Christoudias endospongestick probe

Claim 2

A spongestick for endoscopic procedures used in conjunction with endoscopic instruments comprising: a main rigid stem comprising an elongated cylinder having an axial aperture extending therethrough, an outer cylinder surface having a longitudinal groove extending along said outer surface, an upper cylinder portion having a handle projecting outwardly from said upper portion and a lower cylinder portion; a retractable cylindrical sheath slidably mounted about the stem cylinder having an upper portion and at least one handle extending outwardly from the upper portion thereof; a central tube for insertion of endoscopic instruments therethrough mounted within the stem aperture and extending outwardly therefrom, said tube including an upper circumferential groove adjacent the stem and a lower tube portion having a lower circumferential groove; and a balloon and a tubular gauze member surrounding the balloon at the lower portion of the central tube and having upper and lower elastic bands which mount in the respective circumferential tube grooves securing said balloon and gauze member in position, said balloon having an elongated inflation tube extending upwardly along the longitudinal groove to the upper portion of the stem cylinder, and wherein the balloon and gauze member include axial apertures through which the tube extends.

Claim 3

A spongestick for endoscopic procedures in accordance with claim 1 wherein: the retractable sheath includes two handles, each extending outwardly on opposite sides of the sheath at its upper portion and the balloon inflation tube includes and upper portion having a Leur lock tip mounted thereto.

Claim 4

A spongestick for endoscopic procedures used in conjunction with endoscopic instruments comprising: a rigid stem comprising an elongated hollow cylinder having upper and lower portions and internal and external cylinder walls for insertion of endoscopic instruments therethrough; said hollow cylinder further comprising a solid portion and a hollow portion extending along the length thereof; a retractable rigid sheath slidably mounted about the stem and having at least one handle projecting outwardly therefrom; said lower portion having a concave recess within the solid portion of the external cylinder wall; balloon means mounted about the lower portion of the stem within said recess; and means for inflating said balloon means to protrude outwardly from said recess.

Claim 5

A spongestick for endoscopic procedures used in conjunction with endoscopic instruments comprising: a rigid stem comprising an elongated hollow cylinder having upper and lower portions and internal and external cylinder walls for insertion of endoscopic instruments therethrough; said hollow cylinder further comprising a solid portion and a hollow portion extending along the length thereof; a retractable rigid sheath slidably mounted about the stem and having at least one handle projecting outwardly therefrom; said lower portion having a concave recess within the solid portion of the external cylinder wall; balloon means mounted about the lower portion of the stem within said recess; and means for inflating said balloon means to protrude outwardly from said recess.

Claim 6

A spongestick in accordance with claim 3 and further comprising: a groove extending longitudinally along the external cylinder wall extending from said recess to the upper portion of the stem, and said means for inflating said balloon means including an elongated inflation tube connected to said balloon means and positioned within the longitudinal groove of the stem and extending to the upper portion of the stem, wherein said hollow portion of the stem may be used for endoscopic procedures.

Claim 7

A spongestick in accordance with claim 3 wherein: said stem further includes a pair of circumferentially spaced grooves about said lower portion of said cylinder, said balloon means comprising a balloon, a flexible gauze cover surrounding the balloon and means for securing ends of said balloon means within said circumferential grooves.

Claim 8

A spongestick for endoscopic procedures and used in conjunction with endoscopic instruments comprising: a main hollow rigid stem comprising a cylinder having upper and lower portions and internal and external cylinder walls, said stem including a handle extending outwardly from said upper portion at an angle thereto and atleast two longitudinal grooves extending longitudinally along the internal cylinder wall thereof from the upper portion of the cylinder to the lower portion thereof; and further including a solid elongated tube having upper and lower ends mounted within the cylinder and having an external wall and at least two longitudinal grooves extending along the external tube wall opposite the longitudinal cylinder grooves in the internal cylinder wall and forming passageways; a lower member mounted adjacent the lower end of the tube having resilient means extending downwardly, and a fixed bottom platform, said resilient means connected between said lower member and said platform, and control wires mounted to the lower member and extending upwardly through the groove passageways and having an upper end extending outwardly therefrom; and further comprising balloon means mounted about the resilient means between the lower member and the platform, said balloon means being expanded by activation of said control wires.

