INSTRUMENT ACCESS DEVICE

[0001] The invention relates to an instrument access device and an instrument access system incorporating the instrument access device.

[0002] According to the invention there is provided an instrument access device comprising:—

• • [0003] a wound protector and retractor comprising a retractor member for insertion through an incision;
  • [0004] a proximal assembly coupled to the retractor member; and
  • [0005] an instrument receiver which may be releasably coupled to the proximal assembly, the instrument receiver comprising a valve assembly and a cannula portion, the cannula portion extending in use through the incision protected by the retractor.

[0006] In the invention the cannula has a distal end which extends in use distally of the distal ring of the retractor. However, the distal end of the cannula is located adjacent to and as close as possible to the distal ring to provide minimum obstruction to movement of an instrument within the abdomen.

[0007] In one embodiment the wound protector comprises a distal portion for insertion through an incision made in a patient, a proximal portion for extending from the incision and outside of the patient and a resilient distal ring member coupled to the sleeve member.

[0008] The proximal assembly may comprise an inner proximal ring member and an outer proximal ring member, the instrument receiver may be releasably coupled to one or both of the proximal ring members. In one case the instrument receiver is coupled to the inner proximal ring.

[0009] The instrument receiver may comprise an engagement element which is engagable with an engagement element of the inner proximal ring.

[0010] In one embodiment the inner proximal ring engagement element comprises a receiving slot.

[0011] The invention also provides an instrument receiver having a cannula portion which is at least partially flexible.

[0012] The length of the cannula portion may be adjustable.

[0013] In one case at least portion of the cannula portion is of a material which can be severed to shorten the length of the cannula portion. There may be length-indicating indicia on the cannula.

[0014] In one embodiment the cannula is provided with at least one external projection. The projection may be in the form of a spiral or screw thread to aid hoisting motion as the cannula is inserted. The outer surface of the cannula may have ridges and/or corrugations to provide extra grip.

[0015] In one case there is a releasable engagement between the cannula and the proximal assembly of the retractor. The releasable engagement may be provided by a panel on the proximal assembly which is engagable with a receiver such as a grove on the cannula.

[0016] The valve assembly may comprise a first valve and a second valve distal of the first valve.

[0017] In one case the first valve comprises a lip-seal valve.

[0018] The second valve may comprise at least two cusps such as a duckbill valve.

[0019] In one case the lipseal is provided in a lipseal housing and the second valve is provided in a second seal housing. The lipseal housing may be movable relative to the second seal housing. The lip seal housing may comprise a cap for the second seal housing. In one case the lipseal housing is removable from the second seal housing. The lipseal housing may be releasably connected to the second seal housing. The lipseal housing may be connected to the second seal housing by a hinge connection such as a strap. The lipseal housing may comprise a reducer cap.

[0020] In one embodiment the device comprises a distal anchoring member for location within a wound interior; and a retractor member extending proximally from the distal anchoring member to retract laterally the sides of a wound opening.

[0021] The retractor member may extend at least between the distal anchoring member and the proximal member. The retractor member may extend in two layers between the distal anchoring member and the proximal member.

[0022] In one case a first end portion of the retractor member is fixed to the proximal member.

[0023] The retractor member may be movable relative to the distal anchoring member. A second end portion of the retractor member may be movable relative to the proximal member.

[0024] In one embodiment the retractor member extends distally from the proximal member to the distal anchoring member, is looped around the distal anchoring member, and extends proximally from the distal anchoring member to the proximal member.

[0025] The proximal member may comprise an inner part and an outer part. The retractor member may extend between the inner part and the outer part.

[0026] It will be appreciated that features described with reference to one embodiment of the invention may be utilised with any of the other embodiments.

[0053] Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1 to 7 thereof, there is illustrated an instrument access device 1 comprising a wound protector and retractor 2, a proximal assembly 3 coupled to the wound protector and retractor 2, and an instrument receiver 5 which can be releasably coupled to the proximal assembly 3. The instrument receiver 5 has a valve assembly 6 through which an instrument 7 is passed and a cannula portion 8 which extends in use through an incision which has been retracted and protected by the retractor 2. The instrument receiver 5 also has an insufflation/desufflation port 9.

[0054] A cannula in this context also may be termed an instrument working channel.

[0055] In this case the wound retractor device 2 has a distal retaining ring 20 for location distally of the wound opening to retain the wound retractor device 2 in position retracting the incision. For example, the wound retractor device may be of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,846,287 and/or U.S. Pat. No. 6,582,364, and/or U.S. Pat. No. 7,559,893 the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The retractor includes a sleeve 25 which in this case extends in two layers between the distal anchoring ring 20 and the proximal ring assembly 3. A ribbon 30 attached to a pull ring 35 may be used to aid release of the retractor.

