US5370134A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for body structure manipulation and dissection
Assignee: Covidien AG
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Filing: 1991-09-19
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Granted: 1994-12-06
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Expires: 2011-09-19
Abstract
Abstract Hollow body structures may be manipulated and dissected from surrounding tissue using a manipulator device and a dissection device, The manipulator includes a rigid shaft having an inflatable balloon at its distal end. By inserting the balloon through a wall of the body structure and inflating the balloon, the body structure can be manipulated using the shaft to expose a dissection plane in an optimum manner. The dissection device is used to separate the body structure from its surrounding tissue. The separator device includes a separator head which is a cylindrical body having a plurality of axial channels therein. The dissector head is rotated or oscillated at a high frequency and acts to separate the body structure from the surrounding tissue with minimum damage.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert K. Chin
- 👤 Frederic H. Moll
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 21:41
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/34; A61B17/3417; A61B17/00234; A61B17/02; A61B17/0218; A61B17/0281; A61B17/22; A61B17/22031; A61B17/22032; A61B17/32; A61B17/320016; A61B50/00; A61B50/20; A61B90/00; A61B90/50; A61B17/32002; A61B17/3462; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00261; A61B2017/00278; A61B2017/00535; A61B2017/00557; A61B2017/22051; A61B17/30; A61B2017/306; A61B2017/320044; A61B2017/320048; A61B17/3209; A61B17/3211; A61B2017/32113; A61B2017/348; A61B2017/3482; A61B2017/3484; A61B2017/3486; A61B90/30; A61B2090/306; A61B2217/00; A61B2217/002; A61B2217/005; A61B2217/007; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/10; A61M25/1006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for dissecting a hollow body structure, said method comprising: introducing an expandable member on the distal end of a rigid shaft into an interior volume of the hollow body structure; expanding the expandable member to occupy at least a major portion of the interior volume sufficient to allow manipulation of substantially all of the hollow body structure; and separating attachment of the hollow body structure from surrounding tissues while simultaneously manipulating the rigid shaft to reposition the hollow body structure.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for dissecting a hollow body structure, said method comprising: introducing an expandable member on the distal end of a rigid shaft into an interior volume of the hollow body structure; expanding the expandable member to occupy at least a major portion of the interior volume sufficient to allow manipulation of substantially all of the hollow body structure; and separating attachment of the hollow body structure from surrounding tissues while simultaneously manipulating the rigid shaft to reposition the hollow body structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the expandable member is introduced through a previously formed penetration through a wall of the hollow body structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 2, wherein the penetration was formed by advancing a sharp tip at the distal end of the shaft through the wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 3, further comprising protecting the sharp tip after it has entered the interior of the hollow body structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the expandable member is introduced through a natural body orifice.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 1, further comprising aspirating fluid from the interior of the hollow body structure to prevent loss to the surrounding tissue.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as in claim 6, wherein the aspirating step includes aspiration from both the interior of the hollow body structure and from the site around the penetration through the wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the expandable member is an elastic balloon which is expanded by introducing an inflation medium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the separating step includes exposing a dissection plane between the structure and surrounding tissue to a rotating or oscillating dissection head, wherein said head has axial channels spaced about its periphery.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for dissecting a gallbladder from surrounding tissue, said method comprising: forming a penetration through a wall of the gallbladder; aspirating bile from the interior of the gallbladder; introducing an expandable member on the distal end of a rigid shaft into the interior of the gallbladder; expanding the expandable member to occupy substantially the entire interior volume of the gallbladder to allow for the manipulation of substantially all of the gallbladder; and separating attachment of the gallbladder from surrounding tissues while simultaneously manipulating the rigid shaft to reposition the gallbladder in order to expose the dissection plane.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for dissecting a gallbladder from surrounding tissue, said method comprising: forming a penetration through a wall of the gallbladder; aspirating bile from the interior of the gallbladder; introducing an expandable member on the distal end of a rigid shaft into the interior of the gallbladder; expanding the expandable member to occupy substantially the entire interior volume of the gallbladder to allow for the manipulation of substantially all of the gallbladder; and separating attachment of the gallbladder from surrounding tissues while simultaneously manipulating the rigid shaft to reposition the gallbladder in order to expose the dissection plane.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as in claim 10, wherein the penetration is formed by advancing a sharp tip disposed at the end of the shaft through the wall of the gallbladder, wherein said sharp tip is on a tube mounted coaxially about the rigid shaft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 11, further comprising retracting the tube to protect the sharp tip after the expandable balloon has been introduced.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 10, wherein the penetration is formed by advancing a sharp tip which is formed integrally at the distal end of the rigid shaft.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as in claim 13, further comprising extending a rod having a blunt tip proximally of the sharp tip to protect the sharp tip after the expandable balloon has been introduced.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 10, wherein the bile is aspirated through at least one lumen concentric with the rigid shaft.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as in claim 15, wherein the bile is aspirated through a first lumen interior to the rigid shaft and a second concentric lumen exterior to the rigid shaft, wherein said first lumen aspirates bile from the interior of the gallbladder and the second lumen aspirates bile from the site of shaft penetration.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 16, wherein bile is aspirated simultaneously through both the first and second lumens.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 10, wherein the expandable member is an elastic balloon which is expanded by introducing an inflation medium.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for dissecting a gallbladder from surrounding tissue, said method comprising: forming a penetration through a wall of the gallbladder; aspirating bile from the interior of the gallbladder; introducing an expandable member on the distal end of a rigid shaft into the interior of the gallbladder; expanding the expandable member until the gallbladder is distended; and separating attachment of the gallbladder from surrounding tissues while simultaneously manipulating the rigid shaft to reposition the gallbladder in order to expose the dissection plane.