Claim 9

A spongestick for endoscopic procedures and used in conjunction with endoscopic instruments comprising: a main hollow rigid stem comprising a cylinder having upper and lower portions and internal and external cylinder walls, said stem including a handle extending outwardly from said upper portion at an angle thereto and atleast two longitudinal grooves extending longitudinally along the internal cylinder wall thereof from the upper portion of the cylinder to the lower portion thereof; and further including a solid elongated tube having upper and lower ends mounted within the cylinder and having an external wall and at least two longitudinal grooves extending along the external tube wall opposite the longitudinal cylinder grooves in the internal cylinder wall and forming passageways; a lower member mounted adjacent the lower end of the tube having resilient means extending downwardly, and a fixed bottom platform, said resilient means connected between said lower member and said platform, and control wires mounted to the lower member and extending upwardly through the groove passageways and having an upper end extending outwardly therefrom; and further comprising balloon means mounted about the resilient means between the lower member and the platform, said balloon means being expanded by activation of said control wires.

Claim 10

A spongestick in accordance with claim 6 further including: a ring mounted to the upper end of the control wires and means on the upper end of the stem cylinder to engage the ring and lock the control wires in position with the balloon means expanded.

Claim 13

The method of retracting, and manipulating tissues and/or organs within a body cavity in an endoscopic procedure comprising the steps of: providing an instrument comprising an elongated hollow stem surrounded by a retractable sheath for insertion into a body cavity and having a balloon mounted over one end of the stem and a gauze member mounted over the balloon in an uninflated condition; sliding the end of the stem with the balloon and surrounding gauze member into the retractable sheath before insertion into a body cavity; inserting the instrument into a body cavity with the balloon uninflated; disengaging the sheath and said one end of the stem inflating the balloon to expand the gauze member within the body cavity; and, manipulating the instrument to perform a sponging operation; said sponging operation comprising retraction and manipulation of the tissues or organs within the body cavity with the gauze member by movement of the stem. .Iaddend..Iadd.10. The method of retracting, and manipulating tissues and/or organs in accordance with claim 9 further including the step of: inserting instruments through the hollow stem to perform surgical operations. .Iaddend..Iadd.11. The method of retracting, and manipulating tissues and/or organs in accordance with claim 9 further including the step of: deflating the balloon and removing the instrument from the body cavity.

Claim 14

.Iaddend..Iadd.12. A spongestick for manipulating, and retracting tissues and/or organs in endoscopic procedures within a body cavity used in conjunction with endoscopic instruments comprising: a rigid stem comprising an elongated cylinder having an axial aperture extending therethrough; a retractable cylindrical sheath slidably mounted about the cylindrical stem for insertion into a body cavity; a central tube having a lower portion and an upper portion for insertion of endoscopic instruments therethrough mounted within the stem aperture and extendable outwardly therefrom; a balloon and a gauze member surrounding the balloon mounted at the lower portion of the central tube; and, means for inflating the balloon to provide means to, manipulate, and

Claim 15

.Iaddend..Iadd.12. A spongestick for manipulating, and retracting tissues and/or organs in endoscopic procedures within a body cavity used in conjunction with endoscopic instruments comprising: a rigid stem comprising an elongated cylinder having an axial aperture extending therethrough; a retractable cylindrical sheath slidably mounted about the cylindrical stem for insertion into a body cavity; a central tube having a lower portion and an upper portion for insertion of endoscopic instruments therethrough mounted within the stem aperture and extendable outwardly therefrom; a balloon and a gauze member surrounding the balloon mounted at the lower portion of the central tube; and, means for inflating the balloon to provide means to, manipulate, and

Claim 16

retract tissues within the body cavity. .Iaddend..Iadd.13. A spongestick for manipulating, and retracting tissues and/or organs in endoscopic procedures within a body cavity used in conjunction with endoscopic instruments in accordance with claim 12 wherein: the stem includes an upper handle portion for directing the movement of the balloon and gauze member within the body cavity. .Iaddend..Iadd.14. A spongestick for endoscopic procedures used in conjunction with endoscopic instruments comprising: a main rigid stem comprising an elongated cylinder having an axial aperture extending therethrough, an outer cylinder surface having a longitudinal groove extending along said outer surface; a retractable cylindrical sheath slidably mounted about the stem cylinder; a central tube for insertion of endoscopic instruments therethrough mounted within the stem aperture and extending outwardly therefrom; and a balloon and a tubular gauze member surrounding the balloon at the lower portion of the central tube and having means securing said balloon and gauze member in position, said balloon having an elongated inflation tube extending upwardly along the longitudinal groove to the upper portion of the stem cylinder, and wherein the balloon and gauze member include axial apertures with the central tube extending therethrough. .Iaddend.