WO1998047431A1

WO1998047431A1 - Handle for dissection device

Info

Publication number: WO1998047431A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/007675
Authority: WO
Inventors: Geoffrey H. Willis
Original assignee: Origin Medsystems, Inc.
Priority date: 1997-04-18
Filing date: 1998-04-17
Publication date: 1998-10-29
Also published as: AU7125598A

Abstract

A handle for a dissection device allows a single operator to inflate a balloon on the dissection device with one hand while controlling the dissection device with the other hand. The handle has a vertical post that is attached to the hub of the dissection device. The handle also has horizontal arm, integrally formed with the vertical post, which serves as a hand grip. The hand grip is oriented above and parallel to the dissection device, allowing an operator to easily manipulate and angle the dissection device with one hand. Additionally, the hand grip houses a syringe used to inflate a balloon on the dissection device.

Description

HANDLE FOR DISSECTION DEVICE

Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to medical dissection devices and, more particularly, to a handle for a dissection device used to harvest veins.

Background of the Invention

Dissection devices are used to harvest veins, such as the saphenous vein. The dissection devices are pushed along the length of the vein to separate the vein from the surrounding tissue and fat. After the vein is separated from surrounding tissue and fat, it can be more easily reached and harvested.

Figure 1 illustrates a known dissection tool, namely a cannula 100. The tapered tip 110 of the cannula 100 is places on the adventitial surface of a vein or artery and manipulated to track the course of the vessel along various anatomical structures. An endoscope 120 screws into the cannula 100 to allow an operator to view the vein to be harvested.

The cannula 100 includes a balloon 130 which is inflated by attaching a syringe 140 to the cannula via a flexible, elastic tube 150. When the plunger 155 of the syringe 2140 is depressed, the balloon 130 inflates, clearing tissue and fat away from the vein. The cannula 100 is grasped by the operator at the cannula hub 160.

Often the cannula 100 must track along curved structures, such as muscle in the case of the greater saphenous vein harvesting. In order to track the cannula 100 along a curved structure with adequate directional control, the cannula 100 must be lifted and angled outside of the incision entry point. Angulation of the cannula is also necessary when the cannula 100 reaches a venous tributary or arterial branch, as the tip 110 must be redirected to avoid tributary or side branch avulsion. To provide better control, two hands are used to manipulate and angle the cannula 100. One hand grasps the cannula hub 160, and the other hand lifts the cannula 100 at about the center of the cannula. Because two hands are usually required to angle and control the cannula 100, inflating the balloon 130 with the attached syringe 140 is difficult for a single operator to perform. Balloon inflation itself usually requires two hands. One hand may be needed to stabilize the syringe 140 while the other hand depresses the plunger 155, as a moderate but significant amount of force is needed to depress the plunger. For a single operator, the requirement for two handed balloon inflation means that the dissection cannula 100 must be released during balloon inflation, and this compromises control over cannula position. Therefore, it is desirable to have a dissection device that allows a single operator to inflate the balloon without having to release the dissection device.

Another disadvantage of known cannulas is that, since the cannula hub 160 is relatively short, operators have a tendency to grasp a video camera attached to the eyepiece of the endoscope 120. This can disturb the endoscope image and dislodge the camera from the endoscope 120. Therefore, it is also desirable to have a dissection tool that is easier for an operator to grasp.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a handle for a dissection device, such as a cannula. The handle has a vertical post that is attached to the hub of the dissection cannula. The handle also has a horizontal arm which serves as a hand grip. The hand grip is oriented substantially orthogonal with respect to the vertical post. The hand grip is also oriented above and parallel to the dissection device, allowing an operator to easily manipulate and angle the dissection device with one hand. Additionally, the hand grip houses a syringe used to inflate a balloon on the dissection device. This allows a single operator to inflate the balloon with one hand while controlling the dissection device with the other hand.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 illustrates a known dissection cannula. Figure 2 illustrates a dissection device attached to a handle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 illustrates a frontal view of the handle.

Figures 4a-c illustrate side sectional views of the handle.

Figure 5 illustrates a side view of the handle with measurements of the handle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Figure 2 illustrates a dissection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. A retrofit handle 200, formed of rigid plastic, attaches to a hub 205 of a dissection device 210. The dissection device 210 may be a conventional cannula or the cannula disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/593,533, titled "Tissue Separation Cannula with Dissection Probe and Method," filed on January 24, 1996 by Albert K. Chin. In one embodiment, the handle 200 is a retrofit, removable handle clamped or otherwise attached to the dissection device 210 after the dissection device 210 is manufactured. In an alternate embodiment, the handle 200 is molded to the dissection device 210.

The handle 200 is formed of rigid plastic. In one embodiment, the handle is formed from Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene. In another embodiment, the handle is formed from polycarbonate, and, in yet another embodiment, the handle 200 is formed from ULTEM brand plastic, which is manufactured by G.E. Plastics, Inc.

