Retainer for laparoscopic cannula

A cannula retaining device is disclosed in which a base includes a sleeve in the center thereof to provide a port for insertion of a cannula. A clamp including a compressible plug with an interior aperture that matches the diameter of the cannula is fitted into the base. The clamp includes a pair of laterally extending finger engageable arms which tighten the compressible plug on the cannula, thereby receiving the cannula while allowing adjustment, angulation and rotation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of Invention 
This invention relates in general to a retention device that prevents a 
cannula from becoming dislodged from the operative site during surgery. 
More particularly, this invention relates to a disposable retaining base 
providing secure attachment to the patient and facilitating the 
installation, substitution and adjustment of cannulae and instruments used 
in laparoscopic surgery. 
2. Description of Related Art 
Laparoscopic surgery is a recently introduced method for performing various 
types of surgical operations. Unlike other types of surgical procedures, 
laparoscopic surgery does not require large incisions to expose the 
internal organs. Typical laparoscopic procedures begin with the creation 
of a pneumoperitoneum (inflated peritoneum) in order to safely insert 
instruments into the body cavity. A small hole is first cut through the 
body wall and a tubular sheath or cannula is inserted through the hole. 
The body cavity is then distended by filling the body cavity with gas 
under pressure. Other cannulae are subsequently inserted into the body 
cavity to form housings for the insertion of various surgical instruments. 
For example, a laparoscope may be inserted through a cannula so that the 
surgeon can study ("visualize") the internal organs. Also, other types of 
surgical instruments may be inserted through these cannulae so that the 
surgery can be performed while the organs are being visualized and 
manipulated during the surgery. 
There is often a need to restrain the instruments within the cannula to 
minimize excess movement, and a separate need to prevent excessive 
movement of the cannula itself, while allowing specific types of movement. 
If the cannula shifts through the incision as the surgeon carries out the 
operation, the laparoscope or other instruments may shift to affect the 
procedure or distract the surgeon and interfere with the operation. In 
addition, if a cannula becomes dislodged during the surgery, the 
distention of the body cavity may be lost. Both the re-establishment of 
the pneumoperitoneum and the re-insertion of the cannula prolong the 
length of the surgical procedure. 
In addition there is often a need to adjust the position of the cannula or 
to adjust the angle of the cannula with respect to the patient's body 
without causing any unwanted shifting of the cannula. Such motion allows 
the surgeon to view other parts of the organs or to manipulate instruments 
relative to the organs during the surgery. Sometimes the cannula is made 
of material which is not treated with a special spiral retention device or 
is treated with a non-sticking material such as teflon. In such cases, 
special configurations or materials are needed to address these types of 
cannulae. 
It is therefore desirable for the surgeon to have the cannula remain in 
proper position within the patient without the need to manually hold it in 
place thereby minimizing delays in such surgical procedures. It is also 
desirable to permit the hands of the surgeon to be kept free so that the 
surgeon may direct attention to other cannulae or other surgical needs. 
Therefore, ease of adjusting the retention force with the fingers of a 
single hand and placement of the trocar within the cannula is also an 
objective. Since various manufacturers make different sized cannulae, it 
is also desirable for cannulae retaining devices to be adaptable to 
different diameter cannulae. 
In addition, it is sometimes desirable during a laparoscopic procedure to 
change the angle at which the cannula enters the body cavity in order to 
view different portions of the internal organs or to maneuver the other 
surgical instruments. However, such angulation can place excessive stress 
on the adhesive and cause it to separate. Thus, it is desirable to 
facilitate flexible but secure support a cannula in such a manner so that 
the angle can be changed with respect to the patient's body without 
causing any unwanted shifting of the cannula or enlargement of the 
peritoneum while insuring that minimum stress is placed upon the mounting 
pad and adhesive. 
Finally, it is desirable to provide some gas sealing to prevent, or at 
least minimize, the escape of the gas around the incision through which 
the cannula is inseted. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
To overcome the limitations in the prior art described above, and to 
overcome other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and 
understanding the present specification, the present invention discloses a 
disposable cannula retaining device for laparoscopic surgical procedures. 
A feature of the present invention is a disposable retaining device which 
is held in place in order to secure a cannula. The integration of an 
anchored base with a locking ratchet disposed above the insertion point 
ensures that the cannula will not be dislodged from the operative site but 
enables placement, securement and adjustment of the cannula. 
The retaining device has a base for securing a cannula to the patient and a 
clamping mechanism for receiving the cannula while allowing adjustment, 
angulation and rotation. 
