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Publication Number
US-12137933-B2
Publication Date
2024-11-12
Expiration Date
Abstract
An access port for sealing an opening of a natural orifice and supplying access to a body cavity through the natural orifice including: a sealing unit; an unobstructed single lumen cannula extending to the body cavity; a connector connecting the cannula to the sealing unit; an access opening through the sealing unit to the single lumen; a cap including a plurality of cap openings configured to seal between medical instruments inserted into the openings and the access opening.
Core Innovation
The invention provides minimally invasive access to a body cavity through an orifice such as a vagina by using an access port and seal system that enables pressure communication control. A sealing unit seals an opening of the orifice and maintains a controlled communication between the orifice and the cavity. The system includes a single-lumen cannula or cannula-trocar with an access opening through the seal, and a connector that links the cannula to the seal.
The system further provides variable-length access channels by joining a proximal opening of the cannula to a distal opening of a tubular extension to form a combined lumen. The extension is slid longitudinally with respect to the cannula so that the length of the combined lumen is extended or contracted, and so that the proximal opening of the extension is positioned at a selected location with respect to an outer opening of the orifice. The proximal portion of the extension is attached to the seal, so tool access is introduced through the combined lumen into the cavity.
The access structure includes a cap with multiple openings that seal around inserted medical instruments and tools, enabling insertion of a plurality of tools from outside the orifice through the combined lumen into the cavity. Dimensional and orientation constraints support side-by-side multi-tool insertion and controlled tool orientation, including relationships between a long dimension and a short dimension of the lumen cross section and opening width constraints for accommodating multiple instruments.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim describes a method for providing access to a body cavity through an orifice using a sealing unit, a cannula passing through the seal, and a cannula coupled to a slidably positioned tubular extension that defines a combined lumen for introducing a plurality of tools into the cavity. The claim set includes 6 inventive features that further specify the sealing mechanism, the longitudinal sliding to position openings at selected distances, geometric constraints of the combined-lumen cross section, and tool configuration including robotic surgical arms side by side along a long dimension.
Sealed-orifice cannula access with slidably positioned combined lumen
Sealing an opening of an orifice with a seal; inserting a distal portion of a cannula through the sealed orifice so the distal portion is inserted through the seal; joining a proximal opening of the cannula to a distal opening of a tubular extension so a combined lumen provides communication between a distal opening of the cannula and a proximal opening of the extension; sliding the extension longitudinally with respect to the cannula to extend or contract a length of the combined lumen and to position the proximal opening at a selected location with respect to an outer opening of the orifice, wherein the proximal portion of the extension is attached to the seal; and introducing a plurality of tools from outside the orifice through the combined lumen into the cavity.
Seal limiting pressure or fluid communication between the orifice and outer atmosphere
Sealing the orifice by limiting pressure and/or restricting fluid communication between the orifice and an outer atmosphere.
Extension positioning with proximal opening protruding by a selected distance
Sliding an extension to position a proximal opening so it protrudes from an outer opening of an orifice by a specified distance.
Extension positioning with proximal opening inside the orifice by a specified distance
Sliding an extension to position a proximal opening inside an orifice by a distance from the orifice’s outer opening.
Combined lumen cross-section aspect ratio constraint
Characterizing the cross section of the combined lumen with a long dimension that is at least twice the short dimension.
Plural tools including at least two robotic surgical arms side by side along the long dimension
Defining that the plurality of tools introduced through the combined lumen includes at least two robotic surgical arms inserted side by side along the long dimension.
Across the independent-method claim and its refinements, the invention centers on sealing an orifice and passing a cannula through the seal, while a tubular extension is slid relative to the cannula to set a selected proximal opening location for the combined lumen. The claim set further constrains sealing to limit pressure or fluid communication, positions the extension using selected protrusion or internal distance relationships, characterizes the combined-lumen cross section by a long-to-short dimension relationship, and supports introducing multiple tools including robotic surgical arms arranged side by side along the lumen long dimension.
Stated Advantages
Preserves positive pressure.
Allows controlled access to a body cavity such as the pouch of Douglas through the orifice.
Enables insertion of multiple instruments and tools through a combined lumen.
Documented Applications
Minimally invasive access for culdoscopy through an orifice such as a vagina to access a body cavity such as the pouch of Douglas.
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