Adjustable device for organ manipulation

Abstract

The invention relates to a device developed for organ manipulation in laparoscopic surgery.

Description

[0001] ADJUSTABLE DEVICE FOR ORGAN MANIPULATION

[0002] Related Field

[0003] The present invention is a device for manipulating an organ as desired in order to facilitate easier access to the desired area of the organ where an intervention is intended during laparoscopic surgery.

[0004] State of the Art Related to the Invention

[0005] The two major problems with the methods used for organ manipulation in laparoscopic surgery are traumatization of the organs during manipulation and the inability to provide an adjustable position.

[0006] During laparoscopic liver surgery, long, narrow, metal or plastic instruments, commonly called “graspers”, are used to manipulate the liver, with the main purpose of grasping the tissues. Manipulation is performed by pushing the liver with the tips or bodies of the graspers. Some surgeons attempt to position the liver by inflating a surgical glove placed inside the abdomen with water and sealing its opening to create a water-filled balloon. Other surgeons, on the other hand, attempt to position the liver by suturing and attaching it to the abdominal wall.

[0007] There are three main methods to achieve liver manipulation in laparoscopic liver surgery. The first of these is the use of long devices called “graspers,” which have specially designed tips and are primarily used to grasp or separate tissues during laparoscopic surgery. These instruments are used to manipulate the liver by grasping or pushing it with the tip. Although partially useful, these devices are not ergonomic to perform the intended manipulations. They do not allow for optimal manipulation in the up / down or right / left directions. On the other hand, due to the rigid nature of these devices, trauma to the liver tissue occurs during manipulation. This sometimes leads to unwanted bleeding and ruptures in the liver tissue. Another challenge is that in order to keep the liver in the desired position, a grasper must remain fixed in place at all times, which requires continuous force. In rare instances, fixing the liver to the abdominal wall with sutures through its ligaments is also used as a method of manipulation to position the liver. Because the liver is fixed in place, the inability to reposition the liver when needed presents a significant challenge. Depending on the situation, the difficulty of removing and reapplying the sutures each time, along with the repeated trauma to the liver tissue during this process, poses a significant obstacle. Furthermore, fixing the liver with sutures does not permit all desired manipulations and is therefore useful only in rare cases, which, as mentioned, is a major limitation.

[0008] On the other hand, it is also a known method among some surgeons, especially during operations on tumors in the posterior upper segments of the liver (liver segments 7 and 8), to improve visibility of these areas of the liver by placing a surgical glove inside the abdomen, filling it with saline to create a water balloon, and using it for manipulation. First of all, it is technically challenging to fill the glove with serum in the abdomen and then turn it into a water balloon to prevent leakage of water. Even if such a balloon is achieved, it is very difficult to place this fixed-volume balloon under the liver. In addition, due to the fixed volume of the balloon, it is not possible to provide adjustable manipulations in the up-down or left-right directions as desired.

[0009] Summary and Objects of the Invention

[0010] As mentioned above, the two major problems with the other methods used for manipulation in laparoscopic surgery are traumatization of the organs during manipulation and the inability to provide an adjustable position.

[0011] The present invention, which is designed to provide organ manipulation in laparoscopy surgeries, differs from previously used systems in many respects and provides many advantages. This invention, which enables adjustable manipulation of the liver without causing trauma to the liver tissue during laparoscopic liver surgery, is a device that will meet an essential need of surgeons working in this field and will address an important requirement in this field.

[0012] The present invention enables organ manipulation during laparoscopic surgery, especially liver manipulation, without traumatizing the organ due to its soft and atraumatic structure. Furthermore, the present invention enables adjustable positioning of an organ where an intervention is intended, as desired, by means of the inflatable chamber, which is one of the main parts of the device, and can be inflated or deflated in an adjustable manner.

[0013] In addition, the present invention can be used not only in laparoscopic liver surgery, but also in all other laparoscopic surgical procedures, such as other laparoscopic procedures in general surgery, gynecological and urological laparoscopic surgical procedures, without causing trauma, due to its adjustable positioning features, thereby meeting this need.

[0014] Descriptions of the Drawings Illustrating the Invention

[0015] The figures and related descriptions necessary for a better understanding of the invention are as follows.

[0016] Fig- 1- Isometric view of the inflatable chamber.

[0017] Fig- 2. Another isometric view of the inflatable chamber.

[0018] Fig- 3. Side view of the inflatable chamber.

[0019] Fig. 4. Top view of the inflatable chamber.

[0020] Fig. 5. The piston, which is the outer part of the instrument, and the 3 -way stopcock connected to the piston for adjustability.

[0021] Figure 5a. View of the inflatable chamber placed into the abdomen through the laparoscopic port and connected to the adjustable piston outside the abdomen.

