US6162173A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device and method for remote vessel ligation
Assignee: Maquet Cardiovascular LLC
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Filing: 1998-11-25
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Granted: 2000-12-19
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Expires: 2018-11-25
Abstract
Abstract A retractor and a surgical tool are positioned within a cannula, and a dissection cradle of the retractor is positioned at the distal end of the cannula. The retractor includes a first portion with an axis approximately parallel to the axis of the cannula and a second portion with an axis skewed relative to the axis of the cannula. The dissection cradle is located at the distal end of the second portion of the retractor, and may include two substantially parallel, spaced legs with the retractor shaped in a loop between and in a plane skewed relative to the axes of the legs, and with the loop directed away from the surgical tool. Thus, in operation, when the surgeon locates a vessel and side branch of interest, the surgeon extends the retractor to cradle the vessel in the dissection cradle. Once cradled, the retractor may be fully extended to urge the vessel away from the axis of the cannula to isolate the side branch for exposure to the surgical tool. The dissection cradle may include a forward shoulder for positioning a suture loop. A forwardly-projecting tensioner supports a length of suture from the loop to maintain the loop in tension for transport along the vein. During advancement, the suture loop is safely maintained in place due to the tension provided by the tension mount and the support provided by the shoulder. Upon reaching the surgical site of interest, the retractor is retracted, causing the suture loop to be displaced onto the vein at the desired position. In one embodiment, the loop is tightened by pulling on the length of suture near the proximal end of the cannula to constrict the suture loop about the vein near the distal end of the cannula.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert K. Chin
- 👤 Edwin J. Hlavka
- 👤 John P. Lunsford
- 👤 Jeffrey W. Baxter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 00:08
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/313; A61B17/00; A61B17/00008; A61B17/02; A61B17/0218
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
A surgical apparatus for remotely ligating a vessel using a suture loop comprising: an elongated cannula having a central axis between distal and proximal ends; a retractor, slidably supported by the cannula for translational movement substantially aligned with the central axis of the cannula and having a first portion disposed near the proximal end of the cannula and a second portion disposed near the distal end of the cannula, the second portion having a dissection cradle positioned at the distal end of the second portion, the dissection cradle comprising: a shoulder part, on the distal end of the retractor; a curved channel part, attached to a distal end of the shoulder part to allow the suture loop to abut against the distal end of the shoulder upon translation of the cannula; a manual controller disposed near the proximal end of the cannula for selectively controlling translational positioning of the cradle relative to the cannula; and a tension mount, selectively attachable to the distal end of the cannula, and extending forward of the distal end of the cannula, for selectively supporting a length of suture, and for maintaining the loop in tension for transport along the vessel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
A surgical apparatus for remotely ligating a vessel using a suture loop comprising: an elongated cannula having a central axis between distal and proximal ends; a retractor, slidably supported by the cannula for translational movement substantially aligned with the central axis of the cannula and having a first portion disposed near the proximal end of the cannula and a second portion disposed near the distal end of the cannula, the second portion having a dissection cradle positioned at the distal end of the second portion, the dissection cradle comprising: a shoulder part, on the distal end of the retractor; a curved channel part, attached to a distal end of the shoulder part to allow the suture loop to abut against the distal end of the shoulder upon translation of the cannula; a manual controller disposed near the proximal end of the cannula for selectively controlling translational positioning of the cradle relative to the cannula; and a tension mount, selectively attachable to the distal end of the cannula, and extending forward of the distal end of the cannula, for selectively supporting a length of suture, and for maintaining the loop in tension for transport along the vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the manual controller comprises a button, disposed on the proximal end of the cannula, for, responsive to sliding the button in a first direction, retracting the retractor to displace the suture loop from the shoulder of the dissection cradle onto the vessel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the retractor comprises a pair of substantially parallel-oriented axes, and the dissection cradle is mounted on the two legs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tension mount is a resilient rod to allow atraumatic advancement of the rod.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the distal end of the rod is positioned to allow the distal end to be proximal to the shoulder of the dissection cradle responsive to the shoulder being in an axial position relative to the distal end of the rod, to allow the loop to be displaced from the cradle onto the vessel upon retraction of the retractor to a retracted axial position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the distal part of the dissection cradle is disposed substantially in a "C" shape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a proximal end of the suture is attached to the manual controller to allow displacement of the loop onto the vessel responsive to actuation of the manual controller.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein a locking mechanism with a disengaging control is attached to the proximal end of the cannula, to allow the manual controller to be advanced beyond the locking mechanism only in response to actuation of the disengaging control.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a cleat is disposed on the proximal end of the cannula, to allow the tightening of the suture responsive to winding the suture around the cleat.