Imagyn Medical, Inc.

Imagyn Medical Technologies, Inc.

John P Greelis

Tuoc Tan Nguyen

Richard L Quick

Steven R Bacich

Hien V Nguyen

Matthew T Yurek

Allan Francis Willis

Hien Van Nguyen

Malcolm Heaven

Mikxay Sirivong

Gary M Woker

Fred R Tietge

An introducer is shown and described which includes a number of unique and useful features designed to improve the process of obtaining access to a bodily cavity for the purpose of performing minimally invasive surgical procedures, particularly laparoscopic procedures. These features include, among others, a sharpened cannula distal end, in order to assist entry of the introducer through the tissue barrier into the bodily cavity, a substantially transparent support disk so that visual access to the insertion site is maintained at all times, a septum seal designed to sealingly receive instruments having a cross-sectional dimension of 2.2 mm or less, an improved anchoring device which is simply and manually actuated and is of an advantageous three-slit design, and a simple, side-mounted gas insufflation port, usable at all times during the procedure and adapted for connection to gas tubing fitted with a pinch clamp for easy control of the gas flow.

Small diameter introducer for laparoscopic instruments

A laparoscopic introducer and method of use comprise a laparoscopic channel and a guide channel for a secondary instrument. Upon initial insertion of the introducer, the guide channel closely conforms to the body of the introducer so as to only negligibly increase the cross-sectional profile thereof. Following insertion, the guide channel can be distended by means of a dilator. Thus, the guide channel allows a secondary instrument to be inserted into the body to perform laparoscopic procedures wherein the instrument is inserted and utilized along the same longitudinal axis as the laparoscope. Thus, the number of laparoscopic ports are reduced and visual distortions associated with triangulation are avoided. The guide channel is constructed from an extremely thin, but very strong and noncompliant membrane which may also be reinforced by means of a force distribution mechanism. The guide channel may also be provided with guide rails or other tracking mechanisms to ensure accurate and secure advancement of the dilator or secondary instrument. The method of construction of the introducer and an apparatus and method for dilation are also disclosed.

Method and apparatus for performing laparoscopy

A surgical access device comprises an introducer with a main endoscopic channel and an auxiliary or secondary instrument channel. The introducer exhibits an extremely narrow cross-sectional profile in order to minimize the size of the portal or other entry point necessary to gain access into the patient's body, thereby minimizing pain and discomfort to the patient and allowing a wide variety of endoscopic procedures to be performed on an out-patient basis. The narrow profile of the introducer is maintained upon introduction by a guide channel which can be stored in a first position so as to closely conform to the profile of the introducer. The guide channel is provided with a set in order to maintain its stored position upon introduction; however, post introductively, the set in the guide channel can be readily released in order to deploy the guide channel and allow insertion of a secondary surgical instrument. The guide channel can be provided with rails or other tracks in order to ensure accurate movement of the instrument to the desired distal location. The guide channel is constructed from a thin but extremely strong and noncompliant membrane material. The present invention also comprises a method of construction and use of the surgical access device.

Surgical access device and method of constructing same

A surgical access device and method are provided for endoscopic surgeries comprising biopsies or other surgical cutting procedures. The device generally comprises a substantially rigid first channel associated with a first port and a second channel associated with a second port of a proximal housing. The first or main channel extends to a curved distal end of the device, and the second channel is connected to a guide channel extending tangential to the main channel. The guide channel comprises substantially noncompliant material and has a pre-insertion position such that a cross-section of an inserted portion of the device is substantially the same as a cross-section of the main channel. A preferred method of the present invention includes the use of an open-loop device formed at a distal tip of an introducer and an aspiration tube during the location, excision and removal of one or more tissue specimens.

Method and apparatus for performing biopsy

An endoscope including an elongated endoscope body sized and adapted for insertion into a passage, such as a passage of the body of a patient. Optical components are carried by the endoscope body to enable viewing of the passage distally of the distal end of the endoscope body within a field of view of the endoscope. An elongated, resilient member is mounted on and carried by the endoscope body such that the endoscope body and the resilient member are a unitary assembly which can be inserted as a unit into the passage. The resilient member extends beyond the distal end of the endoscope body and is capable of contacting material within or forming the passage and relatively displacing the distal end of the endoscope body and such material within the field of view of the endoscope to enhance viewing of the passage with the endoscope.

Endoscope with protruding member and method of utilizing the same

A controller for moving an elongated medical instrument in a catheter comprising a supporting structure including a mounting section adapted to be coupled to a catheter and a drive section. The controller also includes a drive wheel and a secondary wheel with each of the wheels having a peripheral surface. Each of the peripheral surfaces has an instrument groove portion. One of the wheels has a circumferential recess in its peripheral surface and the other of the wheels provides a circumferential projection. The wheels are rotatably mounted on the drive section with the peripheral surfaces in generally confronting relationship and with the projection in the recess to align the wheels and to maintain the wheels in alignment as the wheels rotate. The instrument groove portions are in confronting relationship to provide an instrument groove which is sized and adapted to receive an elongated medical instrument.

Controller for manipulation of instruments within a catheter

An inflator for use with a catheter having an inflatable component wherein the inflator includes a housing having an elongated plunger passage and an elongated gage passage. The housing includes a one piece main body which defines at least major lengths of both of the passages, and the passages extend in generally side- by-side relationship. The housing has a port which communicates with both of the passages and which can be coupled to the inflatable component of the catheter. A plunger is movable longitudinally in the plunger passage and is extendible out of a plunger opening in the plunger passage. A pressure responsive gage member is movable longitudinally in the gage passage and is responsive to pressure of the fluid adjacent the port. An indicator is responsive to the longitudinal position of the gage member to provide an indication of the pressure of the liquid adjacent the port. A releasable lock carried by the housing limits the plunger movement. The lock is retained in a locked position responsive to pressure in the plunger passage.

Growing community of inventors

Aliso Viejo, CA, United States of America

John P Greelis