Apparatus for peritoneal retraction

Abstract: The present invention concerns an apparatus for lifting the abdominal wall for peritoneal retraction comprising an abdominal wall engaging means (48,50) which is insertable through a small laparoscopic incision of limited area in the abdominal wall and comprises a pair of angle-shaped elements (34,36) movable relative to one another for extension from the exterior of the abdominal wall laterally beyond the limited area of the laparoscopic incision to interiorly engage an extensive area of the abdominal wall, and the apparatus comprises a lifting means (44) to impart lifting force to the abdominal wall through the angle shaped elements.

Description: The present invention relates to an apparatus for mechanically lifting the abdominal wall away form the underlying abdominal organs during laparoscopic procedures according to claim 1. In its more specific aspects, the invention is concerned with such an apparatus wherein the abdominal wall is lifted internally by a mechanical device which is introduced blindly or laparoscopically and, once in place, expanded to engage an extensive area of the abdominal wall. Laparoscopy dates back to the turn of the 20 th Century. Early laparoscopic techniques were used primarily for diagnostic purposes to view the internal organs, without the necessity of convention surgery. Since the 1930s, laparoscopy has been used for sterilization and, more recently, for the suturing of hernias. US-A-4 919 152 and 4 944 443 are concerned with techniques of the latter type. Another very recent innovation is the use of laparoscopic surgery for removal of the gallbladder. The concept of using mechanical retraction schemes to lift the abdominal wall away from the underlying abdominal organs during laparoscopic procedures is known from e.g. EP-A-0 246 086. Other known procedures presently use carbon dioxide insufflation to tent up the interior of the abdominal wall. This requires gas seals to be present at all entry ports through the abdominal wall, and because of the doming effect of insufflation, the laparoscopic instruments (graspers, scissors, electrocautery instruments, etc.) need long shafts (on the order of 30.5 to 33 cm (12 to 13 inches)) to reach the treatment site. Such instruments are difficult to control and result in exaggerated movements during instrument application. To retract the liver to gain access to treat the gall bladder, published: EP-A-0 246 086 shows a retracting laparoscope with four fingers that extend through a single laparoscopic puncture in the abdominal wall. After the fingers have been inserted, a mechanism outside the abdominal wall is operated to spread the fingers apart to expose the gall bladder. This apparatus has the disadvantage that additional incisions are required to insert the endoscope and to insert instruments used for treating the gall bladder. The publication WO-A-91/14392 (cited according to article 54(3) and (4) EPC, and prior art only in the countries AT, BE, CH, LI, DE, DK, ES, FR, GB, GR, IT, NL, SE discloses an apparatus for lifting the abdominal wall for peritoneal retraction, the apparatus comprising abdominal wall engaging means (figures 4, 5) wherein the abdominal wall engaging means is insertable through a small laparoscopic incision of limited area in the abdominal wall and comprises a pair of angle-shaped elements movable relative to one another for extension from the exterior of the abdominal wall laterally beyond the limited area of the laparoscopic incision to interiorly engage an extensive area of the abdominal wall; and the apparatus comprises a lifting means for impart lifting force to the abdominal wall through the angle shaped elements. The apparatus of the present invention for lifting the abdominal wall is defined in claim 1. Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. The mechanical apparatus of the present invention allow intraperitoneal placement via small limited incisions or puncture sites. The abdomen does not need to be sealed against gas leaks and doming up of the abdominal wall is avoided. The abdominal wall is lifted by means of externally disposed posts or mechanical arms. In practice, a small opening is formed in the abdominal wall and the lifting device is inserted into the abdomen through the opening in a contracted state. Once within the abdomen, the device is extended to engage an extensive area of the abdominal wall and the wall is lifted with the device. A principal object of the present invention is to provide a peritoneal retraction system to lift the abdominal wall without insufflation. Another and related object of the invention is to provide such a system which avoids the requirement of gas seals to be present at all entry ports through the abdominal wall. Still another object of the invention is to provide such a system which avoids doming of the abdominal wall and the requirement that the laparoscopic instruments be very long in order to accommodate such doming. Yet another object related to the latter object is to enable laparoscopic surgery to be carried out with instruments having relatively short shafts and to thus ease and increase the control imparted to the instruments by the surgeon. Another object of the invention is to provide a peritoneal retraction system which is gentle and may be controlled to effect the lifting of discreet areas of the abdominal wall. