Granted Patent B2

US 7,740,625 · App. 10/512,425 · Granted Jun 22, 2010

Abstract

Claims (49)

1. A method for digitizing an operative site on a patient to facilitate an operative procedure involving a tissue surface outside of a patient's body and defining interior regions of the operative site, comprising the steps of:

providing a pad having a plurality of discrete segments, each with characteristics for performing at least one of a diagnostic function and a therapeutic function associated with the operative procedure;

placing the pad outside of the patient's body on the tissue surface on the outside of the patient's body;

receiving information from the plurality of discrete segments to create a map of the interior regions of the operative site;

measuring tissue conductivity and pressure;

displaying the map on a computer screen;

activating a light on one of the plurality of discrete segments; and

supplying the map to a microprocessor.

2. The method recited in claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

activating at least one of the plurality of discrete segments to perform the therapeutic function on the interior regions in a pattern dependent on the map.

3. The method recited in claim 1 , further comprising the step of:

moving the pad and the plurality of discrete segments relative to the tissue surface to create the map with respect to a predetermined operative site.

4. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the placing step includes the step of moving the pad along the tissue surface on the outside of the patient's body.

5. The method recited in claim 1 , further comprising the step of:

illuminating the operative site with a light carried by the pad.

6. A method for digitizing an operative site on a patient to facilitate an operative procedure involving a tissue surface outside of a patient's body and defining interior regions of the operative site, comprising the steps of:

providing a pad having a plurality of discrete segments, each with characteristics for performing at least one of a diagnostic function and a therapeutic function associated with the operative procedure;

placing the pad outside of the patient's body on the tissue surface on the outside of the patient's body;

receiving information from the plurality of discrete segments to create a map of the interior regions of the operative site; and

introducing a surgical instrument through an access device carried by the pad;

wherein the access device carried by the pad comprises a gel seal carried by the pad.

7. A method for digitizing an operative site on a patient to facilitate an operative procedure involving a tissue surface outside of a patient's body and defining interior regions of the operative site, comprising the steps of:

providing a pad having a plurality of discrete segments, each with characteristics for performing at least one of a diagnostic function and a therapeutic function associated with the operative procedure;

placing the pad outside of the patient's body on the tissue surface on the outside of the patient's body;

receiving information from the plurality of discrete segments to create a map of the interior regions of the operative site;

measuring tissue conductivity and pressure;

displaying the map on a computer screen;

activating a light on one of the plurality of discrete segments;

supplying the map to a microprocessor; and

activating at least one of the plurality of discrete segments to perform the therapeutic function on the interior regions in a pattern dependent on the map, wherein the activating step includes the step of electrosurgically activating at least one of the plurality of discrete segments.

8. The method recited in claim 7 , further comprising the step of:

moving the pad and the plurality of discrete segments relative to the tissue surface to create the map with respect to a predetermined operative site.

9. The method recited in claim 7 , wherein the placing step includes the step of moving the pad along the tissue surface on the outside of the patient's body.

10. The method recited in claim 7 , further comprising the step of:

illuminating the operative site with the light on one of the plurality of discrete segments.

11. A method for digitizing an operative site on a patient to facilitate an operative procedure involving a tissue surface outside of a patient's body and defining interior regions of the operative site, comprising the steps of:

providing a pad having a plurality of discrete segments, each with characteristics for performing at least one of a diagnostic function and a therapeutic function associated with the operative procedure;

placing the pad outside of the patient's body on the tissue surface on the outside of the patient's body;

receiving information from the plurality of discrete segments to create a map of the interior regions of the operative site;

measuring tissue conductivity and pressure;

displaying the map on a computer screen;

activating a light on one of the plurality of discrete segments;

supplying the map to a microprocessor; and

activating at least one of the plurality of discrete segments to perform the therapeutic function on the interior regions in a pattern dependent on the map, wherein the activating step includes the step of electrosurgically activating at least one of the plurality of discrete segments in a bipolar configuration.

12. The method recited in claim 11 , further comprising the step of:

moving the pad and the plurality of discrete segments relative to the tissue surface to create the map with respect to a predetermined operative site.

13. The method recited in claim 11 , wherein the placing step includes the step of moving the pad along the tissue surface on the outside of the patient's body.

14. The method recited in claim 11 , further comprising the step of:

illuminating the operative site with the light on one of the plurality of discrete segments.

Assignments (8)