Method for surgically removing a tumor from a woman's breast

Abstract

A method for surgically removing a tumor from a woman's breast is provided. The method can include inserting an optical trocar having a working channel and a transparent tip through a skin incision, guiding the transparent tip of the trocar through breast tissue with visualization such that the transparent tip of the trocar is placed adjacent to the tumor, insufflating gas via the working channel of the trocar to create a cavity in an operative field next to the tumor, dissecting the tumor free with a surgical instrument inserted through the working channel and removing the tumor through the trocar.

Claims

1. A method for surgically removing a tumor from a woman's breast, comprising: inserting a single optical trocar having working channels and a transparent tip through a skin incision located at a breast; visually guiding the transparent tip of the single optical trocar as the single optical trocar advances through breast tissue with visualization through the transparent tip of the single optical trocar until the transparent tip of the single optical trocar is placed adjacent to the tumor; insufflating gas via one of the working channels of the single optical trocar under a positive pressure, wherein the insufflating gas presses against the breast tissue, pressing the breast tissue away to create a cavity in an operative field next to the tumor; within the cavity created next to the tumor, dissecting the tumor free with a surgical instrument inserted through one of the working channels; removing the tumor through one of the working channels of the single optical trocar; wherein the inserting, guiding, insufflating, dissecting and removing are all performed with the single optical trocar such that the single optical trocar is the only trocar used; and inserting a dilatation balloon through one of the working channels to create an initial cavity for insufflating gas.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the single optical trocar comprises an optical trocar member and a trocar sleeve.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein after guiding the transparent tip of the single optical trocar through breast tissue with visualization such that the transparent tip of the single optical trocar is placed adjacent to the tumor, withdrawing the optical trocar member from the trocar sleeve and inserting an endoscopic optics unit.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein one of the working channels is located in the trocar sleeve.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the working channels is an insufflation channel.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the working channel is an insufflation channel and wherein the insufflation channel is located in the trocar sleeve.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the skin incision is a periareolar incision.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein guiding the transparent tip of the single optical trocar through breast tissue with visualization includes using wire marking.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising inserting a morcellator for breaking up the tumor through the trocar sleeve or one of the working channels of the single optical trocar.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising ultrasonically guiding the transparent tip of the single optical trocar.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 depicts the trocar being inserted through an incision in the skin and the trocar tip being placed next to a tumor that is to be removed;

(2) FIG. 2 depicts the creation of an initial artificial cavity by means of a dilatation balloon;

(3) FIG. 3 depicts the insufflation of a gas into this initial cavity;

(4) FIG. 4 depicts the dissection of the tumor with visualization by means of surgical micro-instruments;

(5) FIG. 5 depicts the morcellation of the tumor with visualization; and

(6) FIG. 6 depicts the operative field after the tumor has been removed and before the insufflation gas has been released.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

(7) The inventive method is used for minimally invasive removal of a tumor 10, for instance a fibroadenoma, from the tissue of a woman's breast (Mamma) 12. To this end, first a small incision 18 is made in the skin, preferably on the edge 16 of the areola 14. An optical trocar 20 is inserted through the skin incision 18. The position of the tumor 10 is visualized for example by means of a wire marking or by means of ultrasound so that the tip of the trocar may be guided towards the operative field of the tumor 10 that is to be removed.

(8) The trocar 20 is embodied as an optical trocar and has a transparent tip 22. Through this tip 22 it is possible to visualize the tissue adjacent to the tip 22 and the advance of the tip 22 through this tissue by means of an optical unit 26 inserted into the trocar 20.

(9) The trocar 20 preferably comprises an inner trocar member with the transparent conical tip 22 and a trocar sleeve 24 that encloses this trocar member. Working channels are embodied longitudinally in the trocar 20. At least one of the working channels is also used, at least at times, as an insufflation channel. In one embodiment, one of the working channels is embodied as an insufflation channel. If the trocar 20 comprises only one trocar member, then the working channels and where applicable the insufflation channel are embodied in the wall surrounding the optical unit 26. If the trocar 20 comprises a trocar member and a trocar sleeve 24, then the working channels and where applicable the insufflation channel are preferably embodied in the trocar sleeve 24 or in the space between the trocar member and the trocar sleeve 24. The working channels and where applicable the insufflation channel exit distally at the tip 22, while at the proximal end of the trocar 20 the insufflation channel may be closed via a valve (not shown) on a gas supply. The working channels terminate proximally in input openings via which surgical micro-instruments 28 may be inserted while sealed.

(10) As soon as the tip 22 of the trocar 20 has been placed next to the tumor 10, as is depicted in FIG. 1, preferably a dilatation balloon 30 is inserted through one of the working channels and emerges at the distal tip 22 such that it is disposed immediately adjacent to the tumor 10, as is depicted in FIG. 2. The dilatation balloon 30 is inflated so that it dissects the tissue surrounding the tumor 10 and creates an artificial cavity.

(11) Then gas, typically CO.sub.2, is insufflated via the insufflation channel. The insufflation gas that exits under pressure at the tip 22 of the trocar 20 expands the artificially created cavity 32, as FIG. 3 depicts.

(12) During further insufflation, the cavity 32 expands further, as FIG. 4 depicts, so that the tumor is accessible. The distal working ends 34 of the micro-instruments 28 may now be moved distally out of the tip 22 of the trocar 20 in order to dissect the tumor 10 free; the micro-instruments 28 are actuated using their extra-corporeal handles. The tumor 10 is dissected while being visualized through the transparent tip 22 by means of the optical unit 26.

(13) Alternatively, if the trocar 20 comprises a trocar member and a trocar sleeve 24, the trocar member may be withdrawn from the trocar sleeve 24 and replaced by an endoscope optical unit that is used to visualize the dissection.

(14) As soon as the tumor has been dissected free, as FIG. 5 illustrates, the tumor 10 is retrieved through the trocar 20; for this purpose the trocar member is withdrawn so that the inner channel of the trocar sleeve 24 is free. If the tumor 10 is so large that it cannot be removed intact through the trocar 20, a morcellator 36 may be inserted through the trocar 24 sleeve and may be used to break up the tumor 10. A visualization optics unit 38 may be inserted through one of the working channels to perform the morcellation with visualization.

(15) FIG. 6 depicts the situation after the tumor 10 has been completely removed. The cavity 32 is still filled with the insufflation gas. The insufflation gas is then let out via the trocar 20 so that the cavity 32 and thus the operative wound can close.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

(16) 10 Tumor 12 Breast (Mamma) 14 Areola 16 Edge of areola 18 Skin incision 20 Trocar 22 Tip 24 Trocar sleeve 26 Optical unit 28 Micro-instruments 30 Dilatation balloon 32 Cavity 34 Working end 36 Morcellator 38 Visualization optical unit