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a system of lifting the abdominal wall for peritoneal retraction which avoids unduly tensioning body tissue. Another general object of the invention is to provide such a system which avoids gas leaks and the need for trocar valves. These and other objects will become more apparent when viewed in light of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the lifting device of a first embodiment of the invention, with solid lines showing the device in contracted condition and phantom lines showing the device in the expanded condition; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a body in the process of having the first embodiment lifting device inserted into place in the contracted condition , with the abdominal wall broken away for purposes of illustration; Fig. 3 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 2, showing the lifting device of the fifth embodiment in the process of being expanded; Fig. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional elevational view of a body, showing the first embodiment of the invention in the process of lifting the abdominal wall; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the lifting device of a second embodiment of the invention, with the device shown in contracted condition and the balloons therein deflated; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the lifting device of the second embodiment, with the device shown in expanded condition and the balloons inflated; Figs. 7 to 12 are perspective views sequentially illustrating the steps of inserting the first embodiment lifting device into place within the abdominal cavity and expanded the device for engagement with the abdominal wall, with part of the abdominal wall broken away for purposes of illustration ; Fig. 13 is a transverse cross-sectional elevational view of a body, showing a modified version of the first embodiment lifting device in the process of lifting the abdominal wall, wherein the device is shown illuminating the area beneath the wall; Fig. 14 is a perspective view of another modified version of the first embodiment lifting device wherein the distal ends of the expansible elements are provided with balloons to shield them against snagging on body tissue; Fig. 15 is a transverse cross-sectional elevational view of a body showing yet another modified version of the first embodiment device wherein the expansible legs of the device carry a lifting balloon. The first embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4 comprises a pair of angle-shaped rigid members 34 and 36 having intermediate sections 38 and 40 extending in generally parallel relationship to one another and rotatably received within a sleeve 42. The proximal ends of the members 34 and 36 are formed with operating levers 44 and 46, respectively. The distal ends of the members 34 and 36 are provided with elongate arms 48 and 50. In use of the first embodiment, an incision 52 is cut into the abdominal wall and the arms 48 and 50 are extended through the incision while in the contracted condition shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The levers 44 and 46 are then moved toward one another and held together to fan the arms outwardly beneath the abdominal wall, as shown in Fig. 3. The abdominal wall may then be lifted as shown in Fig. 4 to retract the abdomen. The second embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 6 differs from the fifth embodiment only in that the arms, designated 48 and 50 carry elongate balloons 54 and 56, respectively, and that the angle-shaped members are tubular to provide for the conduit of inflation gas to these balloons. The elements of the Figs. 5 and 6 embodiments corresponding to those of the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 3 are designed by.like numerals, followed by the subscript "a" as follows: intermediate sections 38 a and 40 a ; sleeve 42 a ; and arms 44 a and 46 a . Flexible conduits 56 a and 58 a are secured to the levers 44 a and 46 a to provide for the conduit of gas thereto to inflate the balloons 54 a and 56 a . The second embodiment is introduced into the abdominal cavity and used for retraction in generally the same manner depicted in Fig. 2 to 4, with the exception that after the arms 48 a and 50 a are fanned out, the balloons 54 and 56 would be inflated, as shown in Fig. 6. This expands and cushions the area of contact between the arms and abdominal wall. Figs 7 to 12 illustrate the preferred sequence for forming the incision 52 and introducing