Endoscopic dissector
A dissection device comprising an elongate cannula having proximal and distal ends and a central axis and arranged to receive at least a remote viewing device therein, a handle arranged to be attached to the proximal end of the elongate cannula and a dissection tip arranged to be attached to the distal end of the elongate cannula, the dissection tip comprising a curved hollow shroud that when the dissection tip is orientated for use defines a substantially concave working cavity having an open underside, the hollow shroud comprising a pair of laterally extending lateral extensions, each wing extending from an opposing lateral portion of the periphery of the hollow shroud.
1. A tissue dissection tip arranged to be attached to a distal end of an elongate cannula, the dissection tip comprising:
a curved hollow shroud that when the dissection tip is orientated for use defines a substantially concave working cavity having an open underside, the hollow shroud comprising a pair of laterally extending lateral extensions, each lateral extension extending from an opposing lateral portion of a periphery of the hollow shroud and being positionally fixed with respect to the hollow shroud,
wherein through a cross-section perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cannula, the hollow shroud has an outer surface having a substantially convex portion and each lateral extension has a substantially concave outer surface whereby the substantially outer concave surface of each lateral extension lifts upper dissected tissue, wherein the lateral extensions and the hollow shroud are formed together as a monolithic construction.
2. A tissue dissection tip according to claim 1 , wherein the dissection tip comprises a tissue dissection portion located at a distal end of the dissection tip, the tissue dissection portion terminating in a plane that, when the dissection tip is orientated for use, is above a plane in which a remote viewing device is arranged to lie.
3. A tissue dissection tip according to claim 1 , wherein through an axial cross-section the tissue dissection portion has a substantially concave outer surface that is contiguous with the convex outer surface of the hollow shroud.
4. A dissection device comprising:
an elongate cannula having proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal axis,
a handle arranged to be attached to the proximal end of the elongate cannula; and
a tissue dissection tip according to claim 1 .
5. A dissection device according to claim 4 , wherein the cannula is further arranged to receive at least one surgical instrument therein.
6. A dissection device according to claim 4 , wherein the cannula includes an elongate slot arranged to engage a surgical instrument and guide said instrument along said slot.
7. A dissection device according to claim 4 , wherein the handle comprises a viewing device holding mechanism, said viewing device holding mechanism being arranged to translate a viewing device within the cannula between a first and second position.
8. A dissection device according to claim 7 , wherein in the first position the distal end of a remote viewing device held by the viewing device holding mechanism extends beyond the distal end of the cannula and into the working cavity defined by the curved hollow shroud.
9. A dissection device according to claim 7 , wherein the viewing device holding mechanism comprises an actuating lever arranged to be operated by a user whilst gripping the handle.
10. A dissection device according to claim 4 , wherein a body portion of the handle is arranged to house a fiber optic cable for connection to the remote viewing device.
11. A dissection device according to claim 10 , wherein the handle comprises a fiber optic cable retention mechanism arranged to secure a fiber optic cable within the handle.
12. A dissection device according to claim 11 , wherein the fiber optic cable retention mechanism comprises a pair of resilient seals defining a slot arranged to receive the fiber optic cable there-through.
13. A dissection device according to claim 4 , further comprising a remote viewing device, the remote viewing device comprising either an endoscope or a semiconductor imaging element.
14. A dissection device according to claim 4 , further comprising a first semiconductor imaging element located at the proximal end of the dissection tip and arranged to provide a direct view immediately ahead of the dissection tip and a second semiconductor imaging element located at the distal end of the dissection tip and arranged to provide a direct view of the working cavity.
15. A dissection device according claim 4 , wherein the handle includes a longitudinal groove in communication with the interior of the cannula.
16. A dissection device according to claim 15 , wherein the longitudinal groove is in communication with an elongate slot in the cannula.
17. A dissection device according to claim 15 , wherein the longitudinal groove is tapered in width towards the cannula.
18. A dissection device according to claim 4 , wherein the handle comprises a grip portion arranged to provide a gripping area for a user's hand, the grip portion extending in a direction lateral to the axis of the cannula.
19. A dissection device according to claim 4 , wherein the handle and the cannula are arranged to be separable from one another.
20. A dissector device according to claim 4 , wherein the cannula comprises a plurality of internal longitudinal passageways.
21. A dissector device according to claim 20 , wherein at least two of the internal longitudinal passageways are in communication with one another.
22. A tissue dissection tip arranged to be attached to a distal end of an elongate cannula, the dissection tip comprising:
a curved hollow shroud comprising a body that when the dissection tip is orientated for use defines a substantially concave working cavity having an open underside, the hollow shroud comprising a pair of laterally extending lateral extensions, each lateral extension being formed from a side portion of the body,
wherein through a cross-section perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cannula,
the hollow shroud has an outer surface having a substantially convex portion and each lateral extension has a substantially concave outer surface whereby the substantially outer concave surface of each lateral extension lifts upper dissected tissue, wherein the lateral extensions and the hollow shroud are formed together as a monolithic construction.
23. A tissue dissection tip arranged to be attached to a distal end of an elongate cannula, the tissue dissection tip comprising:
a tissue dissection portion located at a distal end of the dissection tip;
a curved hollow shroud that when the dissection tip is orientated for use defines a substantially concave working cavity having an open underside, the hollow shroud comprising a pair of laterally extending lateral extensions, each lateral extension extending from an opposing lateral portion of a periphery of the hollow shroud and defining a lateral edge that extends from the tissue dissection portion,
wherein through a cross-section perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cannula, the hollow shroud has an outer surface having a substantially convex portion and each lateral extension has a substantially concave outer surface whereby the substantially outer concave surface of each lateral extension lifts upper dissected tissue, wherein the lateral extensions and the hollow shroud are formed together as a monolithic construction.
24. A tissue dissection tip according to claim 1 , wherein the lateral extensions are arranged so as to be non-movable with respect to the hollow shroud.