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EP-4739365-A1 - STEERABLE SUCTION/IRRIGATION SYSTEM FOR SINGLE-PORT OPERATION

EP4739365A1EP 4739365 A1EP4739365 A1EP 4739365A1EP-4739365-A1

Abstract

A medical device includes: a cannula having a distal end and a proximal end opposite the distal end; a housing connected to the proximal end of the cannula; and a manipulator connected to the housing. The cannula includes a rigid section adjacent to the housing and a flexible section adjacent to the distal end of the cannula, and the manipulator is connected to the flexible section in a manner that permits selective bending of the flexible section relative to the rigid section in response to user input at the manipulator. The cannula includes a channel that is configured to convey suction and/or irrigation at the distal end of the cannula.

Inventors

  • CHAMBERS, Justin, R.
  • SHAKURI-RAD, Jaschar

Assignees

  • Shakuri-Rad, Jaschar

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240705

Claims (17)

  1. 1. A medical device, comprising: a cannula having a distal end and a proximal end opposite the distal end; and a housing connected to the proximal end of the cannula; and a manipulator connected to the housing; wherein the cannula includes a rigid section adjacent to the housing and a flexible section adjacent to the distal end of the cannula, and the manipulator is connected to the flexible section in a manner that permits selective bending of the flexible section relative to the rigid section in response to user input at the manipulator; and wherein the cannula includes a channel that is configured to convey suction and/or irrigation at the distal end of the cannula.
  2. 2. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising: a suction valve; and a suction switch that selectively opens and closes the suction valve to provide suction at the distal end of the cannula.
  3. 3. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising: an irrigation valve; and an irrigation switch that selectively opens and closes the irrigation valve to provide irrigation at the distal end of the cannula.
  4. 4. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising: a suction valve; a suction switch that selectively opens and closes the suction valve to provide suction at the distal end of the cannula; an irrigation valve; and an irrigation switch that selectively opens and closes the irrigation valve to provide irrigation at the distal end of the cannula.
  5. 5. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a bend in the cannula along an axial direction of the cannula.
  6. 6. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a blunt tip at the distal end of the cannula.
  7. 7. The medical device of claim 6, wherein the blunt tip comprises: a tip channel that conveys suction or irrigation from the channel inside the cannula to an exterior of the blunt tip; and a rounded profile at a distal end of the blunt tip.
  8. 8. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising: a grasping element at the distal end of the cannula; and a grasping actuator that is configured to selectively activate the grasping element in response to user input at the grasping actuator.
  9. 9. The medical device of claim 8, wherein the grasping element comprises a first part and a second part that is pivotable relative to the first part, wherein the pivoting of the second part relative to the first part is selectively controlled by a user input at the grasping actuator.
  10. 10. The medical device of claim 8, wherein the grasping element comprises a grasping element channel in fluidic communication with the channel in the cannula, and one or more ports in fluidic communication with the grasping element channel and an exterior of the grasping element, such that the grasping element conveys suction or irrigation from the channel inside the cannula to the exterior of the grasping element.
  11. 11. The medical device of claim 8, wherein the grasping element is connected to the grasping actuator by a cable that runs in a passageway defined by the cannula.
  12. 12. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the manipulator is connected to the flexible section of the cannula by one or more cables that run in one or more passageways defined by the cannula.
  13. 13. The medical device of claim 12, wherein the manipulator is actuatable in only a single direction and is connected to the flexible section via one cable such that the manipulator may be used to bend the flexible section relative to the rigid section in one direction.
  14. 14. The medical device of claim 12, wherein the manipulator is actuatable in two different directions and is connected to the flexible section via two cables such that the manipulator may be used to bend the flexible section relative to the rigid section in two different directions.
  15. 15. The medical device of claim 12, wherein the manipulator is actuatable in three or more different directions and is connected to the flexible section via three or more cables such that the manipulator may be used to bend the flexible section relative to the rigid section in multiple different directions.
  16. 16. The medical device of claim 12, wherein the manipulator is actuatable in four different directions and is connected to the flexible section via four cables such that the manipulator may be used to bend the flexible section relative to the rigid section in four different directions.
  17. 17. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the medical device is configured to be used in single-port surgery.