[0056] In use, a wound opening is created in a tissue wall and the distal anchoring ring 20 is inserted through an incision opening into the wound interior. The proximal ring assembly 3 is located externally of the incision, with the retractor sleeve 25 extending proximally from the distal anchoring member 20 through the wound opening. The second end of the retractor sleeve 25 is pulled proximally relative to the proximal ring assembly 3 to retract laterally the sides of the wound opening. The instrument receiver 5 is mounted to the proximal ring assembly 3. An instrument 8 may then be inserted through the instrument receiver 5 and extended through the retracted wound opening and into the wound interior.

[0057] The proximal assembly 3 comprises an inner proximal ring member 40 and an outer proximal ring member 41. The proximal end of the retractor sleeve 25 is located between the proximal ring members 40, 41. In this case the outer proximal ring member 41 is c-shaped for ease of assembly. The inner proximal ring member 40 in this case has a slot 43 for receiving and releasably engaging with an insufflation port section 45 of the instrument receiver 5.

[0058] Because the cannula portion 8 extends through the retracted and protected incision there is minimal frictional resistance to the insertion of an instrument through the retracted incision. In some cases (for example as illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 21) the distal end of the cannula portion 8 has a tapered form to aid insertion through the retracted incision. In some cases, especially when the cannula does not have a tapered end, an obturator may be used to aid entry through an incision. The length of the cannula portion 8 can be as short as is necessary to traverse the thickness of a patient's abdominal tissue. The length of the cannula may be selected based on the thickness of the abdominal wall of a patient. The distal end of the cannula portion 8 may therefore be located close to the inner surface of the abdominal tissue which minimises restriction on movement of an instrument within the abdomen—the cannula provides minimal obstruction to this internal movement. Curved instruments may be readily inserted.

[0059] In the invention the cannula has a distal end which extends in use distally of the distal ring of the retractor. However, the distal end of the cannula is located adjacent to and as close as possible to the distal ring to provide minimum obstruction to movement of an instrument within the abdomen.

[0060] Referring to FIGS. 8 to 16 there is illustrated an apparatus 50 according to the invention suitable for inserting a wound retractor device 2 at least partially through a wound opening.

[0061] The apparatus 50 comprises a conveying device which is insertable through the incision to convey the wound retractor device 2 through the incision.

[0062] An entry/exit opening is provided for the chamber 51. The opening facilitates insertion of the distal ring 20 into the chamber 51 and delivery of the distal ring 20 from within the chamber 51. The sleeve 25 of the wound retractor also extends from the distal ring 20 proximally out of the chamber 51. The device 50 also has a distal tip 55 to aid insertion through an incision.

[0063] In use, the wound retractor device 2 is coupled to the conveying device 50 by engaging the distal ring 20 of the wound retractor device 2 in the chamber 51. The device 50 is then passed through the incision with the distal tip 55 as the leading end to assist in opening up the incision. The device 50 is advanced through the wound opening to convey the wound retractor device 2 through the incision. The ring 20 is released by a user pulling on the release ribbon 30. The conveying device 50 may then be withdrawn from the wound opening leaving the wound retractor device 2 in position extending through the wound opening and with the distal ring 20 located distal of the wound opening.

[0064] The wound retractor device is coupled to the conveying device 50 by inserting the distal ring 20 into the chamber 51 through the opening. The sleeve portion 25 of the wound retractor device 2 extends proximally out through the opening. The conveying device 50 is then advanced through the wound opening to convey the wound retractor device 2 through the wound opening.

[0065] To deploy the retractor, the distal ring 20 and the attached sleeve 25 is pulled from within the chamber 51 through the opening. The conveying device 50 may then be withdrawn from the wound opening leaving the wound retractor device 2 in position extending through the wound opening and with the distal ring 20 distal of the wound opening.

[0066] The insertion device 50 used in the invention facilitates entry of a retractor distal ring 20 through the smallest possible incision. Because of the elliptical cross sectional shape the insertion device 50 can be turned as it is being pushed through to open up the incision. The tapered distal tip 55 of the insertion device 50 also facilitates entry and manipulation through the incision. This results in a much smaller incision being required than would usually be required for insertion of a retractor. The distal ring 20 also prevents gas and body fluid (which may be infected) from entering the incision.

[0067] If required, the instrument receiver 5 may be removed from the proximal assembly 3. It may be replaced with another instrument receiver, for example, one which is suitable for insertion of a particular instrument. Indeed, in some cases, as illustrated in FIG. 19 part of the surgical procedure may involve removal of the instrument receiver 5 to facilitate removal of tissue 100 such as a gall bladder or a tissue sample. After removal of the tissue the same or another instrument receiver 5 may be mounted to the proximal assembly.

[0068] Referring to FIGS. 20 and 21 there is illustrated another instrument access device according to the invention. This device is similar to that described above and like parts are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case the distal end of the cannula 8 is tapered to facilitate insertion through a retracted incision. Only a very short length of the cannula 8 extends beyond the distal ring 20 of the retractor which minimises restriction of the internal movement of instruments inserted through the cannula.

[0069] Various alternative instrument access devices are illustrated in FIGS. 22 to 28.

[0070] Referring to FIG. 22, in this case the cannula portion is provided with projections, for example spiral or screw threads 200 to aid twisting motion as the cannula is inserted. Referring to FIG. 23 the outer surface of the cannula may be provided with ridges/corrugations 210 to provide extra grip.

[0071] Referring to FIGS. 23 and 24 in this case there is a releasable engagement between the cannula and the proximal ring assembly. The releasable engagement is provided by a pawl 215 on the proximal ring assembly which is engagable in a groove 216 of the cannula somewhat in the manner of a ratchet and pawl mechanism.

[0072] Referring to FIGS. 26 to 28, there is illustrated an instrument receiver 250 according to the invention with a cannula portion 251 which can be cut to a desired length to correspond to the thickness of a patient's abdominal tissue. There are indicia in the form of graduation lines 252 which can indicate the length of the cannula portion and thereby act as a guide for cutting to a desired thickness. In this case the cannula portion is also at least partially flexible to further enhance the versatility of the device to accept a range of instruments 260 including a curved instrument 260 as illustrated in FIG. 28. The cannula may be of any material which can be easily cut such as a soft plastic material which would not produce shards on cutting. The cannula portion can conform to any instrument shape.

[0073] Referring to FIGS. 29 and 30, there is illustrated another instrument access device 400 according to the invention which has some features which are similar to those described above. In this case the device 400 has a pre-bent rigid cannula section 401 which is adapted for receiving an instrument with a flexible shaft 402 which can be readily manipulated by the clinician. The cannula may be releasably coupled to the proximal assembly of the retractor. In FIG. 30, the device 400 is illustrated in use in a retracted incision. The flexible instrument is rendered partially rigid a when passed through the cannula.

[0074] Referring to FIG. 31, an arrangement is illustrated in which two of the devices of FIGS. 29 and 30 are in place in two adjacent incision sites. The cannulae and instruments are directed towards one another to facilitate ease of manipulation during surgical procedures.

[0075] Referring to FIG. 32, in this case two instrument access devices are located in one retracted incision. This avoids the necessity of two separate incisions. There are two independent pre-bent cannula, each with a valve on the proximal end. The flexible instrument is rendered partially rigid a when passed through the cannula.

[0076] It will be appreciated that the instrument access devices of the invention may be used in association with robotic systems. The devices may also be used in association with any suitable external attachment such as a dome, a glove, or the like.

[0077] The instrument access device of the invention is suitable for use during laparoscopic surgery to facilitate instrument access to an insufflated abdominal cavity while maintaining pneumoperitoneum.

[0078] The valve assembly of the instrument receiver 5 in this case comprises a lipseal 10 through which an instrument is insertable and a second seal member 12 having a passageway extending therethrough, through which the instrument is insertable. The device 5 may have a reducer cap which has a further lipseal which is smaller than the lipseal 10. To insert large diameter instruments, the cap is removed. To insert smaller diameter instruments the cap is in place. The second seal member 12 may comprise a duckbill valve through which the instrument passes. The duckbill valve 12 provides sealing engagement with the instrument shaft whilst accommodating lateral movement of the instrument. Alternatively the second valve may comprise a multicusp valve such as a tricuspid valve. In another case the second valve may comprise a foam or gel.

[0079] The lipseal valve 10 is located proximally of the duckbill valve 12 so that a double seal is provided to substantially prevent leakage of insufflation gas. The lipseal 10 may be of any suitable material. For example it may be of an elastomeric material, a foam-type material or a gelatinous material. The duckbill valve 12 may be of any suitable material. For example, it may be of a flexible polymeric material.

[0080] It will be appreciated that features described with reference to one embodiment of the invention may be utilised with any of the other embodiments.

[0081] The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in detail.