Pneumoperitoneum device

Abstract

A bag with one or more openings is placed within a body cavity. Excised tissue is placed within the opening of a deflated bag. One or more openings of the bag are withdrawn outside the body cavity and the bag is inflated. Instruments including laparoscopic visualization are placed within the inflated bag that remains within the body cavity. The tissue retained within the bag is morcellated/crushed/reduced and removed. The bag is deflated and removed with residual tissue/blood/fluids inside. The tissue to be removed is retained in the bag which prevents potentially harmful material such as cancerous cells from being released in the body cavity.

1 . Apparatus for use in laparoscopic surgery comprising an inflatable bag having an opening to receive tissue. 
     
     
         2 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  comprising a retainer for opening the bag. 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the retainer comprises at least one ring element which extends at least partially around the opening. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the ring element is flexible to facilitate entry through an incision and/or an instrument access port. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the retainer comprises ring parts. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 4  comprising two separate ring parts. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  comprising a tether for each of the ring parts. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the retainer has an insertion configuration and an expanded deployed configuration. 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the retainer is biased into the deployed configuration. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  comprising a pouch for containing the bag in an insertion configuration, wherein the pouch is at least partially insertable through an incision and/or an access port. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 12  comprising an activator for delivering the bag from the pouch, on insertion. 
     
     
         15 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the activator comprises a tab or a plunger. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  comprising a user tether attached to the bag, 
     
     
         18 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the bag comprises a neck region. 
     
     
         19 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the neck region is adjacent to the retainer. 
     
     
         20 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the bag comprises one or more ports. 
     
     
         21 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the port comprises a valve. 
     
     
         25 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the valve comprises a choke valve or a cuff valve. 
     
     
         26 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the valve comprises an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         27 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the apparatus comprises a proximal tether and a distal tether. 
     
     
         28 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the distal tether is movable relative to the proximal tether. 
     
     
         29 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 28  wherein the proximal tether comprises a loop through which the distal tether is movable. 
     
     
         30 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 28  comprising a lock to restrict movement of the distal tether. 
     
     
         31 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 30  wherein the lock is provided by or on the proximal and/or the distal tether. 
     
     
         32 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 31  wherein the lock comprises a projection on the distal tether which is engagable by the proximal tether. 
     
     
         33 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising an access port to which the bag is mounted or mountable. 
     
     
         34 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 33  wherein the access port comprises a retractor having a distal anchoring element for location within a wound interior, a proximal member for location externally of a wound opening and a retractor member extending proximally from the distal anchoring element to retract laterally the sides of an incision. 
     
     
         35 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 34  wherein the bag is mountable to the proximal member of the retractor. 
     
     
         36 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 34  further comprising a cap for closing the proximal side of the retractor 
     
     
         37 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 36  wherein the cap comprises an access device for an instrument or a surgeons hand/arm. 
     
     
         38 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 37  wherein the access device is mountable to the proximal member of the retractor. 
     
     
         39 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A method for performing a laparoscopic procedure comprising the steps of:—
 inserting a bag through an opening; 
 inflating the bag; 
 delivering tissue into the bag before or after inflating the bag; and 
 carrying out a procedure on the tissue located in the inflated bag. 
 
     
     
         43 - 50 . (canceled)