US3871379A - Laparoscopy instruments and method for suturing and ligation - Google Patents

Abstract

An improved combined laparoscopic needle and forceps comprising an elongated parallelogram type of linkage suitable for insertion through a trocar and having first and second ends, a needle, means for mounting said needle on said first end for movement from a position in substantial alignment with said linkage, which permits it to pass through a trocar, to a position transverse to said linkage, handle means on said second end of said linkage for actuating said linkage to effect movement of said needle, and a forceps construction including jaw means mounted proximate said first end of said needle linkage and being formed from a portion of said linkage and a portion of the holder of the needle. An improved combined laparoscopic forceps, suture guide and cutter comprising an elongated parallelogram type of linkage which is sufficiently slender for passage through a trocar and having first and second ends, jaw means on said first end, and handle means on said second end for actuating said linkage to move said jaws, groove means associated with said jaws for receiving a suture to thus act as a suture guide, and cutter means mounted on said jaws for cutting a suture. An improved laparoscopic ligator comprising an elongated stem having first and second ends, a handle at said first end and suture guiding means at said second end, said suture guiding means being of substantially the same cross sectional dimension as said elongated stem for guiding a suture through a trocar. An improved method of performing a surgical operation by laparoscopy comprising the steps of inserting at least first and second trocars through the body of a patient at spaced locations, inserting a first instrument comprising the above described combined laparoscopic needle and forceps through said first trocar, inserting a second instrument comprising the above described laparoscopic forceps, suture guide and cutter through said second trocar, manipulating said first and second instruments in cooperating relationship with each other in a predetermined area to the central portion of a suture in position, withdrawing one of said instruments to bring the end of the suture outside of the patient''s body, tying a knot in the suture outside of the body, and bringing the knot into the desired position by means of said laparoscopic ligator.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 Clarke [111 3,871,379 1 Mar. 18, 1975 LAPAROSCOPY INSTRUMENTS AND METHOD FOR SUTURING AND LIGATION [76] Inventor: Henry C. N. Clarke, 100 High St.,

Buffalo, NY. 14203 [22] Filed: July 12,1973

[21] Appl. No.: 378,582

Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 175,163, Aug. 26, 1971, Pat. No.

Primary E.\'aminerAldrich F. Medbery [57] ABSTRACT An improved combinedlaparoscopic needle and forceps comprising an elongated parallelogram type of linkage suitable for insertion through a trocar and having first and second ends, a needle, means for mounting said needle on said first end for movement from a position in substantial alignment with said linkage, which permits it to pass through a trocar, to a position transverse to said linkage, handle means on said sec- 0nd end of said linkage for actuating said linkage to effect movement of said needle, and a forceps construction including jaw means mounted proximate said first end of said needle linkage and being formed from a portion of said linkage and a portion of the holder of the needle. An improved combined laparoscopic forceps, suture guide and cutter comprising an elongated parallelogram type of linkage which is sufficiently slender for passage through a trocar and having first and second ends, jaw means on said first end, and handle means on said second end for actuating said linkage to move said jaws, groove means associated with said jaws for receiving a suture to thus act as a suture guide, and cutter means mounted on said jaws for cutting a suture. An improved laparoscopic ligator comprising an elongated'stem having first and second ends, a handle at said first end and suture guiding means at said second end, said suture guiding means being of substantially the same cross sectional dimension as said elongated stem for guiding a suture through a trocar. An improved method of performing a surgical operation by laparoscopy comprising the steps of inserting at least first and second trocars through the body of a patient at spaced locations, inserting a first instrument comprising the above described combined lapar'oscopic needle and forceps through said first trocar, inserting a second instrument comprising the above described laparoscopic forceps, suture guide and cutter through said second trocar, manipulating said first and second instruments in cooperating relationship with each other in a predetermined area to the central portion of a suture in position, withdrawing one of said instruments to bring the end of the suture outside of the patients body, tying a knot in the suture outside of the body, and bringing the knot into the desired position by means of said laparoscopic ligator.

1 Claim, 25 Drawing Figures PATENTEUHARI 8 ms sum 2 OF 3 1 mm mm vm mm v LAPAROSCOPY INSTRUMENTS AND METHOD FOR SUTURING AND LIGATION This is a division of application Ser. No. 175,163, filed Aug. 26, 1971, and now US. Pat. No. 3,763,860

The present invention relates to improved laparoscopy instruments for suturing and ligation and to an improved method of laparoscopy.