[0022] Definitions of the Components / Parts / Elements of the Invention

[0023] 1. Inflatable chamber

[0024] 2. Protrusion

[0025] 3. Connecting element

[0026] 4. Bellows form

[0027] 5. Fluid inlet

[0028] 6. Grasping element

[0029] 7. Piston

[0030] 8. Locking element

[0031] 9. Unlocking element

[0032] 10. Lock outlet Detailed Description of the Invention

[0033] The present invention is a device consisting of two main integrated parts for organ manipulation for use in laparoscopic surgery. Said device comprises firstly at least one inflatable chamber (1), at least partly in the form of a bellows (4), and at least partly further comprising a plurality of protrusions (2) and a fluid inlet (5), and secondly a piston (7) connected with the inflatable chamber so as to allow the fluid inlet (5).

[0034] The inflatable chamber (1) is, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, a balloon designed to be inflated with a fluid. This fluid can preferably be selected as saline. Also preferably the inflatable chamber (1) is made of inert silicone and is particularly semicircular. The diameter of the semicircle can be in the range of 10 to 30 cm, to be designed as needed.

[0035] At least part of the inflatable chamber (1) is in the form of a bellows (4). In the preferred embodiment of the invention, this bellows form (4) is accordion-shaped. This allows the inflatable chamber (1) to inflate in a controlled and linear manner and at the same time to be folded cylindrically. Also, due to this cylindrical folding feature, the inflatable chamber (1) can pass through a standard 10 mm surgical port.

[0036] At least part of the inflatable chamber (1), preferably the surface thereof, comprises a plurality of protrusions (2) to prevent sliding on the peritoneal membrane and organ surfaces. Said plurality of protrusions (2) can have different configurations, but are preferably serrated.

[0037] The inflatable chamber (1) comprises at least one grasping element (6) not associated with the fluid content, designed to be easily grasped and manipulated with laparoscopic devices. Preferably, there are more than one of these grasping elements (6), in particular in the upper and lower comer of the inflatable chamber (1) and in the center of the outer convexity. In the alternative embodiment of the invention, this grasping element (6) may be provided in the form of rectangular protrusions.

[0038] The inflatable chamber (1) comprises at least one fluid inlet (5) to allow inflation. This fluid inlet (5) is preferably located in the lower corner vicinity of the inflatable chamber (1). The fluid inlet (5) is connected with a connecting element (3) which provides a connection between the inflatable chamber (1) and the piston (7). This connecting element (3) can preferably be a silicone tube. The length of the connecting element (3) is long enough to allow easy integration with the inflatable chamber (1) and the piston (7) to be extended out from the abdominal wall and can vary according to the change in the size of the inflatable chamber (1) to be used. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the length of the connecting element (3) is selected to be 50 cm.

[0039] The second part consists of a piston with a fluid volume of 100 cc, which is connected with the 3 -way stopcock and an adaptive part, and has a compatible interlocking fit with the end of the silicone tube. The 3 -way stopcock mechanism located at the end of the piston can be locked in an adjustable manner after the desired amount of fluid is added to the chamber. The opening in the three way stopcock system allows for blocking the delivery of the fluid and preventing the return of the fluid in the chamber by rotating the three way stopcock. The principle of operation and adjustability of the three way stopcock is a well-known and long- established mechanism in the defined art.

[0040] The first problem, traumatization of the organ where an intervention is performed, especially the liver, during manipulation, is solved by the soft and atraumatic design of the invention. The inflatable chamber (1), which is the part of the invention in contact with the organ, is preferably a silicone balloon filled with fluid, especially saline, and does not traumatize the organ tissue like the rigid devices of other methods.

[0041] The second problem is that during laparoscopic surgery, there is a limitation in the positioning of the organ where an intervention is performed, especially the liver, as needed. This problem can be solved by filling and emptying the inflatable chamber (1), which contacts the organ to manipulate the liver, with fluid in an adjustable manner. The volume of the inflatable chamber (1) can be increased by introducing fluid into the inflatable chamber (1) with the piston (7) or the volume of the inflatable chamber (1) can be reduced by withdrawing fluid. In this way, the organ where an intervention is intended can be easily brought to the desired position and manipulation can be provided in an adjustable way. When said organ is required to remain in a fixed position for a period of time, the piston (7) supplying fluid to the inflatable chamber (1) is locked so that the volume of fluid in the inflatable chamber (1) remains constant. Thus, said organ is kept in a fixed position.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A device for use in laparoscopic surgery, characterized in that it comprises: a. at least one inflatable chamber (1), at least partly in the form of a bellows (4), and at least partly further comprising a plurality of protrusions (2) and a fluid inlet (5), b. at least one piston (7) connected to the fluid inlet (5) for inflating the inflatable chamber (1).

2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one connecting element (3) providing a connection between the inflatable chamber (1) and the piston (7).

3. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one grasping element (6) for grasping the inflatable chamber (1).

4. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the inflatable chamber (1) is foldable.

5. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a semicircular inflatable chamber (1).

6. A device according to claim 5, characterized in that the diameter of the semicircle is in the range of 10-30 cm.

7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a locking element (8) that prevents the delivery of fluid from the piston (7) to the chamber (1).

8. A device according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises said locking element (8) provided externally, connecting the end of the piston (7) and the connecting element (3).

9. A device according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises said locking element (8), which is a three way stopcock.

10. A device according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises an unlocking element (9), which changes the direction of fluid passage between said ways.

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