystic duct; (d) depressing said plunger to advance said hook-shaped needle through the wall of said cystic duct; (e) releasing said plunger to clamp the wall of the cystic duct between a portion of said hook-shaped needle and the distal end of said shaft; and (f) injecting a contrast fluid through said inner tubular member and said hollow needle into said cystic duct.

Claim 11

A method for performing a laparoscopic cholangiogram procedure comprising the steps of: (a) inserting a trocar through the abdominal wall of a patient; (b) inserting an elongated tubular shaft having a finger grip affixed to a proximal end of said shaft and a spring-loaded plunger reciprocally movable within said grip, with the plunger being affixed to an inner tubular member coaxially disposed within the lumen of said tubular shaft, and a hook-shaped hollow needle connected in fluid communication with said inner tubular member through said trocar; (c) bringing the distal end of said shaft into close proximity of the patient's cystic duct; (d) depressing said plunger to advance said hook-shaped needle through the wall of said cystic duct; (e) releasing said plunger to clamp the wall of the cystic duct between a portion of said hook-shaped needle and the distal end of said shaft; and (f) injecting a contrast fluid through said inner tubular member and said hollow needle into said cystic duct.