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Publication Number
US-8551036-B2
Publication Date
2013-10-08
Expiration Date
Abstract
An aerosol generator is positioned adjacent to a patient as an attachment to a trocar. The trocar has an entry port for insufflation gas. Aerosol generated by a vibrating element is entrained in the insufflation gas and the mixture is delivered through the trocar. The aerosol may contain a medicament. The trocar may be a conventional trocar. Such trocars are typically used for a camera. The delivery of the aerosolized medicament can occur at the start of the procedure and be delivered in bolus. At the start of the procedure, the peritoneum is being inflated by means of the flow of insufflator gas. This gas flow will help to entrain the aerosolized medicament to the pneumoperitoneum regions. The surgeon can temporarily remove the camera from the trocar port to facilitate insertion and positioning of the aerosolizing unit.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an insufflation system for procedures involving insufflation that combines an aerosol generator with a trocar. The aerosol generator is configured to aerosolize a fluid to form an aerosol, and the trocar is configured to deliver the aerosol during insufflation through the trocar. The trocar includes a trocar housing with a proximal end to which the aerosol generator is mounted, a proximal entry port for insufflation gas, and a distal end through which aerosol is delivered into a body cavity.
An aerosol delivery tube extends from the aerosol generator through the proximal end of the trocar housing and distally into the trocar housing. The aerosol delivery tube is configured so that the aerosol formed by the aerosol generator is delivered into the trocar housing. The aerosol delivery tube has a distally directed aerosol outlet located distally with respect to the insufflation gas entry port of the trocar, which positions aerosol entrainment and delivery within the trocar housing relative to the insufflation gas entry port.
The system includes concepts for controlling aerosol output and mitigating adverse effects associated with aerosol delivery during insufflation. The aerosol generator is based on a vibrating/ultrasonic piezoelectric or vibrating mesh/plate that produces fine droplets, and operation can include bolus delivery at procedure start and controller-based operation. The disclosed concepts also include humidification to reduce heat loss and fogging, structural arrangements using tubes, seals, and optionally flow-diverting means to entrain aerosol closer to delivery, and valve features to protect aerosolizing elements during trocar instrument insertion.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim focuses on an apparatus that aerosolizes a fluid and delivers the aerosol through a trocar during insufflation using a distally directed aerosol outlet positioned relative to the trocar’s proximal insufflation gas entry port. The inventive features are further narrowed in dependent claims by specifying structural gaps, tube geometry, sealing/flow-path arrangements, and controller-based delivery control modes.
Aerosol generator and trocar delivery during insufflation with distally directed aerosol outlet
An apparatus comprising an aerosol generator configured to aerosolize a fluid to form an aerosol, and a trocar configured to deliver the aerosol formed by the aerosol generator, the trocar having a trocar housing with a proximal end to which the aerosol generator is mounted, a proximal entry port for insufflation gas, and a distal end through which aerosol is delivered.
Aerosol delivery tube extending through trocar housing with distally located aerosol outlet
An aerosol delivery tube extending from the aerosol generator through the proximal end of the trocar housing and distally into the trocar housing, configured such that the aerosol formed by the aerosol generator is delivered into the trocar housing, the aerosol delivery tube having a distally directed aerosol outlet located distally with respect to the insufflation gas entry port of the trocar.
Gap at aerosol delivery tube and aerosol generator interface for insufflation gas into proximal tube
An arrangement including a gap between an aerosol delivery tube and an aerosol generator to deliver insufflation gas into the tube at its proximal end.
Inner and outer tube configuration defining insufflation gas flow path
An aerosol delivery tube in which an inner tube is radially spaced from an outer tube to define an insufflation gas flow path between them.
Controller configured to deliver predetermined amount of aerosol into insufflation gas
A controller configured to deliver a predetermined amount of aerosol into insufflation gas.
Overall, the claim set centers on mounting an aerosol generator to a trocar housing and delivering the aerosol via an aerosol delivery tube that extends into the trocar housing with a distally directed aerosol outlet positioned relative to the trocar’s proximal insufflation gas entry port, with dependent claims narrowing the entrainment/delivery structure and controller-based aerosol delivery mode.
Stated Advantages
Humidification to reduce heat loss and fogging.
Control of aerosol output, including bolus delivery at procedure start.
Rainout reduction and protection of aerosolizing elements during trocar instrument insertion.
Documented Applications
Procedures involving insufflation, including laparoscopic insufflation procedures and delivery into a body cavity using a trocar.
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