MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY GUIDE TUBE
A guide tube has an oblong cross-sectional shape. A first surgical instrument passes through one end of the oblong shape, and a second surgical instrument passes through the other end of the oblong shape. An imaging system is on the guide tube, in some aspects at the guide tube's distal end. In some aspects the guide tube and the instruments are telemanipulatively controlled.
1 . A minimally invasive surgery guide tube:
wherein the outer perimeter of a cross section of the guide tube comprises an oblong shape;
wherein a first channel that receives a body segment of a first surgical instrument extends at least part way through the guide tube at one end of the oblong shape; and
wherein a second channel that receives a body segment of a second surgical instrument extends at least part way through the guide tube at the opposite end of the oblong shape.
2 . The guide tube of claim 1 further comprising:
an endoscopic imaging system at a distal end of the guide tube.
3 . The guide tube of claim 1 further comprising:
a stereoscopic endoscopic imaging system at a distal end of the guide tube.
4 . The guide tube of claim 1:
wherein the guide tube is a secondary guide tube;
wherein the first surgical instrument extends through a primary guide tube; and
wherein the primary guide tube extends at least part way through the secondary guide tube.
5 . The guide tube of claim 1:
wherein the guide tube is a secondary guide tube;
wherein the first surgical instrument extends through a first primary guide tube;
wherein the second surgical instrument extends through a second primary guide tube; and
wherein the first and the second primary guide tubes extend at least part way through the secondary guide tube.
6 . The guide tube of claim 1:
wherein the guide tube is telemanipulatively moved.
7 . The guide tube of claim 1:
wherein the guide tube comprises a flexible section.
8 . The guide tube of claim 7:
wherein the flexible section is telemanipulatively moved.
9 . A method comprising:
shaping an outer perimeter of a cross section of a minimally invasive surgery guide tube to have an oblong shape;
forming a first channel in the guide tube that receives a body segment of a first surgical instrument, wherein the first channel extends at least part way through the guide tube at one end of the oblong shape; and
forming a second channel in the guide tube that receives a body segment of a second surgical instrument, wherein the second channel extends at least part way through the guide tube at the opposite end of the oblong shape.
10 . The method of claim 9 further comprising:
mounting an endoscopic imaging system at a distal end of the guide tube.
11 . The method of claim 9 further comprising:
mounting a stereoscopic endoscopic imaging system at a distal end of the guide tube.
12 . The method of claim 9:
wherein the guide tube is a secondary guide tube; and
wherein the method further comprises forming the first channel to receive a primary guide tube, wherein the body segment of the first surgical instrument extends through the primary guide tube
13 . The method of claim 9:
wherein the guide tube is a secondary guide tube; and
wherein the method further comprises:
forming the first channel to receive a first primary guide tube, wherein the body segment of the first surgical instrument extends through the first primary guide tube; and
forming the second channel to receive a second primary guide tube, wherein the body segment of the second surgical instrument extends through the second primary guide tube
14 . The method of claim 9:
wherein the guide tube is telemanipulatively moved.
15 . The guide tube of claim 9:
wherein the guide tube comprises a flexible section.
16 . The guide tube of claim 15:
wherein the flexible section is telemanipulatively moved.
17 . The guide tube of claim 16:
wherein the flexible section simultaneously flexes in orthogonal directions.
18 . The guide tube of claim 7:
wherein the flexible section simultaneously flexes in orthogonal directions.
19 . The guide tube of claim 1 further comprising:
a stereoscopic endoscopic imaging system at a distal portion of the guide tube;
wherein the shape of the outer perimeter of the distal portion of the guide tube is substantially similar to the shape of the cross section of the guide tube through which the body segments of the first and second surgical instruments extend.