By way of background, recently there has been an increasing use of laparoscopy in pelvic surgery. The most common uses of laparoscopy are for diagnosis of pelvic disease and tubal electrocoagulation and cutting. Among the operations performed with a great degree of safety and less morbidity for the patient than by laparotomy are: biopsy and electrocoagulation; lysis of adhesions with electrocoagulation; fertility studies by intrauterine dye injection; ovarian follicle aspiration; biopsy of the ovary; extended post coital aspiration tests; tuboplasty by opening the fimbriated ends of closed tubes; cul-de-sac aspiration; ovarian cyst aspiration; electrocoagulation of bleeding points such as bleeding corpus luteum or bleeding secondary to instrumentation; electrocoagulation of endometriosis; electrocoagulation of tumor implants; biopsies in general; and excision of small tumors with electrocoagulation.

In certain of the foregoing procedures difficulty has been encountered when blood vessels are cut and hemostatis cannot be maintained by electrocoagulation. This bleeding has been an especially troublesome problem in tubal electrocoagulation and cutting. When bleeding difficulties have been encountered, laparotomy has become necessary because of the past inability to suture and ligate with laparoscopic procedures.

It is accordingly one important object of the present invention to provide an improved series of instruments which increase the ability to suture and ligate inlaparoscopy. A related object of the present invention is to provide a combined laparoscopic needle and forceps. Another related object of the present invention is to provide a combined laparoscopic tissue forceps, suture guide and cutter. A further related object of the present invention is to provide an improved laparoscopic ligator.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved surgical method of laparoscopy. Other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention will readily be perceived hereafter.

The improved combined laparoscopic needle and forceps of thepresent invention comprises an elongated linkage portion having first and second ends, a needle, means for mounting said needle on said first end for movement from a position in substantial alignment with said linkage, which permits it to pass through a trocar, to a position transverse to said linkage, means on said second end of said linkage for actuating said linkage to effect said movement of said needle, and a forceps construction including jaw means mounted proximate said first end of said linkage.

The improved combined laparoscopic forceps, suture guide and cutter comprises an elongated linkage having first and second ends, jaw means mounted on said first end and handle means on said second end for actuating said linkage to move said jaws, groove means associated with said jaws for receiving a suture to thus act as a suture guide, and cutter means mounted on said jaws for cutting a suture.

The improved laparoscopic ligator of the present invention comprises an elongated stem having first and second ends, a handle at said first end, and suture guiding means at said second end, said suture guiding means being of substantially the same cross sectional dimension as said elongated stem for guiding a sut-ure through a trocar.

The improved method of performing a surgical operation by laparoscopy, in its broadest aspect, comprises the steps of inserting at least first and second trocars through the body at spaced locations, inserting a first instrument through said first trocar, inserting a second instrument through said second trocar and manipulating said first and second instruments in cooperating relationship with each other in a predetermined area to perform said operation.

The various aspects of the present invention will be more fully understood when the following portions of the specification are read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a side elevational'view of a trocar of the type suitable for use in a laparoscopy;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view thereof taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a combined laparoscopic tissue forceps, suture guide, and suture cutter;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view thereof taken substantially in the direction ofarrows 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view thereof taken substantially alongline 55 of FIG. 4 and showing the suture guide and cutter associated with the jaws;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the .rear portion thereof taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIG. 9 and showing the linkage associated with the handles;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view thereof taken substantially along line 7-7 of FIG. 5 and showing the suture cutter structure;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional'view thereof taken substantially along line 8-8 of FIG. 5 and showing the jaw mounting linkage;

FIG. 8A is an enlarged cross sectional view thereof taken substantially along line 8A8A of FIG. 3 and showing details of the spring structure for biasing the links together;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross sectional view thereof taken substantially along line 9-9 of FIG. 6 and showingthe linkage associated with the handles;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a combined laparoscopic needle and forceps;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view thereof taken substantially in the direction of arrows ll--1l of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view thereof taken substantially along line l2l2 of FIG. 11 and showingthe linkage for moving the needle and the jaws;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 12 but showing the forcep jaws open;

FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view thereof taken substantially along line 14-14 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view thereof taken substantially along line -15 of FIG. 16 and showing the linkage associated with the handles;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary cross sectional view thereof taken substantially along line 1616 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of a laparoscopic ligator with an open ended circular tip;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the ligator of FIG. 17 with the handle portion of the ligator illustrated in section;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary cross sectional view thereof taken substantially along line 19l9 of FIG. 18 and showing the tip of the ligator in greater detail;

FIG. is a fragmentary perspective view showing the first step of s surgical operation wherein a tissue tube is clamped by the forceps and the needle is brought into the clamped area;

FIG. 21 is a view showing the needle deflected around the tube with the forceps released from the tube and grasping the end of the suture;

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the suture being held in the suture guide portion of the forceps with the forceps associated with the needle pulling the suture;

FIG. 23 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the ligator pushing the suture knot toward the tube; and

FIG. 24 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the cutter portion of the forceps severing the suture after tying has been completed.

By way of introduction, the laparoscopy which is performed with the instruments of the present invention consists of the steps of inserting first and second sheathed trocars approximately 4 centimeters above the lower third of the inguinal ligament on each side of the patient. A third trocar is inserted through the naval for receiving an endoscope. A tissue forceps is inserted through the first trocar to hold the tissue which is to be sutured-ligated. Through the second trocar, the laparoscopic needle threaded with suture is introduced and brought into the area of the tissue forceps. Thereafter the instruments are manipulated as will be described hereafter after their structure has been described.

The trocars which are used are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In assembled condition the trocar includes a stem 11 having apointed end 12 at one end and ahead 13 at the other end. Asheath 14 is located on stem 11 and mounts anenlarged portion 15 which includes adiaphragm member 16 mounted thereon. As is well understood by those skilled in the art, the assembled stem and sheath are inserted through the skin and thereafter stem 11 is withdrawn leavingsheath 14 in place. The laparoscopic instruments are inserted throughtube 14 and a seal is maintained with them-by means ofdiaphragm 16, to prevent the escape of gas which has been pumped into the abdominal cavity to separate the abdominal wall from body organs. This sealing is effected in themanner shown in FIG. 2 by having the circular diaphragm l6 engage the instrument.

The combined laparoscopic tissue forceps, suture guide andcutter 17 is shown in FIGS. 3-9. Basically, it includes a pair of elongatedslender links 18 and 19 which lie in side-by-side relationship and are attached at one end to each other by means ofcross link 20 which is pivotally mounted onpin 21 secured to thebifurcated end 22 oflink 18, and is also pivotally mounted onpin 23 onbifurcated end 24oflink 19. The opposite ends oflinks 18 and 19 are secured to each other bycross link 25 which has the end thereof pivotally mounted onpin 26 attached to opposite side portions 26' oflink 19 and an adjacent portion pivotally mounted onpin 27 mounted onbifurcated end 18 ofline 18, as can be seen from FIGS. 6 and 9.Link 25 is essentially an extension ofhandle 28 havingfinger receiving opening 29 therein. Locatedproximate handle 28 is handle 30 which is an extension oflink 18 and hasfinger receiving opening 31 therein.

Links 18, 19, 20 and 25 essentially define a parallelogram type of linkage so that when handleportions 28 and 30 are spread apart from the position shown in FIG. 3link 19 will move essentially in the direction olarrow 32 relative to link 18 which moves essentially in the direction of arrow 33 relative to link 19. The foregoing action will causelink 20 to pivot in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5 aboutpin 21 which in turn will causejaw 34 which is formed integrally withlink 20 to pivot in a clockwise direction aboutpin 21 to thereby move away fromjaw 35 which is an extension oflink 18 and formed integrally therewith. It will be appreciated thatjaws 34 and 35, when closed, can be inserted throughtrocar sheath 14 andlinks 18 and 19, in all positions thereof, can be moved relative tosheath 14, as is required during surgery. A spring structure 19 (FIGS. 3 and 8A) biases links 18 and 19 together to maintainjaws 34 and 35 biased to a closed position.Spring 19 includes a longitudinally extending strip 20' from whichU-shaped portions 21', 22 and 23 extend, withportions 21 and 23' embracing link 19 and portion 22' embracinglink 18. A plastic sheath, not shown, can be used to coverspring 19 so that it will not snag in the trocar.

