Visually directed trocar and method

Claim 1

A surgical penetration device comprising: a) an inflexible hollow tubular member, b) a light transmission and imaging member formed essentially of transparent material provided at one end of said hollow tubular member to project light and receive light images, c) a piercing edge cooperable with said light transmission and imaging member for piercing human flesh to permit surgical insertion of said light transmission and imaging member through human flesh into a body cavity, d) said light transmission and imaging member being formed separately of said hollow tubular member and affixed to said one end of said hollow tubular member to extend beyond said one end of said hollow tubular member, said light transmission and imaging member having a portion that is of diminishing cross-sectional magnitude the further distant said portion is from said one end of said hollow tubular member, and e) an opposite end of said hollow tubular member being open and the open end and the inside space of said hollow tubular member being of a predetermined size to permit detachable slidable insertion of a conventional lighting member and a conventional light image receiving member in the form of a conventional light telescope into the inside space from the open end of the hollow tubular member, and slidable removal of the conventional light telescope from the open end of the hollow tubular member, whereby said light transmission and imaging member is cooperable with said conventional light telescope when said conventional light telescope is inserted in said hollow tubular member.

Claim 11

A method of visualizing insertion of a surgical device through flesh into a body cavity comprising the steps of: a) providing an inflexible hollow tubular member, b) forming a light transmission and imaging member essentially of transparent material with a portion that is of diminishing cross-sectional magnitude in a predetermined direction along the light transmission and imaging member, c) attaching the light transmission and imaging member at one end of the hollow tubular member such that the light transmission and imaging member has the diminishing cross-sectional magnitude the further distant said portion of the light transmission and imaging member is from the one end of the hollow tubular member, and leaving the opposite end of the hollow tubular member open, d) providing a piercing edge for cooperation with the light transmission and imaging member to pierce flesh and permit insertion of the light transmission and imaging member through the pierced flesh into a body cavity, e) slidably locating a conventional lighting member and a conventional light image receiving member in the form of a conventional light telescope in the opening at the opposite end of the hollow tubular member to locate the conventional light telescope proximate said light transmission and imaging member in the interior hollow space of the hollow tubular member to enable light from the conventional light telescope to project outwardly away from said light transmission and imaging member and to permit the conventional light telescope to receive light images that pass from outside said light transmission and imaging member through said light transmission and imaging member while said light transmission and imaging member is being inserted through the flesh into a body cavity, whereby said light transmission and imaging member provides a receivable image for the conventional light telescope of the flesh and body cavity being entered, and f) keeping the conventional light telescope in the hollow tubular member in a manner that permits slidable removal of the conventional light telescope from the opening at the opposite end of the hollow tubular member when the hollow tubular member is removed from the flesh.

Claim 12

A method of visualizing insertion of a surgical device through flesh into a body cavity comprising the steps of: a) providing an inflexible hollow tubular member, b) forming a light transmission and imaging member essentially of transparent material with a portion that is of diminishing cross-sectional magnitude in a predetermined direction along the light transmission and imaging member, c) attaching the light transmission and imaging member at one end of the hollow tubular member such that the light transmission and imaging member has the diminishing cross-sectional magnitude the further distant said portion of the light transmission and imaging member is from the one end of the hollow tubular member, and leaving the opposite end of the hollow tubular member open, d) providing a piercing edge for cooperation with the light transmission and imaging member to pierce flesh and permit insertion of the light transmission and imaging member through the pierced flesh into a body cavity, e) slidably locating a conventional lighting member and a conventional light image receiving member in the form of a conventional light telescope in the opening at the opposite end of the hollow tubular member to locate the conventional light telescope proximate said light transmission and imaging member in the interior hollow space of the hollow tubular member to enable light from the conventional light telescope to project outwardly away from said light transmission and imaging member and to permit the conventional light telescope to receive light images that pass from outside said light transmission and imaging member through said light transmission and imaging member while said light transmission and imaging member is being inserted through the flesh into a body cavity, whereby said light transmission and imaging member provides a receivable image for the conventional light telescope of the flesh and body cavity being entered, and f) keeping the conventional light telescope in the hollow tubular member in a manner that permits slidable removal of the conventional light telescope from the opening at the opposite end of the hollow tubular member when the hollow tubular member is removed from the flesh.