Description

STEERABLE SUCTION/IRRIGATION SYSTEM FOR SINGLE-PORT OPERATION PRIORITY [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application number 63/525,042 filed July 5, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] Aspects of the present invention relate generally to single-port surgery and, more particularly, to devices and methods for providing a steerable suction/irrigation for use in singleport surgery. BACKGROUND [0003] Single-port surgery is a procedure performed through one cut (i.e., incision) and with an innovative single-port robot. Surgeons perform single-port surgery through a single port (i.e., incision) in the patient’s body, such as in the navel or abdomen. The location of the single incision may vary depending on the surgical procedure. First used clinically in September 2018, single-port robotic surgery is now widely used in many medical centers worldwide for various procedures. Surgeons use this minimally invasive approach in many procedures involving different organ systems. For example, surgeons in a variety of specialties conduct single-port surgery, including urology, and ear, nose and throat. Because it uses only one incision, singleport surgery leaves little to no scarring and may reduce complications that commonly occur after traditional open and even traditional laparoscopic abdominal surgery. People who have singleport surgery report less pain and faster recovery than with traditional minimally invasive surgeries. However, the single-port approach is more challenging than traditional laparoscopy or robotic surgery because your surgeon has less freedom of movement with all instruments using the same entry point. [0004] Current laparoscopic handheld suction/irrigation devices are cumbersome to use and are difficult to maneuver, especially during single-port robotic surgery. Because single-port robotic systems rely on a singular port configuration to reduce the need for additional incisions and ports, this creates space limitations that current tools are not designed to accommodate. [0005] Current tools are also designed with singular functionality and are focused on the suctioning task. In order to manipulate tissue, the suction device has to be taken out of the port and a new tool inserted. This limits the bedside surgeon and assistants. SUMMARY [0006] Implementations of the invention address the above-noted problems of the prior ait by providing an inventive suction/irrigation device that allows bedside assistants and surgeons to overcome the space limitations faced during laparoscopic/robotic surgery and allow for more efficient surgical procedures. The inventive device allows more efficient and space conscious suctioning, while allowing manipulation of tissue, and allowing specimen retrieval through the port, amongst others. Embodiments described herein include a suction/irrigation device preferably used in single-port laparoscopic operations. A preferred embodiment comprises a suction component, an irrigation component, a cannula, and a cannula tip that is designed to be steerable or manipulable to access hard to reach areas and offer better overall control and manipulation during procedures. [0007] In a first aspect of the invention, there is a medical device comprising: a cannula having a distal end and a proximal end opposite the distal end; a housing connected to the proximal end of the cannula; and a manipulator connected to the housing. The cannula includes a rigid section adjacent to the housing and a flexible section adjacent to the distal end of the cannula, and the manipulator is connected to the flexible section in a manner that permits selective bending of the flexible section relative to the rigid section in response to user input at the manipulator. The cannula includes a channel that is configured to convey suction and/or irrigation at the distal end of the cannula. [0008] In a second aspect, the medical device of the first aspect further comprises: a suction valve; and a suction switch that selectively opens and closes the suction valve to provide suction at the distal end of the cannula. [0009] In a third aspect, the medical device of the first aspect further comprises: an irrigation valve; and an irrigation switch that selectively opens and closes the irrigation valve to provide irrigation at the distal end of the cannula. [0010] In a fourth aspect, the medical device of the first aspect further comprises: a suction valve; a suction switch that selectively opens and closes the suction valve to provide suction at the distal end of the cannula; an irrigation valve; and an irrigation switch that selectively opens and closes the irrigation valve to provide irrigation at the distal end of the cannula. [0011] In a fifth aspect, the medical device of any of the previous aspects further comprises a bend in the cannula along an axial direction of the cannula. [0012] In a sixth aspect,