2868 results about "Body cavity" patented technology

A surgical instrument particularly suited to endoscopic and laparoscopic insertion through a cannula of a trocar into an insufflated body cavity or lumen includes a bending member in an elongate shaft that acts to rotate an end effector about an articulation pivot joint. A proximally directed camming surface (e.g., gear segment, cam recess) aft of a pivotal attachment of the end effector to a proximal frame ground of the elongate shaft interacts with a bending member whose proximal end is ground to the proximal frame ground. Differential fluidic actuators or mechanical cam bars deflect a distal end (e.g., rack, cam point) of the bending member to effect articulation. Thereby, the end effector may act upon tissue that would otherwise be obscured, such as behind an organ. The articulated end effector also advantageously allows an endoscope to be positioned behind the end effector without being blocked by the instrument shaft.

Methods and devices are provided for performing various procedures using interchangeable end effectors. In general, the methods and devices allow a surgeon to remotely and selectively attach various interchangeable surgical end effectors to a shaft located within a patient's body, thus allowing the surgeon to perform various procedures without the need to remove the shaft from the patient's body. In an exemplary embodiment, multiple end effectors can be introduced into a body cavity. The end effectors can be disassociated or separate from one another such that they float within the body cavity. A distal end of a shaft can be positioned within the body cavity and it can be used to selectively engage one of the end effectors. In particular, the device can be configured to allow each end effector to be remotely attached and detached from the distal end of the shaft. For example, a surgeon can actuate an actuation mechanism on the proximal end of the shaft to mate one of the end effectors to the distal end of the shaft without assistance from other tools and devices. After use of the end effector, the end effector can be released and another end effector can be remotely attached to the distal end of the shaft.

A surgical access device is adapted to facilitate access through an incision in a body wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, and into a body cavity of a patient. The device includes first and second retention members adapted to be disposed in proximity to the outer surface and the inner surface of the body wall, respectively. A membrane extending between the two retention members forms a throat which is adapted to extend through the incision and form a first funnel extending from the first retention member into the throat, and a second funnel extending from the second retention member into the throat. The throat of the membrane has characteristics for forming an instrument seal in the presence of an instrument and a zero seal in the absence of an instrument. The first retention member may include a ring with either a fixed or variable diameter. The ring can be formed in first and second sections, each having two ends. Couplings can be disposed between the ends to accommodate variations in the size of the first retention member. The first retention member can also be formed as an inflatable toroid, a self-expanding foam, or a circumferential spring. A plurality of inflatable chambers can also provide the surgical access device with a working channel adapted for disposition across the body wall. A first retention member with a plurality of retention stations functions with a plurality of tethers connected to the membrane to change the shape of the membrane and the working channel. A stabilizing platform can be used to support the access device generally independent of any movement of the body wall.

Methods and devices are provided for providing surgical access into a body cavity. In one embodiment, a surgical access device is provided that includes a proximal housing and a distal retractor. At least one stability thread can extend around a perimeter of at least a portion of the distal retractor. In some embodiments, the stability thread can be mechanically adjustable to change a diameter of the distal retractor.

A position sensing system includes a probe adapted to be introduced into a body cavity of a subject. The probe includes a magnetic field transducer and at least one probe electrodes. A control unit is configured to measure position coordinates of the probe using the magnetic field transducer. The control unit also measures an impedance between the at least one probe electrodes and one or more points on a body surface of the subject. Using the measured position coordinates, the control unit calibrates the measured impedance.

An endoscope assembly with a main imaging device and a first light source is configured to provide a forward view of a body cavity, and further includes a detachable imaging device with an attachment member engageable with the distal end region of the endoscope, a linking member connected to the attachment member, and an imaging element with a second light source, wherein the detachable imaging device provides a retrograde view of the body cavity and the main imaging device. Light interference is reduced by using polarizing filters or by alternating the on / off state of the main imaging device, the first light source, the imaging element and the second light source so that the main imaging device and first light source are on when the imaging element and second light source are off and the main imaging device and first light source are off when the imaging element and second light source are on.

An insertion auxiliary implement of the present invention includes: a tubular part into which a flexible endoscope insertion part which is insertable into a body cavity, and one of a treatment tool and a channel into which the treatment tool is insertable, are insertable; and a sealing member which has through holes for supporting the endoscope insertion part and one of the treatment tool and the channel in the tubular part, and which airtightly and movably contacts each of a periphery of the endoscope insertion part, a periphery of the treatment tool or a periphery of the channel, and an inner surface of the tubular part, and thereby maintains airtightness between a distal end and a proximal end inside the tubular part.

Methods and devices for accessing a body cavity are disclosed. In general, a surgical access device is provided that can include a cannula that defines a working channel that is sized and configured to receive a surgical instrument. A seal can be disposed in the cannula of the surgical access device. In one exemplary embodiment, the seal can be positioned at a point in the cannula that is effective to maintain contact between the seal and an instrument inserted therethrough as the instrument is rotated about that point.

Methods and devices are provided for providing surgical access into a body cavity. In one embodiment, a surgical access device is provided that includes a housing coupled to a retractor. The housing can be have one or more movable sealing ports for receiving surgical instruments. Each movable sealing port can include one or more sealing elements therein for sealing the port and / or forming a seal around a surgical instrument disposed therethrough. Each movable sealing port can be rotatable relative to the housing and each sealing element can be rotatable relative to the housing along a predetermined orbital path.

A surgical treatment apparatus according to the present invention includes an outer sheath, extending from a base portion subject to an operator's hand to the tip subject to insertion into a body cavity, that is provided with a working channel through which a treatment instrument can be passed; an image pickup device disposed at the tip portion of the outer sheath; and pivotable forceps disposed at the tip portion of the outer sheath, supported on a supporting section protruding in the axial direction via a joint being bent away from the working channel, and having a pair of forceps members arranged so as to be freely opened / closed, wherein the image pickup device is disposed at a position between the axis line of the supporting section and the axis line of the working channel and offset from an imaginary line connecting the two axis lines.

A device and method for remodeling or partitioning a body cavity, hollow organ or tissue tract includes graspers operable to engage two or more sections of tissue within a body cavity and to draw the engaged tissue between a first and second members of a tissue remodeling tool. The two or more pinches of tissue are held in complete or partial alignment with one another as staples or other fasteners are driven t9hrough the pinches, thus forming a four-layer tissue plication. Over time, adhesions formed between the opposed serosal layers create strong bonds that can facilitate retention of the plication over extended durations, despite the forces imparted on them by stomach movement. A cut or cut-out may be formed in the plication during or separate from the stapling step to promote edge-to-edge healing effects that will enhance tissue knitting / adhesion.