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for dissecting a gallbladder from surrounding tissue, said method comprising: forming a penetration through a wall of the gallbladder; aspirating bile from the interior of the gallbladder; introducing an expandable member on the distal end of a rigid shaft into the interior of the gallbladder; expanding the expandable member until the gallbladder is distended; and separating attachment of the gallbladder from surrounding tissues while simultaneously manipulating the rigid shaft to reposition the gallbladder in order to expose the dissection plane.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as in claim 19, wherein the gallbladder is separated by contacting a dissection plane between the gallbladder and surrounding tissue with a rotating or oscillating dissection head, wherein said head has axial grooves spaced apart about its periphery.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
221 words
A device for manipulating a hollow body structure, said device comprising: a rigid shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; an expandable member disposed near the distal end of the shaft; means for selectively expanding the expandable member from an unexpanded configuration to an expanded configuration; a sharp tip and a blunt tip disposed near the distal end of the rigid shaft; means for axially translating the sharp tip relative to the blunt tip, whereby either tip can be selectively exposed at the distal end of the rigid shaft; means near the distal tip of the rigid shaft for aspirating fluid to near the proximal end of the shaft, wherein the aspirating means includes an axial lumen extending from the distal end to the proximal end of the rigid shaft and a separate tube coaxially mounted with an axial lumen extending from the distal end to the proximal end of the rigid shaft; and a sleeve mounted coaxially over the rigid shaft and means for aspirating the interior of the sleeve, wherein the sleeve has a resilient tip which can conform to the exterior of the body structure, wherein the resilient tip extends over at least a portion of the expandable member, so that the tip will be compressed when the expandable member is inserted into a body structure.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
221 words
A device for manipulating a hollow body structure, said device comprising: a rigid shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; an expandable member disposed near the distal end of the shaft; means for selectively expanding the expandable member from an unexpanded configuration to an expanded configuration; a sharp tip and a blunt tip disposed near the distal end of the rigid shaft; means for axially translating the sharp tip relative to the blunt tip, whereby either tip can be selectively exposed at the distal end of the rigid shaft; means near the distal tip of the rigid shaft for aspirating fluid to near the proximal end of the shaft, wherein the aspirating means includes an axial lumen extending from the distal end to the proximal end of the rigid shaft and a separate tube coaxially mounted with an axial lumen extending from the distal end to the proximal end of the rigid shaft; and a sleeve mounted coaxially over the rigid shaft and means for aspirating the interior of the sleeve, wherein the sleeve has a resilient tip which can conform to the exterior of the body structure, wherein the resilient tip extends over at least a portion of the expandable member, so that the tip will be compressed when the expandable member is inserted into a body structure.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device as in claim 21, wherein the means for axially translating comprises a tube mounted coaxially with the rigid shaft, wherein the tube has a sharp tip and the shaft has a blunt tip.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as in claim 22, wherein the tube is mounted coaxially over the outside of the shaft.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device as in claim 21, wherein the means for axially translating comprises a tube mounted coaxially with the rigid shaft, wherein the tube has a blunt tip and the shaft has a sharp tip.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as in claim 24, wherein the rigid shaft has an axial lumen and the tube is mounted coaxially within said axial lumen.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as in claim 21, wherein the expandable member is an elastic balloon and the means for selectively expanding comprises an inflation lumen extending from the proximal end of the rigid shaft to the balloon.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as in claim 26, wherein the inflation lumen is disposed coaxially about the rigid shaft.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
161 words
A device for manipulating a hollow body structure, said device comprising: a rigid shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; means disposed near the distal end of the rigid shaft for piercing a wall of the hollow body structure; an expandable member disposed near the distal end of the rigid shaft; means for selectively expanding the expandable member from an unexpanded configuration to an expanded configuration; and means for aspirating fluid from near the distal end of the shaft to the proximal end, wherein the means for aspirating comprises an aspiration lumen within the rigid shaft, wherein the means for aspirating further comprises a sleeve mounted coaxially over the rigid shaft, wherein the sleeve has a resilient tip which can conform to the exterior of the body structure, wherein the resilient tip extends over at least a portion of the expandable member, so that the tip will be compressed when the expandable member is inserted into a body structure.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
161 words
A device for manipulating a hollow body structure, said device comprising: a rigid shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; means disposed near the distal end of the rigid shaft for piercing a wall of the hollow body structure; an expandable member disposed near the distal end of the rigid shaft; means for selectively expanding the expandable member from an unexpanded configuration to an expanded configuration; and means for aspirating fluid from near the distal end of the shaft to the proximal end, wherein the means for aspirating comprises an aspiration lumen within the rigid shaft, wherein the means for aspirating further comprises a sleeve mounted coaxially over the rigid shaft, wherein the sleeve has a resilient tip which can conform to the exterior of the body structure, wherein the resilient tip extends over at least a portion of the expandable member, so that the tip will be compressed when the expandable member is inserted into a body structure.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as in claim 28, wherein the piercing means comprises a sharp tip on the rigid shaft.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as in claim 28, wherein the piercing means comprises a coaxial tube having a sharp tip.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as in claim 28, wherein the expandable member is an elastic balloon and the means for selectively expanding comprises an inflation lumen extending from the proximal end of the rigid shaft to the balloon.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-12-05 | 1998-06-06 | 1998-12-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-12-05 | 2002-06-06 | 2002-12-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-12-05 | 2006-06-06 | 2006-12-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |