EXPANDING SURGICAL ACCESS PORT
A surgical access port that includes a cylindrical member having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a longitudinal axis; at least two lumen extending through the cylindrical member along the longitudinal axis; at least one cavity defined in the cylindrical member and positioned radially within the at least two lumen; and a source of inflation fluid coupled to the at least one cavity, the source of inflation configured to permit selectable inflation of the at least one cavity, whereby inflation of the at least one cavity increases the radial distance between the at least two lumen.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/517,971 filed Oct. 20, 2014, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/343,813 filed Jan. 5, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,888,691, which claims benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/435,442 filed Jan. 24, 2011, and the disclosures of each of the above-identified applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an access port for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures, such as endoscopic or laparoscopic-type procedures, and more particularly to an expanding surgical access port for use in minimally invasive procedures.
2. Background of Related Art
Today, many surgical procedures are performed through small incisions in the skin, as compared to the larger incisions typically required in traditional procedures, in an effort to reduce both trauma to the patient and recovery time. Generally, such procedures are referred to as “endoscopic”, unless performed on the patient's abdomen, in which case the procedure is referred to as “laparoscopic”. Throughout the present disclosure, the term “minimally invasive” should be understood to encompass both endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures. During a typical minimally invasive procedure, surgical objects, such as surgical access ports (e.g., trocar and/or cannula assemblies), endoscopes, or other instruments, are inserted into the patient's body through the incision in tissue. Prior to the introduction of the surgical object into the patient' body, insufflation gasses may be used to enlarge the area surrounding the target surgical site to create a larger, more accessible work area. Accordingly, the maintenance of a substantially fluid-tight seal is desirable so as to prevent the escape of the insufflation gases and the deflation or collapse of the enlarged surgical site.
To this end, various access members are used during the course of minimally invasive procedures and are widely known in the art. A continuing need exists for an access member of a universal size that can be inserted into a variety of tissue incision sites and expands to fit such a variety of larger tissue incision sites. It is desirable to accommodate a variety of tissue incisions, and adapt to changing conditions at the surgery site.
SUMMARYIn accordance with various embodiments, the present disclosure is directed toward a surgical access port having at least one internal inflation cavity. The internal inflation cavity is capable of receiving and retaining fluid such that the internal inflation cavity, and thus the size of the surgical access port as a whole, increases under supplied inflation fluid. This increase is desirable to cause a more substantial seal between the surgical access port walls and the incision site, thereby maintaining the insufflated workspace. The surgical access port may additionally be capable of both radial and axial expansion under supplied inflation fluid.
The inflation cavity is internal to a cylindrical body that generally has an hourglass shape, defines a longitudinal axis, and is coupled to a source of inflation fluid. In use, the operator of the surgical access port supplies inflation fluid from the source of inflation fluid, and the internal inflation cavity, and consequently, the body of the surgical access port expands in response to the supplied fluid. The driving force of the inflation fluid may be provided by a pump, reservoir, or any other suitable pressure-generating device. The internal inflation cavity is coupled to the source of inflation fluid through the use of an inflation coupling that provides a substantially fluid-tight seal between the internal inflation cavity and the source of inflation fluid.
The cylindrical body is formed of a material capable of both expansion and contraction. In embodiments, this material may be foam, or any other biocompatible material that is flexible in both radial and axial directions, yet resilient enough to resist deformation under the stress of the walls of an incision site. The cylindrical body has a proximal and a distal end, both substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
Disposed within, and extending through the cylindrical body along the longitudinal axis, is at least one lumen. The lumen provides a path from the proximal end of the surgical access port, through the cylindrical body, to the distal end of the surgical access port. The lumen or lumens may also change relative positioning with each other and other components of the surgical access port in response to expansion from supplied inflation fluid. Specifically, the lateral spacing between lumens with respect to the longitudinal axis will change in response to expansion of the surgical access port under supplied inflation fluid. By virtue of the flexible and compressible nature of the cylindrical body, lumen diameter may be reduced as a result of the expansion of the cylindrical body, and a tighter seal may form about an instrument disposed within a lumen. Additionally, the lumens may alter their path in response to deflection of an inserted instrument relative to the longitudinal axis.
Also provided is a method for accessing an internal body cavity. The method includes the steps of positioning the surgical access port in an internal body cavity, expanding the surgical access port to a desired size with fluid from the source of inflation fluid, and accessing the internal body cavity via the surgical access port. The surgical access port allows the passage of surgical tools and other devices into the body cavity. Removal of the device involves contracting the surgical access port such that it decreases in size so to allow generally unobstructed removal from an incision site.
The present disclosure will now describe in detail embodiments of a surgical access port with reference to the drawings in which like reference numerals designate identical or substantially similar parts in each view. Throughout the description, the term “proximal” will refer to the portion of the assembly closest to the operator, whereas the term “distal” will refer to the portion of the assembly farthest from the operator. Although discussed in terms of an incision for a minimally invasive procedure, the presently disclosed surgical access port may be used in any naturally occurring orifice (e.g. mouth, anus, or vagina).
Referring initially to
Also within the cylindrical member 110, separate from the lumens 120, is an internal inflation cavity 130. The internal inflation cavity 130 may be symmetrical and centrally disposed as shown here, but in embodiments, may be of shape, plurality, and placement so as to maximize its effect on the surrounding lumens 120. In embodiments, internal inflation cavity 130 may be of a generally “X” shape, with rounded edges. The internal inflation cavity 130 extends from some distance along the longitudinal axis A1 from the proximal end 140a of the cylindrical member 110, and terminates at some distance along the longitudinal axis A1 before the distal end 140b of the cylindrical member 110.
