Directable traction systems and methods
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12185962-B2
Publication Date
2025-01-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
Described here are methods, systems, and devices, useful for minimally invasive surgical procedures. The methods may include introducing a grasper through an opening into an abdominal cavity, grasping a portion of a left lobe of a liver with the grasper, rotating the grasper towards a control element located outside the abdominal cavity by applying a magnetic field to the grasper across a body wall, and moving the control element over a set of ribs such that the liver bends into a folded configuration.
Core Innovation
The invention provides minimally invasive remote-tissue traction in which a detachable magnetic grasper is introduced into an abdominal cavity through an opening and grasps a portion of a first lobe of a liver while the patient is tilted such that a thoracic cavity of the patient is above an abdominal cavity of the patient. This grasping is performed while the patient is tilted to support subsequent liver movement.
After grasping, the grasper is rotated toward a magnetic control element located outside the abdominal cavity. A magnetic field is applied to the grasper across a body wall, and the magnetic control element is moved over a set of ribs. As a result, the liver bends into a folded configuration, creating a folded liver configuration and a space vacated in the abdomen.
The disclosed approach includes patient tilting, visualization with an optical sensor, and downstream surgical actions tied to the folded liver state. Documented downstream actions include providing stomach access and performing gastric procedures, including gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, gastric band, biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, and gastric cancer resection.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover a method for performing a surgical procedure using patient tilting combined with magnetic remote traction of a liver lobe via an externally controlled magnetic field across a body wall. Across the independent claims, at least two core inventive feature sets are specified.
Tilting thoracic above abdominal cavity with magnetic folding of first liver lobe
Tilting a patient such that a thoracic cavity of the patient is above an abdominal cavity of the patient; introducing a grasper through an opening into an abdominal cavity; grasping a portion of a first lobe of a liver with the grasper while the patient is tilted; rotating the grasper towards a magnetic control element located outside the abdominal cavity; applying a magnetic field to the grasper across a body wall; and moving the magnetic control element over a set of ribs such that the liver bends into a folded configuration.
Inferior portion of segment III grasped for folded-liver traction
Grasping the portion of the first lobe comprises grasping an inferior portion of segment III of the liver.
The claim set defines a minimally invasive procedure combining patient tilting with magnetic remote traction to bend a liver lobe into a folded configuration by rotating a grasper toward an external magnetic control element and moving that control element over ribs. A further independent claim specifies grasping an inferior portion of segment III as part of the first-lobe grasping.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Providing stomach access and performing gastric procedures tied to the folded liver state, including gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, gastric band, biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, and gastric cancer resection.
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