Magnetic devices and apparatus for medical/surgical procedures and methods for using same

Abstract

One embodiment of the invention comprises a trocar and a reducer cap that magnetically attaches to the trocar. The trocar and the cap each include a magnetic member, at least one of which is a first magnet, and the other of which is either a second magnet or a non-magnetized magnetically permeable member. Including a magnet of sufficient strength in the trocar and/or the cap will create a magnetic field that automatically holds a surgical instrument having a magnetically permeable member at its tip in axial alignment with the cap or trocar lumen. Introduction of the surgical instrument into the lumen can be further facilitated by providing the trocar or cap lumen with a funnel-shaped opening. A lumen seal can be provided by one or more compliant toroidal seal members that expand radially inwardly when compressed axially by the magnetic attraction between the cap and trocar. The alignment feature is particularly advantageous when incorporated in a mini-trocar having a lumen on the order of 1-3 mm in diameter. In that case, a trocar cap can be a small disc magnetically attracted to the trocar to cover the lumen. Magnetic aligning devices according to the invention can be used internally of a patient or transdermally. Another embodiment of the invention is an ostium plug with a lumen therethrough that can be used in tubal sterilization. The plug is permanently implanted in the patient, but a cap is coupled magnetically to the proximal end of the plug to permit reopening of the lumen when desired.

1 .- 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method of aligning across an internal tissue boundary of a patient a surgical device having a magnetic member with an elongated axis movably attached to a flexible portion, said magnetic member comprising a magnet or a non-magnetized magnetically permeable member, the method including:
 (1) providing a generally cylindrical magnetic aligning device with an axial opening at one end thereof, said aligning device comprising a magnet creating a magnetic field with an axis generally aligned with the axis of said opening;   (2) illuminating one side of the tissue boundary with an illuminating device for providing a visual indication through the tissue boundary of the location of said opening;   (3) grasping with an end effector at a distal end of a surgical instrument said flexible portion of said surgical device;   (4) using said end effector to position said surgical device proximate to said visual indication of said opening location for aligning said axis of said magnetic member of said surgical device with said axis of said aligning device; and   (5) forcing said surgical device through said tissue boundary in a direction generally parallel to said axis of said surgical device.   
     
     
         30 . A method as in  claim 29 , further including applying suction to said axial opening to attach said aligning device at a desired location indicated by the illumination of said tissue boundary. 
     
     
         31 . A method as in  claim 30 , wherein said illuminating device includes at least one of a plurality of light emitting diodes at a periphery of said axial opening and a fiber optic cable. 
     
     
         32 . A method as in  claim 29 , wherein said surgical device is a suturing needle and said flexible portion is a suture attached to said needle, said step (3) comprising grasping said suture near a point of attachment to said needle with said end effector and said step (4) comprising positioning said needle by manipulating said surgical instrument at a proximal end thereof external of the patient. 
     
     
         33 . A method as in  claim 32 , wherein said suturing needle is pointed at two ends thereof and said magnetic aligning device includes a gripping device for gripping an end of said needle protruding through said tissue boundary, the method further including:
 (6) gripping an end of said needle with said gripping device and pulling said needle through to the other side of said tissue boundary;   (7) moving said aligning device to a second location determined using said illuminating device;   (8) forcing said needle through said tissue boundary at second location and grasping said needle using said end effector and pulling said needle through said tissue boundary to the first-mentioned side thereof; and   (9) repeating steps (2) to (8) a predetermined number of times.   
     
     
         34 .- 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A method of aligning a surgical instrument with a lumen of a cooperating surgical device, the method including:
 providing a surgical device having an elongated cannula for extending through a tissue boundary, said cannula having a distal end for placement on one side of the tissue boundary and a proximal end for placement on another side of the tissue boundary, with a lumen extending axially from said proximal end to said distal end of said cannula and a magnet surrounding said lumen at said proximal end of said cannula to create a magnetic field with an axis generally aligned with said axis of said lumen;   providing a surgical instrument with a magnetic member comprising a second magnet or a non-magnetized magnetically permeable member proximate an end thereof;   positioning said end of said surgical device at said proximal end of said cannula to permit said magnetic field to align said surgical instrument with said lumen of surgical device; and   inserting said surgical device through said lumen.   
     
     
         37 . A method as in  claim 36 , wherein said surgical device is a trocar. 
     
     
         38 . A method of aligning across an internal tissue boundary of a patient a surgical device having a magnetic member comprising a magnet or a non-magnetized magnetically permeable member, the method including:
 providing a magnetic aligning device with an opening at one end thereof, said aligning device comprising a magnet creating a magnetic field with an axis generally aligned with said opening;   illuminating one side of the tissue boundary with an illuminating device for providing a visual indication through the tissue boundary of the location of said opening; and   positioning said surgical device proximate to said visual indication of said opening location to magnetically couple said magnetic member and said aligning device and align said surgical device with said opening of said aligning device.   
     
     
         39 . A method as in  claim 38 , wherein said illuminating device includes at least one of a plurality of light emitting diodes at a periphery of said opening and a fiber optic cable for projecting light through said opening toward the one side of the tissue boundary.