A more specific example of a device in accordance with the present 
invention is a flat flexible base having a flexible neck that allows the 
inserted cannula to be tilted at any desired angle, a clamp which rotates 
around the neck of the base which can easily be tightened to hold the 
inserted cannula, and an pre-sized insert which snaps into the clamp and 
has an inner diameter that matches the diameter of the cannula being used. 
A second example of a device in accordance with the present invention is a 
flat flexible base having a flexible neck, a clamp which rotates around 
the neck of the base having an integral inner portion with a central 
vertical aperture pre-sized to receive a cannula. The clamp further has a 
locking mechanism that compresses the integral inner portion thereby 
diminishing the inner diameter of the aperture. 
Alternative examples of a device in accordance with the present and 
incorporating the features discussed above may also have a base having a 
bellowed neck which also allows the inserted cannula to be tilted at any 
desired angle. Finally, the features of the base, the clamp and the insert 
as discussed above may be wholly integral.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention in this exemplification is a retaining device for a 
cannula used during laparoscopic surgical procedures. A pneumoperitoneum 
is usually created first to distend the peritoneum and allow greater 
freedom of movement in the cavity. An incision is made using a verres 
needle. The verres needle incorporates a cutting trocar and an obturator 
on the inside of the trocar. The obturator has a small axial hole for 
channeling gas through the verres needle to the insertion end. The 
obturator pushes out so that the trocar does not slice an internal organ. 
Once the verres needle is inserted into the body cavity, gas is pumped 
into the body cavity to establish the pneumoperitoneum. The verres needle 
is then removed and an optical port is created by inserting a cannula into 
the original incision using one of several methods incorporating the 
retaining device in accordance with the present invention. 
In a first method, an optical port is created using a cannula and trocar. 
The surgeon selects the puncture site and places the retaining device so 
that the puncture site is visible through the opening in the neck of the 
base. The cannula and the trocar are inserted through the aperture in the 
retaining device and into the patient to create the port. The trocar is 
removed and the cannula is moved into a desired position. The clamp is 
then tightened to maintain the cannula position relative to the base and 
the patient. Pressurized gas is then pumped into the body cavity through 
the cannula to distend the body cavity. Finally, a laparoscope is inserted 
through the optical port cannula and into the body cavity. 
In an alternative method, the retaining device is attached to the upper end 
of the cannula and trocar. Then the cannula and trocar are inserted into 
the body cavity of the patient as described above. The retaining device is 
then slid down the cannula and attached to the patient. The trocar is 
removed and the cannula is moved nto a desired positioned. The clamp is 
then tightened to maintain the cannula position relative to the base and 
the patient. Pressurized gas is then pumped into the body cavity through 
the cannula to distend the body cavity and the laparoscope is inserted 
through the optical port cannula and into the body cavity. 
These procedures are repeated as needed to create the desired number of 
ports. The retention of the cannula allows instruments to be manipulated 
through the cannula without dislodging the cannula from the 
pneumoperitoneum due to friction between the instruments and the cannula 
and consequently causing the loss of the pneumoperitoneum. Once the 
pneumoperitoneum is lost, the surgeon must stop the procedure and 
re-establish the pneumoperitoneum thus prolonging the length of the 
surgical procedure. 
Refer now to FIG. 1, which illustrates the present invention as used in an 
operating room environment during a laparoscopic surgical procedure. A 
cannula retaining device 10 is shown attached to a patient 12 prepared for 
laparoscopic surgery and partially covered with sterile drapery 14. 
According to one particular method of using the retaining device, a 
cannula 16 having a trocar 17 inserted therein is aligned with the 
retaining device 10 and prepared for insertion while the surgeon grasps 
the retaining device 10 with two fingers (illustrated in outline) 18 to 
clamp the cannula once the cannula is positioned into the body cavity. 
FIG. 2 illustrates the elements of the retaining device 10. The retaining 
device 10 comprises a base 20, a retaining clamp 30, and an insert 40. A 
substantially round base 20 is shown having tabs 22 along the edges of the 
base 20 for facilitating removal upon completion of the surgical 
procedure. At the center of the base 20 is a neck 24 through which the 
cannula protrudes. On the base 20 surrounding the neck 24 are one or more 
concentric relief folds 26. These relief folds 26 allow the neck and 
cannula to be angulated from its relative perpendicular position without 
transmitting a sheering strain on the base 20. Thus,the relief folds 26 
allow a more natural movement. On the underside of the base 20, an 
adhesive backing or vacuum secures the base to the patient thereby 
ensuring that the pneumoperitoneum is maintained. 
