Minimally invasive medical apparatus for dispensing a biologically active compound and an associated medical procedure for dispensing a biologically active compound

Abstract

A medical apparatus for dispensing a biologically active compound. The medical apparatus includes a sleeve, wherein (1) the sleeve has a working channel defined therein through which medical instruments may be advanced, (2) the sleeve includes a fluid delivery channel which is distinct from the working channel, (3) the fluid delivery channel has an exit, and (4) the sleeve includes a housing having an interior cavity defined therein. The medical apparatus also includes an insufflation valve in fluid communication with the working channel. The insufflation valve is positionable between an open position and a closed position such that (i) when the insufflation valve is located in the open position an insufflation gas can be advanced into the working channel and (ii) when the. insufflation valve is located in the closed position the insufflation gas is prevented from being advanced into the working channel. The medical apparatus further includes a chemical container having an interior void defined therein for receiving the biologically active compound, wherein the interior void is in fluid communication with the exit through the fluid delivery channel when the chemical container is positioned within the interior cavity of the housing such that the biologically active compound may be delivered through the fluid delivery channel to an outer surface of the sleeve.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A medical apparatus for dispensing a biologically active compound, comprising: 
 a trocar assembly including a cannula and a trocar, wherein (1) said cannula has a working channel defined therein through which medical instruments may be advanced, (2) said cannula includes a fluid delivery channel which is distinct from said working channel, and (3) said fluid delivery channel has an exit,    a valve in fluid communication with said working channel, said valve being positionable between an open position and a closed position such that (i) when said valve is located in said open position a gas can be advanced into said working channel and (ii) when said valve is located in said closed position said gas is prevented from being advanced into said working channel; and    a chemical container having an interior void defined therein for receiving said biologically active compound, said interior void being in fluid communication with said exit through said fluid delivery channel, whereby said biologically active compound may be delivered through said fluid delivery channel to an outer surface of said cannula.    
     
     
         2 . The medical apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said trocar is positionable between a first trocar position and a second trocar position,    said trocar is positioned within said working channel of said cannula when said trocar is positioned at said first trocar position, and    said trocar is completely removed from said working channel of said cannula when said trocar is positioned at said second trocar position.    
     
     
         3 . The medical apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said fluid delivery channel is defined in a wall of said cannula.    
     
     
         4 . The medical apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 said fluid delivery channel includes a groove defined in a surface of said cannula.    
     
     
         5 . The medical apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a sponge material disposed in said groove.    
     
     
         6 . The medical apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said trocar assembly further includes a housing secured to said cannula, and    said chemical container is integrally formed with said housing.    
     
     
         7 . A medical procedure for dispensing a biologically active compound, comprising said steps of: 
 creating an opening in a wall of a non-vascular body cavity;    advancing a medical apparatus through said opening and into said non-vascular body cavity, said medical apparatus including a trocar assembly having (1) a cannula and a trocar, wherein (A) said cannula has a working channel defined therein through which medical instruments may be advanced, (B) said cannula includes a fluid delivery channel which is distinct from said working channel, and (C) said fluid delivery channel has an exit, and (2) a chemical container having an interior void defined therein for receiving said biologically active compound, said interior void being in fluid communication with said exit through said fluid delivery channel; and    advancing said biologically active compound from said interior void of said chemical container onto an exterior surface of said cannula through a fluid path defined by said fluid delivery channel.    
     
     
         8 . The medical procedure of  claim 7 , wherein: 
 said biologically active compound advancing step includes the step of positioning said medical apparatus relative to said opening such that an amount of said biologically active compound is transferred from said exterior surface of said cannula to a side wall of said opening.    
     
     
         9 . The medical procedure of  claim 7 , wherein: 
 said trocar is positionable between a first trocar position and a second trocar position,    said trocar is positioned within said working channel of said cannula when said trocar is positioned at said first trocar position, and said trocar is completely removed from said working channel of said cannula when said trocar is positioned at said second trocar position;    
     
     
         10 . The medical procedure of  claim 7 , wherein: 
 said fluid delivery channel is defined in a wall of said cannula.    
     
