Abstract: A morcellation system and method for reducing and removing tissue or other matter contained within a mammalian body. A portal apparatus, having a central opening, is inserted into a small incision. Thereafter, a hollow-bore morcellator device is nestable within the central opening of the portal device. The hollow-bore morcellator device includes a rotatable shaft which extends downwardly into the body cavity, and upon which an annular cutting ring is mounted. An elongate suction probe is passable downwardly through the hollow-bore morcellator device, and is usable to engage (by suction force) a mass of tissue or other matter, and to repeatedly lift such mass into contact with the rotating annular cutting ring of the morcellator shaft. A tissue containment chamber may be positioned on the proximal end of the suction probe such that segments of tissue or matter separated by the annular cutting ring may be aspirated through the suction probe and collected within the collection chamber.

Abstract: Containment sacs insertable into a body cavity through a minimal access incision for purposes of containing, manipulating, treating and/or extracting material from the body cavity. The sac may comprise a flexible sac body having at least one opening thereinto and a resilient or spring loaded rim member disposed about the opening to urge the opening to an open configuration when deployed in the body cavity. The containment sac may be further utilized in combination with a dedicated introducer sheath through which the containment sac may be inserted and extracted. A valving member may be positioned on the introducer sheath to prevent escape of gas from a pressurized body cavity such as a pneumoperitoneal. The containment sac may incorporate a grasping member whereby the containment sac may be grasped and inserted using a standard forecep/grasper instrument. Alternatively, the containment sac may be attached to an elongate rod member usable to insert and extract the containment sac.

Abstract: A method and device for reducing the size of tissues and/or other materials contained within an intracorporeally positioned organ or artificial containment sac. In one embodiment, the device comprises an elongate cutting tool having a rotatable cutting head or impactor positioned on the distal end of the tool and, optionally, having one or more aspiration/infusion lumens extending longitudinally through the elongate shaft of the tool. In a second embodiment, the device may comprise (a) a separate guide/aspiration/infusion cannula initially insertable into the organ or sac and (b) a separate elongate cutting device which is insertable through and extractable from the prepositioned guide/aspiration/infusion cannula. An automatically deployable protective assembly may be positioned at the distal tip of either embodiment of the device so as to form a protective cage around the rotatable cutting head or impactor.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a device for deploying and retrieving a flexible tissue containment sac within a body cavity, through a minimal access incision. The device generally includes a tubular introducer having a flexible tissue containment sac disposable in a compressed configuration within the lumen of such tubular introducer. An elongate plunger shaft or pushing member is insertable or passable through at least a portion of the introducer lumen to push the containment sac out of the distal end of the lumen. Attached to the containment sac and extending through the lumen of the introducer is a tether. A portion of the tether may extend out of the proximal end of the introducer. The proximal end of the tether may be grasped and pulled in a proximal direction to pull the containment sac to a retrieved position on the end of an extractable shaft or, in embodiments absent such extractable shaft, to pull at least a portion of the containment sac into the introducer lumen.

Abstract: Devices and a system for passing instruments into a body cavity and/or for containing, manipulating, treating and removing matter from the body cavity, through a minimal access incision typically no greater than 1 cm in length. In one embodiment, the device of the invention includes an upper valving member with a plurality of interchangeable lower trocar members such as a) a short trocar member of 0.5-0.3 inches in length, b) a long trocar member greater than 3.0 inches in length and/or c) a trocar member having a protective cage disposed about its distal end attachable thereto. The lower trocar members are insertable into the body cavity. Further, in accordance with the system of the present invention, various instruments are independently insertable through the upper valving member and lower trocar portions of the device to perform various functions.

Abstract: Surgical access devices are provided having axially stiff but radially deformable tubular members for insertion into body cavities, organs or blood vessels. The tubular members include inlet sleeves at their proximal ends for facilitating the introduction of surgical throughput devices. The tubular member is axially stiff to permit non-buckling rotation when it is inserted into the patient's body, and is radially deformable, with a substantially constant circumference, so that it conforms to the outer surface configuration of the inserted throughput devices. This minimizes the size of the insertion opening through which the access devices extend and thereby reduces trauma to the patient when the devices are introduced and used.

Abstract: An anchorable guidewire for use in various medical applications, said guidewire comprising an elongate guidewire body with at least one inflatable anchoring member or balloon positioned thereon and a deactuatable check valve operative to maintain inflation of the inflatable anchoring member or balloon until such time as the check valve is volitionally deactuated by a human operator. The inflatable anchoring member or balloon is preferably sized, constructed and configured such that, when fully deflated, the anchoring member or balloon will fully collapse against the outer surface of the guidewire without substantial protrusion or extension therebeyond.