Coupled to the internal inflation cavity 130 is an inflation coupling 160, which may be in the form of a tube or a port configured to be attached to the source of inflation fluid 170. The inflation coupling 160 is coupled on its distal end to the internal inflation cavity 130, and on its proximal end to a source of inflation fluid 170. The internal inflation cavity 130 will be capable of retaining the inflation fluid. To this end, the internal inflation cavity 130 or the inflation coupling 160 may incorporate a structure to control the flow of inflation fluid to the internal inflation cavity. This structure may be a ball valve or other suitable flow control. Additionally, the inflation coupling 160 may contain a structure to contribute to maintaining a substantially fluid-tight seal with the surgical access port 100. Such structure may be a press-fit member, bayonet-type, or threaded configuration.
The source of inflation fluid 170 may be any source capable of supplying the inflation fluid to the internal inflation cavity 160. Such a capable source may be a syringe, pump, or reservoir. The source of inflation fluid 170 will supply inflation fluid that is biocompatible and suitable for surgical procedures, such as CO2, air, or saline.
In embodiments, a surgical access port 100 may also include a port for the communication of insufflation fluid to an internal body cavity 220 (see
Turning to
Referring to
Turning to
In use, the operator of the surgical access port 100 will first place the surgical access port 100 in an incision site 190 such that the surgical access port is disposed within a layer of tissue 180, as shown in
Referring now to
Turning to
In order to remove the device, the operator of the surgical access port 100 will uncouple the source of inflation fluid 170 from the inflation coupling 160. Surgical instruments and tools 210 will then be removed from the lumens 120, and inflation fluid will be released from the internal inflation cavity 130. This latter step may include opening a plug, seal, or other port in order to release pressurized inflation fluid. The surgical access port 100 will then transition from a second state to a first state, with a corresponding decrease in diameter, measured transverse to the longitudinal axis A1. The surgical access port can then be easily removed from an incision site 180.
Referring to
It is additionally contemplated that the surgical access port may be coated with any number of medicating substances or materials to facilitate healing, or to make the use of the surgical access port during surgery more effective.
It will be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiments disclosed herein. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. A surgical access port comprising:
- a cylindrical member having a proximal end and a distal end, the cylindrical member defining a longitudinal axis;
- a first lumen extending through the cylindrical member between the proximal and distal ends;
- an internal cavity defined along a length of the cylindrical member, the internal cavity enclosed by the proximal and distal ends of the cylindrical member, the internal cavity selectively inflatable, wherein the first lumen is disposed radially outward of at least a portion of the internal cavity with respect to the longitudinal axis.
3. The surgical access port according to claim 2, wherein the internal cavity is selectively inflatable to cause radial displacement of the first lumen.
4. The surgical access port according to claim 2, wherein the cylindrical member further defines a second lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends of the cylindrical member, the second lumen disposed radially outward of at least a portion of the internal cavity with respect to the longitudinal axis.
5. The surgical access port according to claim 4, wherein the first and second lumens diametrically oppose each other.
6. The surgical access port according to claim 4, wherein the internal cavity is transitionable between a first state in which the first and second lumens define a first distance therebetween, and a second state in which the first and second lumens are displaced to define a second distance greater than the first distance.
7. The surgical access port according to claim 2, wherein the internal cavity is symmetric about the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical member.
8. The surgical access port according to claim 2, further comprising a source of inflation fluid in communication with the internal cavity to provide selective inflation of the internal cavity.
9. The surgical access port according to claim 2, wherein the first lumen is configured to receive a surgical instrument in a sealing relation therewith.
10. The surgical access port according to claim 2, wherein the internal cavity includes a cross-section having a generally X-shape.
11. A surgical access port comprising:
- a cylindrical member having a proximal end and a distal end, the cylindrical member defining a longitudinal axis;
- a first lumen extending through the cylindrical member between the proximal and distal ends;
- a plurality of internal cavities arranged about the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical member, the plurality of internal cavities enclosed by the proximal and distal ends of the cylindrical member, wherein at least one internal cavity of the plurality of internal cavities is selectively inflatable to cause radial displacement of the first lumen.
12. The surgical access port according to claim 11, wherein each internal cavity of the plurality of internal cavities is separate from each other.
13. The surgical access port according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of internal cavities are symmetrically arranged about the longitudinal axis.
14. The surgical access port according to claim 11, wherein the cylindrical member further defines a plurality of lumens extending between the proximal and distal ends of the cylindrical member, at least two lumens of the plurality of lumens diametrically oppose each other.
15. The surgical access port according to claim 14, wherein the internal cavity is transitionable between a first state in which the at least two lumens of the plurality of lumens define a first distance therebetween, and a second state in which the at least two lumens of the plurality of lumens are displaced to define a second distance greater than the first distance.
16. The surgical access port according to claim 11, further comprising a source of inflation fluid in communication with the plurality of internal cavity to provide selective inflation of the internal cavity.
17. The surgical access port according to claim 11, wherein the first lumen is configured to receive a surgical instrument in a sealing relation therewith.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 3, 2016
Publication Date: Jun 30, 2016
Inventor: Gregory Okoniewski (North Haven, CT)
Application Number: 15/059,357