Patent Application
20240032903
This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Design application Ser. No. 29/865,461, filed Jul. 27, 2022, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
The present invention relates to medical specimen retrieval and, more particularly, to a device therefor.
Surgical procedures to capture organs or tissue to be removed from a body cavity, such as during laparoscopic surgery via extracorporeal manual morcellation, require devices for removal of medical specimens.
Typically, a mechanism with a medical specimen bag on an end is utilized for retrieval of the medical specimens during such procedures. Those mechanisms enable retraction of the medical specimen bag into the device, normally before use in a medical procedure.
For example, a medical specimen retrieval device may be supplied with the bag deployed. A nurse may retract the bag into an introducer tube of the retrieval device in order for the retrieval device to fit down a working channel of an endoscopic port, typically with an internal diameter between 5 millimeters (mm) to 15 mm. Once the surgeon has inserted the retrieval device through the port, the bag is re-deployed and a specimen is captured. In general, the bag does not re-enter the introducer tube at this point. It is instead released from a retracting element which holds it open. The retracting element is typically a pair of biasing arms but could be a single biasing arm, a continuous wire, or another non-biasing appendage. The retrieval device and bag are then removed separately.
The retraction of the bag into the introducer tube is difficult as the retractor must fight to collapse retracting element of the retrieval device and exhaust air that is trapped in the bag. Currently, the bags are pulled directly into the introducer tube resulting in high and inconsistent force profiles with each pull and potential damage to the tube or to the bag.
The tube is usually made from plastic, which can be deformed by the retracting element retracting into the tube, and excessive deformation may make the device unusable as it must fit into the surgical trocar/cannula of a specific diameter.
In addition, it sometimes takes multiple attempts to retract a bag as the bag is inflated and full of air. The bag does not easily deflate when fitting into the tube. These multiple attempts require extra effort, lead to frustration, and can also cause additional opportunities for damage to the device or bag.
As can be seen, there is a need for a medical specimen retrieval device which does not require such extraneous efforts for retracting the medical specimen bag into the tube.
In one aspect of the present invention, a medical specimen retrieval device comprises an introducer tube, a funnel removably attached to an end of the introducer tube wherein the funnel has a proximal end and a distal end and the funnel tapers from a smaller cross-section at the proximal end to a larger cross-section at the distal end, a retracting element extending from an interior of the funnel wherein the retracting element is retractable through the funnel and into an interior of the introducer tube by an actuator, and a medical specimen bag removably coupled to the retracting element.
Advantageously, the funnel protects the end of the introducer tube from damage by the retracting element during retraction and assists in deflation of the bag.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description, and claims.
The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims with reference to the drawings.
A general overview of the various features of the invention will be provided, with a detailed description following. Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a medical specimen retrieval device for retraction and/or retrieval of a medical specimen bag into an introducer tube of the device. The device comprises a funnel attached to the introducer tube.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the funnel may be detachably attached to an end of the introducer tube. The funnel may have a first end (a proximal end) and a second end (a distal end) opposite of the proximal end. The proximal end is configured to attach to the introducer tube of the medical specimen retrieval device. The proximal end may by cylindrical or include a cylindrical segment configured to removably attach to the end of the introducer tube. The proximal end may removably attach to the introducer tube by way of a friction fit or a threaded fit. As such, the proximal end may be configured to friction fit or threadedly attach onto the introducer tube. The introducer tube may have an external diameter approximately between 5 millimeters (mm) and 15 mm. The funnel tapers from a smaller cross-section or cross-sectional view at the proximal end to a larger cross-section at the distal end. The distal end may be a non-rectilinear shape.
In some embodiments, the medical specimen retrieval device may include an actuator connected to a retracting element extending from an interior of the introducer tube and/or from an interior of the funnel. The retracting element may be removably attached or coupled with a medical specimen bag.
The retracting element may be a pair of biasing arms. In some embodiments of the present invention, the retracting element may be at least one biasing arm, at least one non-biasing appendage, and/or a wire, such as a metal wire. The retracting element may be any device suitable to removably attach to the bag, retract into the introducer tube with the bag, and release the bag when not retracted into the introducer tube. In some embodiments, the retracting element may enclose or partially enclose a perimeter of the bag to releasably secure to bag. The retracting element may fit into a sleeve on the bag. Alternatively, the retracting element may attach to the bag by way of a clip. The mechanism by which the retracting element releasably secures the bag is not particularly limited.
The actuator may retract the retracting element and the medical specimen bag through the funnel and into an interior of the introducer tube. The mechanism of the actuator is not particularly limited. The actuator may be any device sufficient to retract the retracting element and medical specimen bag into the introducer tube. In some embodiments, the actuator may function by mechanical means. By way of illustration, the actuator may be a push-pull rod, a tether, a pull, a pulley and/or a combination thereof attached to the retracting element. Activation of the actuator, such as a pull of a lever or pulley, may operate the retracting element.
The medical specimen bag may be flexible and plastic. The medical specimen bag may include an easily accessible opening and a closure suture that facilitates closure of the specimen bag after a specimen has been collected. It may allow capture and capture of multiple specimens from a patient during a procedure.
A deployment mechanism, such as the retracting element, for the bag may comprise a push-pull rod extending through the introducer assembly. This may include or be attached to the actuator. The deployment mechanism may enable a deployment of the bag with the retracting element after a surgical insertion, such as through a cannula. For example, the deployment mechanism may enable the retrieval device to shift between a first position (an open position) and a second position (a closed position). Shifting between said positions may pull the retracting element attached to the medical specimen bag into the introducer tube. This pulling may deflate the bag by forcing the bag into the introducer tube. The funnel may assist by channeling air trapped in the bag for deflation. A deflated bag may more easily retract into and fit into the introducer tube. The funnel may also guide the retracting element and the bag into the introducer tube smoothing the transition of the bag between an open and a closed position.
In some embodiments, after the retracting element is retracted into the retrieval device, the funnel may be removed and discarded. The funnel may be disposable and replaceable. The funnel may be intended for a single use or for multiple uses for a single operation or for a single patient. In some embodiments, the present invention may not be repaired, modified, re-processed, or re-sterilized.
In some embodiments, the device may be attached during manufacturing of the product or attachable after manufacturing.
Referring to
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 29865461 | Jul 2022 | US |
| Child | 17823580 | US |
