Device & method for the positioning of tissue during laparoscopic or endoscopic surgery

Abstract

A surgical device and method for the retracting, maneuvering, and re-positioning of tissue and/or a body organ during endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures. The surgical apparatus comprises a separable grasping device with a detachable head, an exteriorly-operated handle mechanism, surgical needles, and lengths of suture. The disclosed device enables a physician, using a plurality of lengths of sutures simultaneously connected to (a) the exteriorly exposed handle mechanism and (b) the detachable head, positioned at clasping points on the organ, to rearrange the orientation of tissue or the organ for better accessibility, analysis, and/or exposure to accompanying surgical instruments in situ. The method presented minimizes the number of bodily incisions required to perform surgery by means of endoscope or laparoscopic equipment.

1 . A surgical apparatus for retracting, re-positioning, and re-orienting tissue or a bodily organ during endoscopic or laparoscopic procedures, comprising
 a) a separable grasping device, said grasping device selected from the group of graspers consisting of tissue, claw, sharp tooth, endo-clinch, alligator, aggressive, cobra tooth, spoon, cup, babcock, DeBakey, and Allis graspers, and said grasper further comprising a means for operating said grasper, a means for locking said grasper, a means for retaining at least one surgical needle, a means for harnessing at least one suture, and a means for complete detaching of said grasper; and   b) a puppet handle having (i) a means for exteriorly retaining said separable grasping device, and (ii) a means for retaining at least two surgical needles.   
     
     
         2 . A surgical apparatus for retracting, re-positioning, and re-orienting tissue or a bodily organ during endoscopic or laparoscopic procedures, comprising
 a) a separable grasping device further comprising a detachable grasping head having an upper jaw and a lower jaw, a jaws control means, a jaws locking means, a head detaching means, a jaws operator, at least one needle retainer, at least one suture harnessing means; and   b) a puppet handle having (i) a means for exteriorly retaining said separable grasping device, and (ii) a means for retaining at least two surgical needles.   
     
     
         3 . A surgical apparatus for retracting, re-positioning, and re-orienting tissue or a bodily organ during endoscopic or laparoscopic procedures, comprising
 a) a detachable grasping head comprising an upper jaw and a lower jaw, said jaws being attached to a grasper shell wherein a tensioned locking ring is attached to the perimeter of said grasper shell, with a driven shaft attached to and concentric with the center of said grasper shell; and   b) a grasping handle having a proximal end (proximate a user) and a distal end (proximate said grasper shell), and further comprising a hollow longitudinal sleeve, said longitudinal sleeve housing a drive shaft, which drive shaft connects, at the proximal end of the longitudinal sleeve, to a control wheel, and further, said drive shaft having at its distal end an expanded u-joint interiorly containing a plurality of spring-loaded balls, wherein said control wheel, when activated by a user, turns a driven shaft, said driven shaft being attached by a square fitting to said grasper shell; and   c) a puppet handle comprising (i) a primarily cylindrical structure having a hollow left end and a hollow right end, wherein a compressible material is firmly compacted within the interior of said left end and of said right end, said compressible material of such frictional coefficient as to enable the retention of at least one surgical needle inserted into said compressible material; and (ii) two exteriorly-attached, co-axial, flexible c-ring clips, each clip of an inner diameter equal to the outer diameter of said grasping handle.   
     
     
         4 . A surgical apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein said puppet handle further comprises
 a) a primarily cylindrical structure having a hollow left end and a hollow right end, wherein a compressible material is firmly compacted within the interior of said left end and of said right end, said compressible material of such frictional coefficient as to enable the retention of said surgical needles inserted into said compressible material; and 
 b) said means for exteriorly retaining said separable grasping device comprises two exteriorly-attached, co-axial, flexible c-ring clips, each clip of an inner diameter equal to the outer diameter of said grasping handle. 
 
     
     
         5 . A surgical apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein said puppet handle further comprises
 a) a structure comprising a plurality of conjoined, primarily cylindrical stems, each said stem having a hollow opening wherein a compressible material is firmly compacted within the interior of said stems, said material of such frictional coefficient as to enable the retention of a surgical needle inserted into said compressible material; and 
 b) at least one paired, co-axial, flexible c-ring clips attached to the outer surface of said structure. 
 
     
     
         6 . A surgical apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein said puppet handle further comprises (i) a means for storing and dispensing suture material, (ii) a means for exteriorly retaining said grasper when said grasper is detached from said locking head, and (iii) a means of interiorly retaining at least two surgical needles. 
     
     
         7 . A method for the retracting, re-positioning, and re-orienting tissue or a bodily organ during endoscopic or laparoscopic surgery, comprising the steps of
 a) providing a surgical apparatus comprising (i) a separable grasping device having a detachable grasping head comprising an upper jaw and a lower jaw, a jaws control means, a jaws locking means, a head detaching means, a jaws operator, at least one needle retainer containing at least one surgical needle and suture, at least one suture harnessing means; and (ii) a puppet handle comprising a means for exteriorly retaining said separable grasping device, and a means for exteriorly retaining at least two surgical needles.   b) inserting a trocar, or other suitable medical instrument, having a first integral shaft and a second integral shaft, into the abdominal wall of a patient;   c) inserting, through said first integral shaft, said separable grasping device;   d) inserting, through said second integral shaft, an endoscope;   e) utilizing said endoscope, and thereby clasping, by utilizing said detachable grasper, tissue or an organ involved with said surgery;   f) removing, by means of a device inserted through said second integral shaft, said needles from the at least one needle retainer on said detachable locking head;   g) passing each said needle through the interior of said abdominal wall so as to expose each said needle exteriorly to the patient's body;   h) affixing each said needle and its accompanying suture separately into said compressible material within said left end and said right end, respectively, of said puppet handle;   i) utilizing said puppet handle to retract and/or position said tissue or said organ to an orientation as required by the nature of said surgery.