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a transection instrument, slidably disposed within the cannula, for transecting vessels and cutting suture upon extension out of the cannula and actuation thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the transection instrument is endoscopic shears, and the distal end of the tension mount protrudes toward the central axis of the cannula to position the vessel and the suture within open blades of the endoscopic shears.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the tension mount has a surface formed with ridges alternated with areas of smooth surface, and the cannula has a surface formed with ridges alternated with areas of smooth surface to allow removal of the tension mount responsive to rotating the tension mount to allow a ridge to lie against an area of smooth surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an endoscope is disposed within the cannula to provide a field of view of the vessel to an operator, and the tension mount protrudes toward the central axis of the cannula to allow the suture to remain in the field of view of the operator responsive to the advancement of the cannula.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
190 words
A surgical apparatus for remotely ligating a vessel using a suture loop comprising: an elongated cannula having a central axis between distal and proximal ends, a retractor, slidably supported by the cannula for translational movement substantially aligned with the central axis and having a first portion disposed near the proximal end of the cannula and a second portion disposed near the distal end of the cannula, the second portion having a dissection cradle positioned at the distal end of the second portion and projecting away from the central axis of the cannula upon slidable extension thereof forward of the distal end of the cannula, the dissection cradle comprising: a shoulder part, on the distal end of the retractor; a curved channel part, attached to the distal end of the shoulder part, to cradle the vessel upon advancement; a manual controller disposed near the proximal end of the cannula for selectively controlling translational positioning of the cradle relative to the cannula; and a tension mount, selectively attachable to the distal end of the cannula, and extending forward of the distal end of the cannula for selectively supporting a length of suture.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
190 words
A surgical apparatus for remotely ligating a vessel using a suture loop comprising: an elongated cannula having a central axis between distal and proximal ends, a retractor, slidably supported by the cannula for translational movement substantially aligned with the central axis and having a first portion disposed near the proximal end of the cannula and a second portion disposed near the distal end of the cannula, the second portion having a dissection cradle positioned at the distal end of the second portion and projecting away from the central axis of the cannula upon slidable extension thereof forward of the distal end of the cannula, the dissection cradle comprising: a shoulder part, on the distal end of the retractor; a curved channel part, attached to the distal end of the shoulder part, to cradle the vessel upon advancement; a manual controller disposed near the proximal end of the cannula for selectively controlling translational positioning of the cradle relative to the cannula; and a tension mount, selectively attachable to the distal end of the cannula, and extending forward of the distal end of the cannula for selectively supporting a length of suture.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of surgery with an elongated cannula for remotely ligating vessels including a slidable retractor having a dissection cradle for contacting vessels and supporting a suture loop thereon, the method comprising: advancing a suture loop along a vessel to a remote site from incision; displacing the suture loop onto the vessel responsive to retraction of the retractor; and exerting a backward force on the suture to ligate the vessel.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of surgery with an elongated cannula for remotely ligating vessels including a slidable retractor having a dissection cradle for contacting vessels and supporting a suture loop thereon, the method comprising: advancing a suture loop along a vessel to a remote site from incision; displacing the suture loop onto the vessel responsive to retraction of the retractor; and exerting a backward force on the suture to ligate the vessel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of: looping a distal end of the suture around a proximal end of a vessel to be ligated; abutting the loop on the retractor; and tensioning the suture.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of: transecting the vessel; cutting the suture; and removing the vessel.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of surgery with an elongated cannula for harvesting and remotely ligating vessels including a slidable retractor having a dissection cradle for contacting vessels and supporting a suture loop thereon, the method comprising: incising an entry point near a proximal end of the vessel to be harvested; inserting the cannula into the incision; sealing the incision; insufflating a tunnel along the vessel; advancing a suture loop to a remote site from the incision; displacing the suture loop onto the vessel responsive to retraction of the retractor; exerting a backward force on the suture to ligate the vessel; transecting the vessel; and cutting the suture.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of surgery with an elongated cannula for harvesting and remotely ligating vessels including a slidable retractor having a dissection cradle for contacting vessels and supporting a suture loop thereon, the method comprising: incising an entry point near a proximal end of the vessel to be harvested; inserting the cannula into the incision; sealing the incision; insufflating a tunnel along the vessel; advancing a suture loop to a remote site from the incision; displacing the suture loop onto the vessel responsive to retraction of the retractor; exerting a backward force on the suture to ligate the vessel; transecting the vessel; and cutting the suture.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-12-19 | 2004-06-19 | 2004-12-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-12-19 | 2008-06-19 | 2008-12-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-12-19 | 2012-06-19 | 2012-12-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |