Apparatus and method for endoscopic colectomy

[0001] This application claims the benefits of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/347,674 filed Jan. 9, 2002, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates generally to surgical methods and apparatus. More particularly, it relates to methods and apparatus for performing endoscopic colectomy.

[0003] Endoscopy studies the intralumenal aspects of hollow organs of the upper and lower intestine including the esophagus, stomach and the colon through cannulation of the lumen via the mouth or anus. Endoscopic polypectomy is presently limited to a submucosal resection. The endoscopist is often unable to completely resect a sessile polyp or lesion and therefore the patient is subjected to subsequent definitive surgery, i.e. resection of the base of the tumor. Endoscopic polypectomy can be used to debulk sessile masses but it is unable to resect mural disease. Incomplete resection of a sessile polyp may destroy the biopsy specimen and alter the relationship of the gross specimen given to the pathologist thereby resulting in the pathologist possibly providing incorrect or incomplete study results. The endoscopist is also unable to correct uncommon, but life threatening, procedural complications such as perforations. Other cases where resection is required are invasive tumors, perforation from different causes, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulosis and others.

[0004] Surgical approaches for resecting diseased tissue are largely practiced by making large laparotomy incisions or using minimally invasive techniques such as laparoscopic surgery in which tissues are resected and repaired through small incisions.

[0005] There are numerous surgical devices enabling surgeons to resect diseased tissue and subsequently anastomose remaining tissue either through a conventional incision or using a laparoscope and making one or more relatively small incisions. Additionally, endoscopically assisted stapling devices are known which enable surgeons to remotely anastomose lumenal structures such as the bowel. Endoscopically assisted bowel anastomosis nevertheless typically requires extralumenal assistance via a traditional laparotomy incision or use of a laparoscope.

[0006] Trends in surgery are towards minimally invasive procedures as evidenced by developments including laparoscopic cholecystectomy, laparoscopic appendectomy and laparoscopically assisted partial colectomies and hernia repairs. All of these minimally invasive procedures involve introducing a laparoscope through the abdominal wall and creating other associated openings to gain access to the peritoneal cavity in order to perform the necessary surgical procedure. Typically, general anesthesia is required. Endoscopically possible procedures include polypectomy, mucosectomy, and cauterization. During laparoscopic colectomy today the colon is separated from its omentum laparoscopically and then the colon is exteriorized out of the abdominal cavity, through a laparotomy incision where the resection and anastomosis are performed extracorporeally.

[0007] Disadvantages of the laparoscopic method include the need to traverse the abdominal wall, increased operating time secondary to the lack of exposure for the procedure and possibly the need to convert to an open laparotomy in the course of performing the procedure.

[0008] Present stapling techniques in surgery are for the most part functionally adequate but limited. Devices exist including the GIA and EEA staplers which can be used to transect tissue in a linear or circular fashion, respectively, with subsequent anastomosis with staples. The linear GIA is relatively versatile. The EEA is primarily suited for lower colonic circular anastomosis after a lesion has been surgically removed (via laparotomy or laparoscopically) or during a colostomy takedown procedure.

[0009] The rigid post of the EEA stapler severely limits its use, as well as requiring that an open procedure be utilized. The steerable endoscopic stapler is useful in allowing for more bowel accessibility; however, it remains dependent upon transabdominal surgical exposure prior to utilization. While laparoscopic surgical instruments have been used for bowel anastomosis, in such procedures the bowel is exteriorized through the laparoscopic incision and anastomosed extracorporeally or in an augmented stapled side-to-side fashion.

[0010] U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,868,760 and 6,264,086 describe a method and apparatus for performing endolumenal resection of tissue, in particular for removal of diseased portions of a patient's colon. This purely endolumenal approach to colostomy does not fully address the surgical anatomy of the colon. As is well known, the colon and other viscera are connected and supported within the abdomen by the omentum, a membranous extension of the peritoneum that carries the blood supply to the colon. Resection of more than a small portion of the colon requires mobilization of the colon from the omentum and ligation or cauterization of the blood vessels supplying that portion of the colon. This aspect is not addressed by the endolumenal approach described; therefore it would be suitable for resecting only small portions of the colon.

[0011] Commonly owned and copending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 09/790,204 filed Feb. 20, 2001 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,468,203); 09/969,927 filed Oct. 2, 2001; and 10/229,577 filed Aug. 27, 2002, describe steerable colonoscopes that uses serpentine motion to facilitate rapid and safe insertion of the colonoscope into a patient's colon. The technology described therein can also be used in conjunction with the methods and apparatus of the present invention to facilitate endoscopic colectomy or resection of any other part of the gastrointestinal system including, but not limited to, the esophagus, duodenum, jejunum and ileum or any other tubular organ like the bronchus. These patents and patent applications, and all other patents and patent applications referred to herein, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0012] In keeping with the foregoing discussion, the present invention takes the form of methods and apparatus for performing endoscopic colectomy that combine the advantages of the laparoscopic and endolumenal approaches. The diseased portion of the colon to be resected is identified using either laparoscopic and/or colonoscopic techniques or using another imaging modality. A colectomy device mounted on a colonoscope grasps the colon wall at two sites adjacent to a diseased portion of the colon. Using laparoscopic techniques, the diseased portion of the colon is separated from the omentum and the blood vessels supplying it are ligated or cauterized. The colon wall is transected to remove the diseased portion and the excised tissue is removed using the laparoscope or drawn into the colectomy device for later removal upon withdrawal of the colonoscope. The colectomy device approximates the two ends of the colon and performs an end-to-end anastomosis. If the part to be resected is a tumor, prior to the resection, the edges of the segment to be resected will be stapled to seal it and prevent spillage of malignant cells to the healthy tissue.

[0013] The methods and apparatus of the present invention provide a number of benefits not realized by the prior art approaches to colectomy. As stated above, the purely endolumenal approach does not provide for separation of the colon from the omentum, which is necessary when resecting more than just a small portion of the colon wall. By combining laparoscopic techniques with a colonoscope-mounted colectomy device, the present invention overcomes this deficiency in the prior art allowing a more comprehensive approach to colectomy. Unlike prior art laparoscopic techniques, however, the colon does not need to be exteriorized for excision of the diseased portion or anastomosis of the remaining colon. The colonoscope-mounted colectomy device approximates the ends of the colon and performs an anastomosis from the interior of the lumen of the colon. The excised tissue can be drawn into the colectomy device for removal through the lumen of the colon along with the colonoscope or can be taken out by the laparoscope, which can be done through a very small incision in the patient's skin. The prior art approach also does not protect from leaking of malignant cells to the periphery. This idea will enable sealing of the tissue with staples at its ends to prevent such leakage. Optionally, it will be done with the help of a laparoscopic device that will serve as an anvil. Unlike the prior art procedure, the present invention will optionally use a balloon inflated in the lumen of the colon or any other resected organ before stapling, and by this assure the anastomosis will be ideal with the best possible approximation of the edges.

[0014] The use of colonoscopic techniques in the present invention provides another benefit not realized by a purely laparoscopic approach. Since colonoscopic examination is at present the most definitive diagnostic method for identifying diseases of the colon, locating the lesions through the exterior of the colon by laparoscopy or even by direct visualization can be somewhat problematic. Using the colonoscope to identify and isolate the diseased portion of the colon from within the lumen helps assure that the correct portions of the colon wall are excised and makes clean surgical margins without residual disease more assured as well.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the present invention utilizes a steerable colonoscope as described in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 09/790,204 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,468,203); 09/969,927; and 10/229,577, which have been incorporated by reference. The steerable colonoscope described therein provides a number of additional benefits for performing endoscopic colectomy according to the present invention. The steerable colonoscope uses serpentine motion to facilitate rapid and safe insertion of the colonoscope into the patient's colon, which allows the endoscopic colectomy method to be performed more quickly and more safely. Beyond this however, the steerable colonoscope has the capability to create a three-dimensional mathematical model or map of the patient's colon and the location of any lesions identified during the initial examination. Lesions found during a previous examination by CT, MRI or any other imaging technology can also be mapped onto the three-dimensional mathematical model of the colon. By generating a three-dimensional map of the colon, the system knows where each part of the endoscope is in the colon and will be able to localize the two parts of the dissecting and stapling system exactly in the desired location. During surgery, this information can be used to quickly and accurately return the colonoscope to the location of the identified lesions where the colonoscope-mounted colectomy device will be used to complete the endoscopic colectomy procedure.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a phantom drawing illustrating a diseased portion of the colon being separated from the omentum using laparoscopic techniques through a small incision in a patient's abdomen.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a cutaway drawing illustrating a steerable colonoscope with a colectomy device mounted thereon being inserted through the lumen of a patient's colon.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a cutaway drawing showing the gripping mechanism of the colonoscope-mounted colectomy device expanded within the lumen of the colon.

[0019] FIG. 4 illustrates the colon after the diseased portion has been excised and removed with the colonoscope-mounted colectomy device in position to approximate the transected ends of the colon.

[0020] FIG. 5 illustrates the colonoscope-mounted colectomy device performing an end-to-end anastomosis to complete the endoscopic colectomy procedure.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a cutaway drawing illustrating a steerable colonoscope 100 with a colectomy device 102 mounted thereon being inserted through the lumen of a patient's colon. As mentioned before, the same technique may apply for every other tubular shaped organ. Preferably, the steerable colonoscope 100 is constructed as described in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 09/790,204 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,468,203); 09/969,927; and 10/229,577, with multiple articulating segments that are controlled to move with a serpentine motion that facilitates insertion and withdrawal of the colonoscope with a minimum of contact and stress applied to the colon walls. In addition, the control system of the steerable colonoscope 100 has the capability to construct a three-dimensional mathematical model or map of the colon as it advances through lumen under control of the operator. The three-dimensional mathematical model of the colon and the location and nature of any lesions identified in the course of an initial colonoscopic examination can be stored and used in performance of the endoscopic colectomy procedure. In alternate embodiments, the colectomy device 102 of the present invention may be mounted on a colonoscope of a different design and construction.

[0022] The colectomy device 102 can be permanently or removably mounted on the steerable colonoscope 100. The colectomy device 102 has a distal component 104 and a proximal component 106. The distal component 104 and the proximal component 106 each have an expandable member 108 and a gripping mechanism 110 for gripping the wall of the colon. The expandable member 108 may be an inflatable balloon or a mechanically expandable mechanism. The gripping mechanism 110 may comprise a plurality of circumferentially located ports within which attachment points 112, e.g., needles, hooks, barbs, etc., may be retractably positioned about an exterior surface of the expandable member 108. Alternatively, the gripping mechanism 110 may utilize a vacuum gripper through a plurality of circumferentially located ports around the distal component 104 and/or the proximal component 106 or other known gripping mechanisms. In the case of the vacuum gripper, gripping mechanism 110 is in fluid communication through the ports and through the colonoscope 100 to the proximal end of the colonoscope 100 to a vacuum pump (not shown). At least one, and optionally both, of the distal component 104 and the proximal component 106 are movable longitudinally with respect to the body of the steerable colonoscope 100. Rails, grooves or the like 114 may be provided on the body of the steerable colonoscope 100 for guiding the longitudinal movement of the distal component 104 and the proximal component 106.

[0023] In addition, the colectomy device 102 includes a surgical stapler 116 or other anastomosis mechanism. The surgical stapler 116 is carried on either the distal component 104 or the proximal component 106 and a stapler anvil 118 is carried on the other of these components. The surgical stapler 116 may be configured similarly to any number of conventional stapling devices which are adapted to actuate staples into tissue. Another option is that there is a stapler and an anvil on both components for stapling and sealing the edges. Optionally, the colectomy device 102 may include a cutting device and/or electrocautery and/or a laser device for transecting the colon wall. Optionally, the colectomy device 102 may also include a vacuum mechanism or the like for drawing the excised tissue into the colectomy device 102 for later removal along with the steerable colonoscope 100.

[0024] FIG. 2 shows the steerable colonoscope 100 with the expandable members 108 of the distal component 104 and the proximal component 106 in a contracted or deflated condition for easy passage through the lumen of the patient's colon. The control system of the steerable colonoscope 100 monitors the position of each segment of the colonoscope 100 as it is advanced within the colon and can signal to the operator when the segments carrying the distal component 104 and the proximal component 106 of the colectomy device 102 are correctly positioned with respect to a previously detected lesion in the colon. Alternatively, the control system of the steerable colonoscope 100 can be programmed to advance the colonoscope 100 automatically through the lumen of the colon and to stop it when the distal component 104 and the proximal component 106 of the colectomy device 102 are correctly positioned with respect to the lesion in the colon. Alternatively, the control system will be able to automatically guide and deliver the two components to the desired location after the colonoscope has been inserted to the colon.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a cutaway drawing showing the expandable members 108 of the distal component 104 and the proximal component 106 of the colonoscope-mounted colectomy device 102 expanded within the lumen of the colon so that the gripping mechanism 110 grips the wall of the colon. The distal component 104 and the proximal component 106 may be expanded through any number of expansion devices. For instance, they may be radially expanded upon spoke-like support structures or they may be configured to radially expand in a rotational motion until the desired expansion diameter is attained. At this point, with the diseased portion of the colon identified and isolated by the colonoscope-mounted colectomy device 102, the diseased portion is separated from the omentum and the blood vessels supplying it are ligated and/or cauterized using laparoscopic techniques. FIG. 1 is a phantom drawing illustrating a diseased portion of the colon being separated from the omentum using laparoscopic techniques through a small incision in a patient's abdomen.

[0026] Next, the diseased portion of the colon is excised by transecting the colon at the proximal and distal end of the diseased portion. The colon may be transected using laparoscopic techniques or using a cutting mechanism and/or electrocautery device mounted on the colectomy device 102. The excised tissue is removed using the laparoscope or drawn into the colectomy device 102 for later removal upon withdrawal of the steerable colonoscope 100. FIG. 4 illustrates the colon after the diseased portion has been excised and removed with the colonoscope-mounted colectomy device 102 in position to approximate the transected ends of the colon.

[0027] The remaining ends of the colon are approximated one to the other by moving the distal component 104 and/or the proximal component 106 longitudinally with respect to the body of the steerable colonoscope 100, as shown by the arrows. Optionally, the proximal component 106 may be longitudinally translated towards the distal component 104 or both components 104, 106 may be approximated simultaneously towards one another. The ends of the colon are stapled to one another to create an end-to-end anastomosis 120 using the surgical stapler 116 and stapler anvil 118 on the colectomy device 102. Once the ends of the tissue have been approximated, staples or other fastening devices, e.g., clips, screws, adhesives, sutures, and combinations thereof, etc., may be actuated through the surgical stapler 116 such that they pierce both ends of the tissue against the stapler anvil 118. FIG. 5 illustrates the colonoscope-mounted colectomy device performing an end-to-end anastomosis 120 to complete the endoscopic colectomy procedure. Once the anastomosis 120 is complete, the expandable members 108 of the distal component 104 and the proximal component 106 are deflated or contracted and the steerable colonoscope 100 and the colectomy device 102 are withdrawn from the patient's body. The expanded members will assure a very accurate end-to-end anastomosis and prevent stenosis that can happen as a result of inaccurate approximation of the two ends.

[0028] In an alternative method using the colonoscope-mounted colectomy device 102, the diseased portion of the colon may be excised using a cutting device within the colectomy device 102 after the ends of the diseased portion have been approximated and anastomosed. The excised tissue is drawn into the colectomy device 102 and removed when the steerable colonoscope 100 is withdrawn from the patient.

[0029] In another alternative method, the colectomy procedure may be performed entirely from the endolumenal approach using the colonoscope-mounted colectomy device 102 without laparoscopic assistance. This method would be particularly advantageous for resection of small portions of the colon where it may not be necessary to mobilize an extended portion of the colon from the omentum to achieve successful approximation and anastomosis. The three-dimensional mapping capability of the steerable colonoscope 102 would be used to locate previously identified lesions without laparoscopic assistance.

[0030] While the present invention has been described herein with respect to the exemplary embodiments and the best mode for practicing the invention, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications, improvements and subcombinations of the various embodiments, adaptations and variations can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.