Endarterectomy surgical instrument and procedure

Abstract

An endarterectomy surgical instrument and procedure for removing plaque from a selected length of an artery and surgical instruments for cutting plaque build-ups. The endarterectomy surgical instrument has means for developing an image of the surgical site so that probing of the artery can be observed without requiring opening the artery along the selected length over which the plaque is removed.

1 . A surgical instrument comprising: 
 (A) a spatula tip having at a first end thereof: 
 (a) an optics opening, and  
 (b) a plurality of fluid openings;  
   (B) first flexible tubular means extending through said spatula tip from said optics opening, said first flexible tubular means having: 
 (a) a remote end opposite said spatula tip,  
 (b) at least one fiber optic cable arranged to conduct light from a light source to said optics opening, and  
 (c) at least one other fiber optic cable to conduct an image of a surgical site to an image forming unit;  
   (C) second flexible tubular means extending through said spatula tip from said fluid openings in said spatula tip to a remote end;    (D) connector means having an end connectable to: 
 (a) the light source;  
 (b) the image forming unit, and  
 (c) a fluid source and an opposite end connectable to: 
 (a) said remote end of said first flexible tubular means, and  
 (b) said remote end of said second flexible tubular means; and  
 
   (E) a cauterizing means to terminate a transition near the surgical site.    
     
     
         2 . A surgical instrument according to  claim 1  further including a flexible sheathing extending between said spatula tip and said connector means and through which said first flexible tubular means and said second flexible tubular means extend.  
     
     
         3 . A surgical instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 (a) said first flexible tubular means comprises a plurality of fiber optic cables disposed in a circular array arranged to conduct light from said light source to said optics opening, and    (b) said at least one other fiber optic cable is disposed at the center of said circular array.    
     
     
         4 . A surgical instrument according to  claim 1  wherein said spatula tip has a curved body and said optics opening, said at least one fiber optic cable and said at least one other fiber optic cable are within said curved body of said spatula tip.  
     
     
         5 . A surgical instrument according to  claim 2  wherein: 
 (a) said spatula tip also has at said first end thereof a plurality of liquid openings, and said instrument further includes:  
 (E) third flexible tubular means extending through said spatula tip from said liquid openings in said spatula tip for conducting liquid from a remote end of said third flexible tubular means connected to said connector means to the surgical site through a first of said liquid openings and for conducting liquid through a second of said liquid openings from the surgical site to said remote end of said third flexible tubular means.  
 
     
     
         6 . A surgical instrument according to  claim 5  wherein said third flexible tubular means extend through said flexible sheathing.  
     
     
         7 . A surgical instrument according to  claim 1  wherein said spatula tip also has at said first end thereof a laser opening through which a laser beam is emitted.  
     
     
         8 . A surgical instrument according to  claim 2  further including: 
 (a) a balloon bonded to said sheathing, and  
 (b) a fluid passage through which a fluid, under controlled pressure, is introduced into said balloon to inflate said balloon.  
 
     
     
         9 . A surgical instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein said first flexible means and said second flexible means are co-axially oriented.  
     
     
         10 . A surgical instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein said first flexible tubular means comprises a plurality of fiber optic cables arranged to conduct light from said light source to said optics opening.  
     
     
         12 . A surgical instrument comprising: 
 (A) an elongated body having a spatula tip disposed at a first end thereof for use at a surgical site, said spatula tip including: 
 (1) an optics opening, and  
 (2) at least one first fluid opening adapted to be used in combination with a fluid apparatus to deliver fluid to the surgical site;  
   (B) a fiber optics assembly coupled to said optics opening, said fiber optics assembly including: 
 (1) at least one fiber optic cable to conduct light from a light source to the surgical site through said optics opening; and  
 (2) at least one other fiber optic cable to conduct an image of the surgical site to an image forming unit through said optics opening; and  
   (C) a cauterizing element to terminate a transition near the surgical site.    
     
     
         13 . A surgical instrument according to claim  12 , wherein said fluid opening is adapted to receive a gas and the fluid apparatus is an apparatus for delivering the gas to said opening.  
     
     
         14 . A surgical instrument according to claim  13 , wherein the gas is CO 2 .  
     
     
         15 . A surgical instrument according to claim  12 , wherein said spatula includes at least one second fluid opening adapted to be used in combination with a liquid apparatus to receive a liquid and deliver the liquid to the surgical site.  
     
     
         16 . A surgical instrument according to claim  15 , wherein the spatula includes at least one third fluid opening adapted to be used in combination with a liquid apparatus to receive a liquid and carry the liquid from the surgical site.  
     
     
         17 . A surgical instrument according to claim  16 , wherein the fluid is saline.  
     
     
         18 . A surgical instrument according to claim  12 , wherein said fiber optics assembly includes a plurality of fiber optic cables to conduct light from said light source to the surgical site through said optics opening.