Apparatus and method for minimally invasive surgery

Abstract

A single body port or body flange access device and method for performing laparoscopic surgery are disclosed. The device comprises a plurality of crisscrossing conduits through which surgical instruments may be inserted. The instruments are manipulated so that triangulation is obtained using one patient body flange while standard surgical procedures are performed on the patient.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the body access openings required for a laparoscopic appendectomy as practiced in the current art.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the body access opening required for a laparoscopic appendectomy as practiced in the instant invention. Note how the two ports (which may be multiple) cross each other providing a field of view.

FIG. 5 shows a close up view of the current state of the art body anchor.

FIG. 6 shows the body anchor of the instant invention showing how the conduit apertures cross over within the anchor.

FIG. 7 shows a dual straight conduit embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 8 shows a dual conduit embodiment of the instant invention having one straight conduit and one curved conduit.

FIG. 9 shows a dual curved conduit embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 10 shows the body anchor of the instant invention illustrating a standard suture tiedown.

FIG. 11 shows the body anchor of the instant invention illustrating one form of a v-notch suture tiedown.

FIG. 12 shows the instant invention with the v-notch suture tiedown incorporated in one of the conduit outside walls.

FIG. 13 shows the instant invention embedded in the abdomen wall illustrating a suture tiedown passing into the abdomen wall and returning to the suture tiedown point incorporated into the outside wall of a conduit.

FIG. 14 shows the dual bent conduit embodiment of the instant invention as utilized in an obese patient. Note the small cross-section afforded by the bent conduit structure.

FIG. 15 shows the parallel aperture embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 16 shows how the dual curved conduit embodiment of the instant invention with surgical instruments clearly illustrating the three dimensional triangulation obtained through the instant invention.

FIG. 17A shows an alternate embodiment of the body anchor having crisscrossed apertures with a central straight aperture.

FIG. 17B shows an alternate embodiment of the body anchor having crisscrossed apertures with a central straight aperture, but showing one of the larger crisscrossing apertures as being curved.

FIG. 18A is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the instant inventions showing how the apertures “crisscross” within the body anchor.

FIG. 18B is a diagrammatic top view of the instant device showing how the crisscrossed apertures align the surgical instruments so that triangulation is readily obtained.

FIG. 19A is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a first example of the prior art of Wilk.

FIG. 19B is diagrammatic top view of the first example of the prior art showing how the surgical instruments are offset.

FIG. 20A is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a second example of the prior art of Wilk.

FIG. 20B is diagrammatic top view of the second example of the prior art showing how the surgical instruments are offset.

Claims

1. A multiple access body flange assembly for performing minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery on a body comprising: a body access anchor adapted to be anchored to the body;a first aperture; and,a second aperture;wherein both said first and second apertures passing through said body access anchor whereby when surgical instruments are passed through said apertures such instruments may be manipulated by the surgeon so that a triangular field of view is obtained.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said first apertures crisscrosses, within said body anchor, said second aperture.

3. A multiple access body flange assembly for performing minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery on a body comprising: a body access anchor adapted to be anchored to the body; and,a plurality of apertures passing through said body access anchor wherein when surgical instruments are passed through said apertures such instruments may be manipulated by the surgeon so that a triangular field of view is obtained.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein at least one of said plurality of apertures crisscrosses, within said body anchor, another one of said plurality of said apertures.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein said anchor has a top side and an underside said underside further comprising a first conduit and a second conduit wherein said first conduit passes through said first aperture and said second conduit passes through said second aperture and wherein said conduit extend above said top side of said anchor.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein said anchor has a top side and an underside said underside further comprising a plurality of conduit wherein each of said plurality of said conduit pass respectively through one of said plurality of apertures and wherein said plurality of conduit extend above said top side of said anchor.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein one or more of said conduit extending above said top of said anchor are curved such the cross-section of said conduit is minimized thereby reducing the cross-sectional size of the required incision in the body.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein one or more of said conduit extending above said top of said anchor are curved such the cross-section of said conduit is minimized thereby reducing the cross-sectional size of the required incision in the body.

9. The device of claim 5 further comprising sealing means adapted to retain body inflation gas.

10. The device of claim 6 further comprising sealing means adapted to retain body inflation gas.

11. The device of claim 5 further comprising gas injection means for addition of body inflation gas.

12. The device of claim 6 further comprising gas injection means for addition of body inflation gas.

13. The device of claim 5 further comprising rotable seal means with said anchor such that one or more of said conduit may be rotated with respect to said anchor thereby aiding in the positioning of surgical instruments passing through said conduit.

14. The device of claim 6 further comprising rotable seal means with said anchor such that one or more of said conduit may be rotated with respect to said anchor thereby aiding in the positioning of surgical instruments passing through said conduit.

15. The device of claim 5 further comprising suture attachment means located on said top side of said anchor.

16. The device of claim 6 further comprising suture attachment means located on said top side of said anchor.

17. The device of claim 5 further comprising suture attachment means located on one or more or said conduit.

18. The device of claim 6 further comprising suture attachment means located on one or more or said conduit.

19. A method employing a multiple access body flange assembly having a plurality of crisscrossing conduits in laparoscopic surgery comprising: a) creating a single incision on the body by carefully considering the area where the surgery will be performed within the body;b) inserting the multiple access body flange through said incision thereby temporarily closing the incision;c) inserting two or more required surgical instruments through one or more of said plurality of conduit;d) manipulating the instruments so that triangulation is obtained;e) performing the required operation; and,f) following standard procedures for closing and terminating the procedure.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein one or more of said plurality of conduits are rotablely mounted within the body flange and wherein step d) is substituted by the following step: dd) manipulating one or more rotable conduit and manipulating the instruments so that triangulation is obtained.