Abstract: An insufflation needle having a viewing system at its distal end and a trocar, both of which can be inserted through rotation of the puncturing element of the instrument, and a method of using these instruments. Both the insufflation needle and the trocar include a rotatable puncturing mechanism and a safety shield which allow the instruments to be safely inserted into body tissue through the use of a drill thereby requiring less force and reducing the possibility of trauma to the patient. The insufflation needle also includes a viewing system which allows the surgeon to view the distal end of the needle while it is being inserted into body tissue as well as to view the distal end of the trocar once it reaches a destination within the abdominal cavity proximate the distal end of the needle. The system reduces the risk of improper placement of both the needle and the trocar to thereby result in a safe laparoscopic surgical procedure.

Abstract: A laparoscopic surgical staple system comprises a staple, a staple extractor, and methods of applying and extracting such staples. The staples of the present invention are visible through a limited viewport, such as a trocar, and include an extraction member which forms a substantially closed hole through which a hook can be inserted. The staple extractor of the present invention includes a mechanism for grasping and pulling to remove the staple from body tissue, and a hook which can receive and hold multiple staples. The staples are applied by a device which is capable of inserting the staple's legs into a patient's body tissue. Staples are extracted using methods which allow multiple staples to be removed in a single, quick laparoscopic procedure and which reduce the risk of infection to the patient.

Abstract: A laparoscopic surgical retractor has a substantially rigid insufflation tube insertable through a laparoscopic trocar, a valve for introducing fluid or gas into one end of the tube, and an elastic skin enclosing a variable volume cavity connected to the opposite end. During laparoscopic surgery, the retractor is inserted into a body cavity through a laparoscopic trocar, and then the elastic skin is inflated through the insufflation tube. The elastic skin is positioned against the tissue to be retracted. The retractor may either be held in place by the laparoscopic trocar, or else fully inserted into a body cavity and held in place by its own weight. Following the surgical procedure, the elastic skin is deflated and the device removed through the trocar.

Abstract: An insufflation needle having a viewing system at its distal end and a trocar, both of which can be inserted through rotation of the puncturing element of the instrument, and a method of using these instruments. Both the insufflation needle and the trocar include a rotatable puncturing mechanism and a safety shield which allow the instruments to be safely inserted into body tissue through the use of a drill thereby requiring less force and reducing the possibility of trauma to the patient. The insufflation needle also includes a viewing system which allows the surgeon to view the distal end of the needle while it is being inserted into body tissue as well as to view the distal end of the trocar once it reaches a destination within the abdominal cavity proximate the distal end of the needle. The system reduces the risk of improper placement of both the needle and the trocar to thereby result in a safe laparoscopic surgical procedure.

Abstract: A laparoscopic surgical staple system comprises a staple, a staple extractor, and methods of applying and extracting such staples. The staples of the present invention are visible through a limited viewport, such as a trocar, and include an extraction member which forms a substantially closed hole through which a hook can be inserted. The staple extractor of the present invention includes a mechanism for grasping and pulling to remove the staple from body tissue, and a hook which can receive and hold multiple staples. The staples are applied by a device which is capable of inserting the staple's legs into a patient's body tissue. Staples are extracted using methods which allow multiple staples to be removed in a single, quick laparoscopic procedure and which reduce the risk of infection to the patient.

Abstract: Method for performing a laparoscopic sphincterotomy involving the steps of positioning a catheter within the duodenum by inserting the distal end of the catheter into the common bile duct and threading the distal end of the catheter into the duodenum, positioning the cutting mechanism of the catheter against the sphincter of Oddi, cutting the sphincter of Oddi with the cutting mechanism, and removing the catheter. The invention also includes a surgical catheter to be used to perform such a sphincterotomy. The catheter includes an elongated longitudinal channel, two separate balloons located at the distal end of the catheter, and a cutting mechanism extendable from the catheter between the two balloons. The catheter also includes a radial mark at the operative end of the catheter that lies in the same radial position with respect to the longitudinal channel of the catheter as the cutting mechanism.