Patent ID: 6620173
Filing Date: 2003-09-16
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A method of performing a surgical procedure, the method comprising:locating a sheath formation in a mounted condition in an aperture leading into a patient body, the sheath formation defining a passage, an inlet leading into the passage and an outlet leading from the passage, the inlet being accessible from outside the patient body when the sheath formation is in its mounted condition; positioning the sheath formation in an extended condition, in which the outlet is positioned in close proximity to a surgical site within the patient body; passing an end effector of a robotically controllable surgical instrument through the inlet, along the passage and out from the outlet, so as to emerge from the outlet at a position in close promixity to the surgical site; displacing the sheath formation, when the end effector is positioned in close proximity to the surgical site, from the extended position into a withdrawn condition, in which the outlet is withdrawn from the surgical site; and robotically controlling the surgical instrument to cause the end effector to perform at least part of a surgical procedure at the surgical site.