the first or second embodiment into the abdominal cavity. In Fig. 7, a Veress needle with a thin plastic sheath 60 forms a puncture in the abdominal wall and enters the abdominal cavity. The Veress needle is then withdrawn, leaving the sheath 60 in place as shown in Fig. 8 and the guidewire 62 is threaded through the sheath and into the abdominal cavity. A small incision 52 (.5 cm) is then made along the sheath adjacent the guidewire and the sheath is removed, leaving the guidewire in place as shown in Fig. 9. A dilator 64 having a plastic guide sheath 66 thereover is then advanced over the guidewire and into the abdomen as shown in Fig. 10 and then the dilator and guidewire are removed, leaving the sheath in place as shown in Fig. 11. The dilator may have a fiberoptic scope to ensure that no bowel loops are impacted by the sheath during its placement. The lifting device or retractor is then introduced into the abdominal cavity through the guide sheath, as shown in Fig. 11, with the sheath protecting abdominal organs from trauma during insertion. Thereafter, the arms 48 and 50 are fanned out to provide expanded engagement with the inside of the abdominal wall, as shown in Fig. 12. There it will also be seen that a mechanical arm 67 is being engaged with the levers 44 and 46 to impart lifting force thereto and, in turn, retract the abdominal wall. The arm 67 has a distal section 69 a and a proximal section connected by a lockable swivel 71. The proximal section is supported on a motorized worm gear actuator 73 mounted on the side of the operating table, designated 75. The modified version of the first embodiment shown in Fig. 13 corresponds in structure and mode of operation to that of Figs. 1 to 4, except that lifting arms 48 b and 50 b incorporate fiberoptic means to illuminate the abdominal cavity. Fig. 13 diagrammatically shows light bulbs 68 at the proximal ends of the levers 44 b and 46 b to provide a light source for the fiber optic illuminators. The modified first embodiment version of Fig. 14 differs from that of Figs. 1 to 3 only in that the angle-shaped members 34 c and 36 c are tubular and provided with inflatable balloons 70 and 72 at the distal ends of the arms 48 c and 50 c . These balloons serve to shield the internal body organs from the ends of the arms. In use, the balloons would be in a contracted deflated condition during introduction of the Fig. 14 lifting device into the abdominal cavity. Once in place within the cavity, the balloons would be inflated through the tubular angle members and the arms 34c and 36c would be spread to fan out beneath the abdominal wall. Conclusion From the foregoing description, it is believed apparent that the present invention provides an apparatus for retracting the abdominal wall without insufflation. It also provides improved operating techniques. It should be understood, however, that the apparatus of the invention is not intended to be limited to the specifics of the illustrated embodiments, but rather is defined by the accompanying claims.

Claims: Apparatus for lifting the abdominal wall for peritoneal retraction, the apparatus comprising abdominal wall engaging means (48,50;48a,50a;48b,50b) insertable through a small laparoscopic incision of limited area in the abdominal wall, and wherein: (a) the abdominal wall engaging means comprises a pair of generally parallel elements (38,40), rotatably received within a sleeve (42) and connecting with a pair of elements (34,36) angled with respect to the generally parallel elements, the angled elements (34, 36) movable relative to one another upon selective rotation of the generally parallel elements for extension from the exterior of the abdominal wall laterally beyond the limited area of the laparoscopic incision to interiorly engage an extensive area of the abdominal wall; and (b) the apparatus comprises a lifting means (44) for imparting lifting force to the abdominal wall through the angle shaped elements. Apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that the lifting means comprises: (a) an arm (67) attachable to the abdominal wall engaging means; and (b) an elevation means (73) carrying the arm, the elevation means being mountable in fixed relation to the abdominal wall and selectively operable to raise and lower the arm. Apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized by selectively inflatable balloons (54, 56) carried by the second legs (48a, 50a). Apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized by light emitting illumination means (44b, 46b) for illuminating the sub-peritoneal space, the illumination means being carried by the abdominal wall engaging means (48b, 50b).

Inventors: CARAMORE DIANE E, CHIN ALBERT K, MOLL FREDERIC H, WATKINS FRANK T III, CARAMORE, DIANE E., CHIN, ALBERT K., MOLL, FREDERIC H., WATKINS, FRANK T., III
Applicants: SHERWOOD SERV AG, SHERWOOD SERVICES AG
Application year: 1992
Main classification: A61B17
IPC codes: A61B17, A61B19, A61B1, A61M29