The handle 200 has a vertical post 260 which attaches to the dissection device 210. The handle 200 also has a horizontal, substantially trough-shaped arm which serves as a hand grip 220. The hand grip 220 is integrally formed with the vertical post 260 and is oriented substantially orthogonal with respect to the vertical post 260. The hand grip 220 extends parallel to an axis 215 of the dissection device 210 and houses a syringe 240 used for inflating a balloon 230 on the dissection tool. The orientation of the hand grip 220, above and parallel to the dissection device 210, allows an operator to easily manipulate and angle the dissection device 210 with one hand. Placing the hand grip 220 above the dissection device gives the operator more leverage.

An operator grasps the hand grip 220 at end 250. The index finger rests adjacent finger grip 265, which is a bump extending from the hand grip 220. A conventional endoscope 295 screws into one end of the dissection device 210.

The syringe 240 is a conventional 30cc or 60cc syringe used to inflate a balloon 230. Since the hand grip 220 houses the syringe 240, an operator need not hold the syringe. Additionally, since the operator only needs one hand to control and angle the dissection device 210, the other hand is free to depress the plunger 275. Thus, using the handle 200, a single operator can simultaneously inflate the balloon 230 and control and angle the dissection device 210. An operator need not release the dissection device 210 in order to inflate the balloon 230.

An air inflation line 285, which is a flexible, plastic tube, couples the syringe 240 and the dissection device 210. Specifically, the air inflation line 285 has two luer connectors 280, and one of the luer connectors 280 plugs into an air inflation port 283 on the dissection device 210, while the other luer connector 280 plugs into the syringe at the end opposite the plunger 275. In an alternate embodiment, the air inflation line 285 does not have a luer connector 280 on the end that attaches to the air inflation port 283. Rather, in this alternate embodiment, the air inflation line 285 is glued or otherwise attached to the inside of the air inflation port 283.

The air inflation line 285 is a conventional air inflation line used to couple dissection devices and syringes. When the plunger 275 is depressed, air travels through the air inflation line 285 to the dissection device 210 and inflates the balloon 230. The balloon 230 is a conventional balloon, such as those found on conventional cannulas.

Referring now to Figure 3, the handle 200 has an aperture 305 on the vertical post 260 of the handle 200, and the dissection device 210 is placed through the aperture 305. In one embodiment, the handle 200 includes a washer 330 which is places around the dissection device 210. The handle 200 has a clamp 310 which presses against the washer 330 when a thumbscrew 320 is tightened, thereby firmly securing the handle 200 to the dissection device 210. In an alternate embodiment, the handle 200 does not include the washer 330, and, when the thumbscrew 320 is tightened, the clamp 310 presses directly against the hub 205 of the dissection device 210 to secure the dissection device 210 to the handle 200. In yet another embodiment, the post 260 is molded to the dissection device 210.

The hand grip 220 also includes an aperture 300 through which the air inflation line 285 is placed. In an alternate embodiment, the air inflation line 285 is incorporated into the handle 200 and runs through the handle 200 instead of being outside the handle 200. Specifically, in this alternate embodiment, the air inflation line 285 runs along the hand grip 220, down the post 260, and into the air inflation port 283 (which extends up into the post 260 in this alternate embodiment.)

Figure 4a illustrates a side sectional view of the handle 200. The syringe 240 is placed in space 400, and one end of the syringe 240 is placed through aperture 425. The dissection device 210 is placed in aperture 305.

Figure 4b illustrates a cross sectional view of the handle cut along line B-B. As illustrated in Figure 4b, the hand grip 220 is u-shaped in the center, which allows the hand grip 220 to easily receive the circular syringe 240. Figure 4c illustrates a cross sectional view of the handle cut along lines A- A. The air inflation line 285 attached to the syringe 240 is placed through aperture 300, which is on end 250 of the handle 200.

Figure 5, which is a side sectional view of the handle 200, illustrates measurements for the handle 200 for one embodiment of the present invention. The length measurements are in inches and the angle measurements are in degrees. The measurements with an "R" are the measurements, in inches, for the radii of the curves.

Claims

Claims What is claimed is:

1. A handle for a dissection device, the handle comprising: a post attached to the dissection device; and a hand grip supported by the post in a substantially parallel orientation with respect to the dissection device.

2. The handle according to claim 1, wherein the hand grip houses a syringe.

3. The handle according to claim 1, wherein the post is clamped to the dissection device.

4. A handle for a dissection device, wherein the dissection device has an axis lying in a plane, the handle comprising: a post attached to the dissection device; and a hand grip supported by the post and having an axis parallel to the plane.

5. The handle according to claim 4, wherein the hand grip houses a syringe.

6. The handle of claim 1 , wherein the hand grip is positioned above the dissection device.

7. The handle of claim 1, wherein the hand grip is integrally formed with the post.

8. The handle of claim 4, wherein the hand grip is positioned above the dissection device.

9. The handle of claim 4, wherein the hand grip is integrally formed with the post.

10. An apparatus comprising: a dissection device; a post attached to the dissection device; and a hand grip supported by the post in a substantially parallel orientation with respect to the dissection device.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the hand grip is positioned above the dissection device.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the hand grip is integrally formed with the dissection device.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the hand grip houses a syringe.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the post is clamped to the dissection device.