Colpotomy system for total laparoscopic hysterectomy

Abstract

A colpotomy system includes a surgical instrument having a cutting element and a receiver at a distal end thereof and a uterine instrument. The uterine instrument has a handle operably coupled to a shaft having a balloon at a distal end thereof, the shaft extending through a retaining member to access a surgical site, the retaining member including a plurality of transmitters for transmitting at least one signal. A distance between the cutting element of the surgical instrument and one end of the retaining member of the uterine instrument is calculated to determine whether the cutting element is within a predetermined operating zone.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A uterine instrument comprising:
 a first handle portion;   a second handle portion;   a first shaft operably coupled to the first handle portion, the first shaft having a first balloon positioned at a distal end thereof;   a second shaft operably coupled to the second handle portion, the second shaft having a second balloon positioned at a distal end thereof; and   a retaining member configured to engage the second balloon of the second shaft, the first shaft configured to extend through the second shaft and the retaining member to access a surgical site;   wherein the retaining member includes an inductive sensing assembly for determining a location of a surgical cutting device relative to the retaining member.   
     
     
         3 . The uterine instrument of  claim 2 , wherein the inductive sensing assembly is embedded within the retaining member. 
     
     
         4 . The uterine instrument of  claim 2 , wherein the inductive sensing assembly allows for sensing a radial position of the surgical cutting device relative to the retaining member. 
     
     
         5 . The uterine instrument of  claim 4 , wherein the inductive sensing assembly allows for sensing an angular position of the surgical cutting device relative to the retaining member. 
     
     
         6 . The uterine instrument of  claim 2 , wherein the inductive sensing assembly includes a core and a series of inductive coil loops positioned around the core. 
     
     
         7 . The uterine instrument of  claim 6 , wherein adjacent inductive coil loops of the series of inductive coil loops are equally spaced from each other around the core. 
     
     
         8 . The uterine instrument of  claim 6 , wherein each inductive coil loop of the series of inductive coil loops is formed from a wire wound around the core. 
     
     
         9 . The uterine instrument of  claim 6 , wherein each inductive coil loop of the series of inductive coil loops operates as an inductive sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The uterine instrument of  claim 2 , wherein the inductive sensing assembly includes a core having a length and a single inductive coil loop wound about the length of the core. 
     
     
         11 . The uterine instrument of  claim 2 , wherein the inductive sensing assembly includes an inductive sensor. 
     
     
         12 . A colpotomy system comprising:
 a surgical device including a cutting element; and   a uterine instrument having a handle operably coupled to a shaft having a balloon at a distal end thereof, the shaft extending through a retaining member to access a surgical site, the retaining member including an inductive sensing assembly for determining a position of the cutting element of the surgical cutting device relative to the retaining member.   
     
     
         13 . The colpotomy system of  claim 12 , wherein the inductive sensing assembly is embedded within the retaining member. 
     
     
         14 . The colpotomy system of  claim 12 , wherein the inductive sensing assembly allows sensing of a radial position of the surgical cutting device relative to the retaining member. 
     
     
         15 . The colpotomy system of  claim 14 , wherein the inductive sensing assembly allows sensing of an angular position of the surgical cutting device relative to the retaining member. 
     
     
         16 . The colpotomy system of  claim 12 , wherein the inductive sensing assembly includes a core and a series of inductive coil loops positioned around the core. 
     
     
         17 . The colpotomy system of  claim 16 , wherein adjacent inductive coil loops of the series of inductive coil loops are equally spaced from each other around the core. 
     
     
         18 . The colpotomy system of  claim 16 , wherein each inductive coil loop of the series of inductive coil loops is formed from a wire wound around the core. 
     
     
         19 . The colpotomy system of  claim 16 , wherein each inductive coil loop of the series of inductive coil loops operates as an inductive sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The colpotomy system of  claim 12 , wherein in the inductive sensing assembly includes a core having a length and a single inductive coil loop wound about the length of the core. 
     
     
         21 . The colpotomy system of  claim 12 , wherein the inductive sensing assembly includes an inductive sensor.