Surgical instrument positioning system and method of use

Abstract

A positioning system for use during surgical procedures comprising a belt assembly adapted to be positioned about a bodily surface of a patient. The belt assembly may comprise a single module, or a first module adapted to be attached to a second module. The modules may be adapted to permit attachment of a surgical instrument thereto. The modules may also include cushioned undersides. The system may also comprise a surgical instrument retention system including a saddle adapted to be positioned on a surgical instrument, straps adapted to secure the saddle to the surgical instrument, and a pulley cord coupled to the saddle so as to selectively position the surgical instrument upon movement of the pulley cord. The modules may also include an accessory adapted to fit securely within shaped openings formed therein. The accessory may comprise a base having a locking apparatus for locking a medical device to the base.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 690,291, filed Oct. 21, 2003, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 419,949, filed Oct. 21, 2002, U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 452,148, filed Mar. 5, 2003, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 476,497 filed Jun. 6, 2003, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention is directed towards improvements in the systems of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,728,047 issued to Edoga, one of the present inventors, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,728,047, there is provided a surgical instrument positioning system including a belt assembly positionable about the body of a patient which may be utilized during surgical procedures to assist with tasks previously performed by surgeons. Many of th...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a positioning system for surgical instruments that overcomes the shortcomings of prior art systems. The system includes a belt assembly that can be positioned around a patient's body surface and has a platform for attaching surgical instruments. The belt assembly can also have a retention system for holding the surgical instrument in place during use. The positioning system can be used during surgical procedures where an opening is formed in the patient. The technical effects of the invention include improved stability and mobility of surgical instruments, reduced risk of injury to patients, and improved efficiency of surgical procedures."

Problems solved by technology

The need to use at least two surgeons makes this procedure unnecessarily costly.

Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication, i.e., the repair of hiatal hernias and the creation of a valve to check acid reflux from the stomach into the esophagus, is currently performed by at least three surgeons, increasing costs even more.

Besides the increase in costs associated with the need for additional surgeons to mechanically hold surgical instruments in place, problems can also arise during the surgical procedure due to a number of human factors.

These problems may include the surgeon becoming fatigued or distracted while trying to hold the instrument in a fixed position, or the surgeon unintentionally permitting the instrument to drift from its original position due to a lack of visual reinforcement of the instrument's position within the patient as the surgeon holding the retractor rarely gets a chance to see the retractor position, especially during the critical stages of the procedures.

Moreover, the presence of additional surgeons about the patient can interfere with the operative field and the arm movements of the lead surgeon.

Although devices of this type eliminate the need for a surgeon to hold the retractor in a fixed position, the support structure of the device can interfere with the arms of the surgeon due to its vertical projection into the operative field.

It may also press against the body of a wide or obese patient and may lead to pressure ulcers of the skin.

These systems also suffer from problems in that they are located in the operative area above the patient and can interfere with the movements of the surgeon.

These devices can also be cumbersome and difficult to use.

Furthermore, such systems are relatively expensive, especially when provided with hydraulic or motor-assisted lifting mechanisms.

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