A cannula 16 is grasped by an insert 40 which can be separate from the 
clamp 30 or can be made an integral part of the clamp 30. Since cannulae 
16 can be made of material which is not treated with a special spiral 
retention device, is of a different shape or may be treated with a 
non-sticking material such as teflon, special inserts 40 are sometimes 
required. In these special circumstances, the inserts 40 need to be 
designed to address the special configuration of the cannula 16 or made of 
a soft sticker material such as silicone in order to securely grasp the 
cannula 16. In such instances, the clamp 30 and the insert 40 would be 
fabricated from different materials and therefore the insert 40 needs to 
be separate from the clamp 30. 
FIG. 2 illustrates an insert 40 separate from the clamp 30. The insert 40 
is a short, substantially cylindrical sleeve having an inner surface 44 
for grasping a cannula 16. Inserts 40 of varying inner diameter 44 can be 
selected to match different size cannulae 16. The pre-sized insert 40 fits 
into a clamp 30 and is chosen to match the diameter of the cannula 16 
being used. The insert 40 snaps easily into the clamp 30 and a lip 42 is 
formed around the upper edge of the insert that rests upon the upper edge 
of the clamp 30 when inserted. FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the alternative 
design where the insert 40 is integral with the clamp 30. In any event, 
the insert 40 or the integral insert/clamp arrangement is color coded 
according to the diameter of the inner aperture 44. 
FIG. 3 illustrates the cannula 16 positioned inside the body cavity 50 
through a retaining device 10 attached to a patient 12. The cannula 16 is 
shown grasped by the insert 40 and clamp 30. FIG. 4 illustrates a top view 
of an insert 40 snapped into place inside a clamp 30 and a cannula 16 
secured therein. Now referring to FIGS. 4-6, two arms 32, 33 are shown 
extending outward tangently from the clamp 30 to form the locking rachet. 
The first arm 32 of the clamp 30 bends toward the second arm 33 forming an 
L-bend 34 and receives the end portion of a second arm 33 in teeth 36 
disposed at the end of the L-shaped first arm member 32 upon the inside 
surface thereof. Thus the second arm 33 is engaged in the teeth 36 of the 
first arm 32 when the clamp 30 is tightened. The clamp 30 may be tightened 
by using only the thumb and forefinger to press the second arm 33 toward 
the first arm 32. The second arm 33 is therefore ratcheted over the teeth 
36 of the first arm 32 and thus decreases the diameter of the cannula 
receiving surface 44. The receiving arm 32 has a tab 38 which allows the 
rigid arm 32 to be pulled away from the cylindrical sleeve with a single 
hand thus disengaging the second arm 33 from the teeth 36 of the first arm 
32. The second arm 33 then springs back into the released position. 
FIG. 7 shows the arms 32, 33 extending from the clamp 30 and illustrates a 
slit 37 between the arms 32, 33 and the depending tube portion 39 of the 
clamp 30, such that the inner diameter of the cannula receiving surface 44 
is decreased when finger pressure is applied to the sides of the arms 32, 
33. The insertable end 39 of the clamp 30 is smaller in diameter than the 
locking rachet end 35 of the clamp 30. The locking ratchet end 35 has an 
opening 31 longitudinally along one of the sides that allows the diameter 
of the inner surface 44 to be decreased when the clamp 30 is tightened. A 
lip 52 circumscribes the edge of the depending tube portion 39 of the 
clamp 30. The lip 52 secures the clamp 30 against the neck 24 of the base 
20 by snapping into the receiving groove 56 on the inner surface of the 
neck 24 of the base 20. The seating of the clamp 30 into the neck 24 
facilitates angulation of the neck 24 of the base 20. In addition, this 
configuration allows the clamp 30 to rotate around the neck 24 of the base 
20 for proper positioning and thereby promotes superior angular tilting of 
the cannula 16 by ensuring that the arms 32, 33 of the clamp 30 are out of 
the line of angulation. 
FIG. 8 is a prospective view of the clamp 30 as described above and also 
illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. The two arms 32, 33 are shown extending 
outward tangently from the clamp 30. Beneath the point where the arms 32, 
33 extend outward from the cylindrical tube portion 35 of the clamp 30, 
the slit 37 that enables the inner diameter 44 of the clamp 30 to be 
decreased is observable. As described above, the lip 52 which 
circumscribes the edge of the depending tube portion 39 of the clamp 30 is 
also illustrated. 
In summary, a low cost, disposable cannula retaining device has been 
described. Because of these features, the cannula is maintained in place 
and the time required to complete surgical procedures is reduced. 
The preceding description of the invention has been presented for the 
purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be 
exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many 
modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. 
It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this 
detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.