The combined laparoscopic tissue forceps, suture guide and cutter l7 performs a plurality of functions. First of all,jaws 34 and 35 have serrations 34' and 35' on their opposing surfaces to provide a good grip on either the tissue or the suture which is to be held. Inaddition jaws 34 and 35 have opposinggrooves 36 and 37, respectively, in their opposing surfaces intermediate the ends of theserrated portions 34' and 35. When the jaws areclosed grooves 36 and 37 provide an opening orhole 38 having a continuous periphery. As will become more apparent hereafter, a suture can be received inopening 38 and guided therethrough during a suturing operation. In addition,jaws 34 and 35 haveshear blades 39 and 40, respectively, secured thereon to provide a suture cutting action as will also become more apparent hereafter. Because of the fact that the combinated laparoscopic forceps, suture guide and cutter performs a plurality of functions, it is not necessary to insert a plurality of individual instruments through'a particular trocar sheath because the same instruments can be maintained in position therein to perform a plurality of functions, as desired, thereby lessening the number of times that entry need be made through the trocar.

The combined laparoscopic needle andforceps 41 of the present invention, shown in FIGS. 10-16, includes a pair of elongatedslender links 42 and 43 which are maintained in side-by-side relationship by cross links which provide a parallelogram type of linkage. More specifically,cross link 44 is pivotally connected to link 42 bypin 45, to link 43 bypin 46.Pin 45 is secured to the bifurcated end portion oflink 42, andpin 46 is secured to opposite sides 47' oflink 43. The lower end oflink 44 lies withindepression 47 inlink 43.Needle holder portion 48, which supportsneedle 49 at its outer end, is formed integrally as an extension oflink 44. The ends oflinks 42 and 43 which are remote fromneedle 49 are fastened together bylink 50 which is pivotally mounted onpin 51 carried byopposite side portions 51'oflink 42 and onpin 52 mounted onbifurcated end 52' oflink 43.Link 50 is an extension of and integral withhandle 53 having finger-receiving opening 54 at the end thereof.Handle 55 having finger-receivingopening 56 at the end thereof is integral with and an extension oflink 43.

By suitable manipulation ofhandles 53 and 55 link 42 can be caused to move in the direction of arrow 57 (FIG. 13) relative to link 43 which moves in the direction ofarrow 58 relative to link 42. This will causelink 44 andneedle holder 48 to pivot from the position shown in FIG. 12 to the position shown in FIG. 13. Adetent tab 59 is rigidly attached at portion 60 to handle 53, and handle 55 slides acrosstab 59 in frictional engagement therewith. Thus when handles 53 and 55 are released, theneedle holder 48 will remain in the position in which it was last placed until the handles are again manipulated. Becauseneedle 49 can move from a position shown in FIG. 12 to the position shown in FIG. 13, it can be moved essentially through a right angle after it is placed in position within the body, as will become more apparent hereafter. It will be appreciated that because of the slender nature oflinks 42 and 43, and further becauseneedle 49 is in substantially longitudinal alignment therewith, the needle can be inserted through the trocar and thereafter be moved to any desired position therein, as required.

It is also to be noted that a pair of opposingjaws 61 and 62 are provided.law 61 is located on one side ofneedle holder 48 and jaw 62-is located at the end oflink 43 (FIG. 13). It can thus be seen that the combined laparoscopic needle and forceps can be used to provide both a sewing action and a clamping action as required to obviate the necessity of using two separate instruments, thereby lessening the number of times that entry and withdrawal of instruments need be made through the trocar.

Thelaparoscopic ligator 63 of the present invention, shown in FIGS. 17-19, includes anelongated stem 64 having anenlarged end 65 which is embedded. inhandle 66. The opposite end ofligator 63 is formed into a pair of curvedintegral arms 67 separated by slot 68. The end ofstem 64 between the arms is formed or recessed into complimentarillygrooved portions 69. The suture is received in opening 70 for ligating, as will be described in greater detail hereafter.

