US6203517B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Minimization of transport of cancer cells
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1998-06-04
•
Granted: 2001-03-20
•
Expires: 2018-06-04
Abstract
Abstract A surgical apparatus includes an instrument having an operative zone defined thereon for physical engagement with a patient's body tissue. The instrument has a foraminous outer shell disposed in the operative zone. The foraminous outer shell has a multitude of relatively uniformly dispersed, small perforations defined therein. The instrument has a fluid supply channel communicated with the perforations for diffusing a flushing fluid out of the perforations throughout the operative zone so that adhesion of tissue to the operative zone of the instrument is reduced. The flushing fluid preferably includes a cytotoxic solution and/or an anti-adhesive solution. Additionally, or alternatively, the outer surface of the instrument may be permanently coated with a cytotoxic material and/or an anti-adhesive material. This surgical instrument is preferably used in combination with surgical procedures which are designed to minimize the transport of viable cancerous cells to other locations within the patient's body. Such surgical procedures preferably are laparoscopic procedures. Preferably any resected tissue is bagged prior to removal from the surgical site. Preferably the surgical procedure includes intraperitoneal chemotherapy following removal of the resected tissue.
Inventors
- 👤 John I. Shipp
- 👤 Morris E. Franklin, Jr.
- 👤 Richard H. Klein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 03:23
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B17/20; A61B2017/2926; A61B2217/00; A61B2217/002; A61B2217/005; A61B2217/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
A surgical apparatus for reducing cancer cell transportation when the apparatus is used to operate on cancerous tissue, comprising: an instrument having an operative zone defined thereon for physical engagement with a patient's body tissue, the instrument having a foraminous rigid outer shell disposed in the operative zone, the foraminous rigid outer shell having a plurality of perforations defined therein, wherein the perforations each have a diameter less than one-hundredth of a minimum cross sectional diameter of the operative portion of the instrument, the instrument having a fluid supply channel defined therein the supply channel being in fluid communication with the perforations for diffusing a flushing fluid out the perforations throughout the operative zone, so that adhesion of tissue to the operative zone of the instrument is reduced; a fluid supply source communicated with the fluid supply channel for supplying flushing fluid to the fluid supply channel at a pressure; and wherein the perforations have a size and density and the pressure is sufficient to dislodge a majority of otherwise adhered tissue from the outer shell and to thereby reduce cancer cell transportation when the instrument is used to operate on cancerous tissue.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
A surgical apparatus for reducing cancer cell transportation when the apparatus is used to operate on cancerous tissue, comprising: an instrument having an operative zone defined thereon for physical engagement with a patient's body tissue, the instrument having a foraminous rigid outer shell disposed in the operative zone, the foraminous rigid outer shell having a plurality of perforations defined therein, wherein the perforations each have a diameter less than one-hundredth of a minimum cross sectional diameter of the operative portion of the instrument, the instrument having a fluid supply channel defined therein the supply channel being in fluid communication with the perforations for diffusing a flushing fluid out the perforations throughout the operative zone, so that adhesion of tissue to the operative zone of the instrument is reduced; a fluid supply source communicated with the fluid supply channel for supplying flushing fluid to the fluid supply channel at a pressure; and wherein the perforations have a size and density and the pressure is sufficient to dislodge a majority of otherwise adhered tissue from the outer shell and to thereby reduce cancer cell transportation when the instrument is used to operate on cancerous tissue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the perforations are uniformly distributed over the operative zone of the instrument.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the perforations each have a diameter of no greater than 100 microns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the perforations are laser drilled holes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: the fluid supply source containing a toxic fluid which kills cancerous cells.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the toxic fluid includes iodine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: the fluid supply source containing an anti-adhesive surfactant solution which reduces adhesion of tissue to the outer shell of the instrument.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the anti-adhesive surfactant solution includes RGD peptide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein: the instrument is a trocar, the outer shell is a cylindrical shell, and the supply channel is an annular supply channel communicated with a cylindrical inner surface of the cylindrical shell.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein: the operative zone has a length sufficient to span a puncture wound in the patient's outer tissues.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the instrument is a laparoscopic surgical instrument of a size which can be inserted through a trocar having a diameter of no more than twelve millimeters.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a cytotoxic coating on the operative zone of the instrument.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the cytotoxic coating includes iodine.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an anti-adhesive coating on the operative zone of the instrument.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the anti-adhesive coating includes tetrafluroethylene fluorocarbon polymer.
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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) | 2004-03-19 | 2004-09-18 | 2005-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-03-19 | 2008-09-18 | 2009-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-03-19 | 2012-09-18 | 2013-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |