Surgical retrieval apparatus for thoracic procedures

Abstract

A surgical retrieval apparatus includes a housing defining a longitudinal axis and including an elongated sleeve extending distally therefrom. The housing and the elongated sleeve cooperate to define a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough. A shaft having an end effector disposed at a distal end thereof is selectively translatable between a first position, wherein the end effector is disposed within the elongated sleeve, and a second position, wherein the shaft is translated through the lumen such that the end effector extends distally from the elongated sleeve. An articulation mechanism operably coupled to the end effector is configured for articulating the end effector relative to the longitudinal axis. A specimen retrieval bag is coupled to the end effector and is deployed therefrom upon movement of the end effector from the first position to the second position.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of specimen retrieval, comprising:
 providing a surgical retrieval apparatus including:
 a housing defining a longitudinal axis and including an elongated sleeve extending distally therefrom, the housing and the elongated sleeve cooperating to define a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough; 
 a shaft having an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof, the shaft selectively translatable through the lumen; 
 an articulation mechanism coupled to the end effector assembly; and 
 a specimen retrieval bag releasably positioned on the end effector assembly; 
   inserting the shaft partially into the lumen through a proximal end of the housing to a first position, wherein the end effector assembly is disposed within the elongated sleeve;   positioning the surgical retrieval apparatus within an internal body cavity;   translating the shaft distally through the lumen to a second position wherein the end effector assembly extends distally from the elongated sleeve to deploy the specimen retrieval bag and enable articulation; and   articulating the end effector assembly with respect to the longitudinal axis to position an open end of the specimen retrieval bag adjacent the specimen of tissue to be retrieved.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , further including locking the shaft in at least one of the first and second positions. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , further including actuating a release trigger to permit manual translation of the shaft from the second position back to the first position such that the end effector assembly is disposed within the elongated sleeve. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein translation of the shaft from the second position back to the first position separates the specimen retrieval bag from the end effector assembly. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein a cinch cord is coupled at a distal end thereof to an open end of the specimen retrieval bag and is releasably engaged at a proximal end thereof to the shaft such that, upon translation of the shaft from the second position back to first third position, the cinch cord is pulled proximally to cinch the open end of the bag closed and further including disengaging the proximal end of the cinch cord from the shaft upon movement of the shaft from second position back to the first position. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the articulating step includes selectively rotating an articulation wheel about the longitudinal axis to articulate the end effector assembly relative to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         27 . A method of specimen retrieval, comprising:
 providing a surgical retrieval apparatus defining a longitudinal axis, the surgical retrieval apparatus including a selectively deployable end effector assembly having a specimen retrieval bag coupled thereto, and an articulation mechanism associated with the end effector assembly;   transitioning the end effector assembly from a retracted position to an extended position to deploy the specimen retrieval bag, wherein transitioning the end effector assembly from the retracted position to the extended position engages the articulation mechanism with the end effector assembly to enable articulation;   articulating the end effector assembly with respect to the longitudinal axis; and   transitioning the end effector assembly from the extended position to the retracted position, wherein transitioning the end effector assembly from the extended position to the retracted position disengages the articulation mechanism from the end effector assembly to disable articulation.   
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the surgical retrieval apparatus includes a housing defining having an elongated sleeve extending distally therefrom, the housing and the elongated sleeve cooperating to define a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, the surgical retrieval apparatus further including a shaft having the end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof, the shaft selectively translatable through the lumen, and wherein transitioning the end effector assembly from the retracted position to the extended position includes translating the shaft distally through the lumen from a first position to a second position. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28 , further including locking the shaft in the first or second position. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein transitioning the end effector assembly from the extended position to the retracted position separates the specimen retrieval bag from the end effector assembly. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 27 , further including closing the specimen retrieval bag. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein closing the specimen retrieval bag separates the specimen retrieval bag from the end effector assembly. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein transitioning the end effector assembly from the extended position to the retracted position includes actuating a release trigger and manually returning the end effector assembly from the extended position to the retracted position. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein articulating includes selectively rotating an articulation wheel about the longitudinal axis to articulate the end effector assembly with respect to the longitudinal axis.