The laparoscopy is performed by the above described instruments in the following manner. Firstly, as noted above, two sheathedtrocars 14 are inserted approximately 4 centimeters above the lower third of the inguinal ligaments on each side of the patient, in the event the operation is for the purpose of tying off the Fallopian tubes. A third trocar is inserted through the naval for the purpose of receiving an endoscope. Through one lateral trocar sheath, thetissue forceps 17 is inserted and the tissue to be suture ligated, namely, thetube 71, is clamped and held betweenjaws 34 and 35. Through the other lateral trocar sheath thelaparoscopic needle 41 is introduced. This needle prior to insertion is threaded withsuture 72 which is held onneedle 49 by being wedged into a crotch formed between the needle proper andprotuberance 73 thereon. After the needle is brought to the proper position, such as shown in FIG. 21, and while the tube is still clamped as shown in FIG. 20, handles 53 and 55 are manipulated to moveneedle 49 from its in-line position to a lateral position where it extends transversely tolinks 42 and 43, this lateral position being illustrated in FIG. 21. After the needle has been so flexed, thetissue 74 is pierced to bring thesuture 72 through the tissue. Thereafter handles 28 and 30 of the tissue forceps are manipulated so as to causejaws 34 and 35 to releasetube 71 and to grasp theend 75 ofsuture 72, as shown in FIG. 21, and disengage it fromneedle 49 which is then withdrawn fromtissue 74. Next, thesuture 72 is carried aroundtube 71 by forceps l7 and end 75 ofsuture 72 is clamped between thejaws 61 and 62 oflaparoscopic forceps 41. Theopening 38 formed be tween the jaws offorceps 17 may be closed aroundsuture 72, as shown in FIG. 22, to provide a guide forsuture 72 to prevent suture-pull on delicate tissue asneedle 49 is being withdrawn throughtrocar 14 to bring thefree end 75 ofsuture 72 outside of the body. Thediaphragm 16 at the end oftrocar 14 prevents the escape of gas from the inflated abdominal cavity and externally of this diaphragmfree end 75 of the suture is tied withend 76 thereof to provide a first tie. This tie is then introduced byligator 63 through sheath 14 (FIG. 23), with the tie being held in groove of the ligator. This tie is carried down to thecentral portion 77 of the suture to close offtube 71. Thereafter second and third ties may be formed at ends and 76 and brought down into position withligator 63 in the same manner as just described. A surgical knot has been found to be most convenient to provide the type of tie at 78 which is desired. Thereafter theshear blades 39 and 40 which are located onforceps 17 are used to cut the free ends ofsuture 72 to complete the tying operation.

It will be appreciated that because each of theinstruments 17 and 41 performs a plurality of functions, there is no necessity to keep reinserting different instruments through the trocars to effect the various functions which are required. Furthermore, because the links which form themain central body portions of the instruments are extremely slender and do not spread apart appreciably when the instruments are manipulated, they can be conveniently inserted and removed through the trocars and manipulated while therein as required.

What is claimed is:

1. A ligator comprising an elongated stem and suture guiding means at one end of said stem, said suture guiding means being of substantially the same cross sectional dimension as said stem and comprising a pair of spaced arms convexly outwardly curved about an axis extending transversely of said stem and converging toward each other at their tip ends remote from said stem and jointly with the end of said stem defining a generally circular opening for guiding a suture, said tip ends of said arms being spaced from each other to provide a suture entrance to said opening, and means for gently and firmly holding said suture comprising a blunt end on said stem opposite from said entrance, said end being convexly rounded to provide complimentarially grooved recessed portions at the bases of said arms on opposite sides of said stem between said arms.

Claims (1)

1. A ligator comprising an elongated stem and suture guiding means at one end of said stem, said suture guiding means being of substantially the same cross sectional dimension as said stem and comprising a pair of spaced arms convexly outwardly curved about an axis extending transversely of said stem and converging toward each other at their tip ends remote from said stem and jointly with the end of said stem defining a generally circular opening for guiding a suture, said tip ends of said arms being spaced from each other to provide a suture entrance to said opening, and means for gently and firmly holding said suture comprising a blunt end on said stem opposite from said entrance, said end being convexly rounded to provide complimentarially grooved recessed portions at the bases of said arms on opposite sides of said stem between said arms.

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