     
         11 . The medical procedure of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 said fluid delivery channel includes a groove defined in a surface of said cannula.    
     
     
         12 . A medical apparatus for dispensing a biologically active compound, comprising: 
 a sleeve, wherein (1) said sleeve has a working channel defined therein through which medical instruments may be advanced, (2) said sleeve includes a fluid delivery channel which is distinct from said working channel, and (3) said fluid delivery channel has an exit;    a housing secured to said sleeve, said housing having an interior void defined therein for receiving said biologically active compound, wherein said interior void is in fluid communication with said exit through said fluid delivery channel such that said biologically active compound may be delivered through said fluid delivery channel to an outer surface of said sleeve; and    an insufflation valve in fluid communication with said working channel, said insufflation valve being positionable between an open position and a closed position such that (i) when said insufflation valve is located in said open position an insufflation gas can be advanced into said working channel and (ii) when said insufflation valve is located in said closed position said insufflation gas is prevented from being advanced into said working channel.    
     
     
         13 . The medical apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a trocar assembly including a cannula and a trocar, wherein: 
 said trocar assembly is positionable between a first trocar assembly position and a second trocar assembly position, said trocar assembly is located within said working channel of said sleeve when said trocar assembly is positioned at said first trocar assembly position, and    said trocar assembly is completely removed from said working channel of said sleeve when said trocar assembly is positioned at said second trocar assembly position.    
     
     
         14 . The medical apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said fluid delivery channel is defined in a wall of said sleeve.    
     
     
         15 . The medical apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein: 
 said fluid delivery channel includes a groove defined in a surface of said sleeve.    
     
     
         16 . The medical apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said sleeve further includes a number of sealing members extending therefrom.    
     
     
         17 . The medical apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said housing is integrally formed with said sleeve.    
     
     
         18 . A medical apparatus for dispensing a biologically active compound, comprising: 
 a trocar assembly including a cannula and a trocar, wherein (1) said cannula has a working channel defined therein, said working channel having a cross-sectional area sized for passage of a laparoscope therethrough, (2) said cannula includes a fluid delivery channel which is distinct from said working channel, and (3) said fluid delivery channel has an exit; and    a chemical container having an interior void defined therein for receiving said biologically active compound, said interior void being in fluid communication with said exit through said fluid delivery channel, whereby said biologically active compound may be delivered through said fluid delivery channel to an outer surface of said cannula.    
     
     
         19 . The medical apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein: 
 said fluid delivery channel includes a groove defined in a surface of said cannula.    
     
     
         20 . The medical apparatus of  claim 18  further comprising: 
 a valve in fluid communication with said working channel, said valve being positionable between an open position and a closed position such that (i) when said valve is located in said open position a gas can be advanced into said working channel and (ii) when said valve is located in said closed position said gas is prevented from being advanced into said working channel.  
 
     
     
         21 . The medical apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein: 
 said chemical container is integrally formed with said cannula.    
     
     
         22 . A medical procedure for dispensing a biologically active compound, comprising the steps of: 
 creating an opening in a wall of a body cavity;    advancing a medical apparatus through the opening and into the body cavity, said medical apparatus including a trocar assembly having (1) a cannula and a trocar, wherein (A) said cannula has a working channel defined therein through which medical instruments may be advanced, (B) said cannula includes a fluid delivery channel which is distinct from said working channel, and (C) said fluid delivery channel has an exit port, and (2) a chemical container having an interior void defined therein for receiving said biologically active compound, said interior void being in fluid communication with said exit port through said fluid delivery channel;    advancing a gas into said body cavity; and    advancing said biologically active compound from said interior void of said chemical container onto an exterior surface of said cannula through a fluid path defined by said fluid delivery channel.    
     
     
         23 . An arrangement for delivering a biologically active compound, comprising: 
 a chemical container configured to be removably disposed in a void of a housing of a trocar assembly.