Method and apparatus for performing retro peritoneal dissection

Abstract

The foregoing application describes a system and method of performing a minimally invasive surgical operation. More specifically, the invention involves the use of disposable cannula and slender dilators of variable lengths, which incorporate a source of illumination to carry light to a surgical site and video capabilities for capturing and displaying images from a CMOS or CCD camera device. According to one embodiment, fiber optics run semi-circumferentially or along walls of the cannula/dilator and terminate at about a centimeter from the distal end of the cannula/dilator, thereby preventing illumination from “bottoming out” at the floor of the incision. According to one alternate embodiment, the light fibers may be fashioned in an annulus around one or more camera chips to provide illumination and video of the surgical site. In still another embodiment, the light fibers may be replaced by light emitting diodes in a more remote light source or alternatively at the distal-tip of the CMOS or CCD camera device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical visualization system comprising:
 a surgical retractor configured to hold open an incision and thereby provide a pathway for access of surgical tools to a surgical site, said retractor comprising portions configured to be disposed about an open region located between said retractor portions so as to permit access of surgical tools to the surgical site through said open region;   at least one camera configured to acquire video images of the surgical site, the at least one camera disposed on the retractor and configured to acquire video images within said surgical site to which the retractor provides access, said at least one camera directed inward toward said open region and directed downward into the surgical site; and   an image processing system in communication with the at least one camera;   wherein:   said retractor has proximal and distal ends, said distal end closer to said surgical site than said proximal end, and   said at least one camera is configured to be disposed at the distal end of the retractor.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more illumination devices comprised of fiber optic strands or bundles for transmitting light into the surgical site, the one or more illumination devices disposed within a wall thickness of the surgical retractor. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more illumination devices comprise LEDs. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the image processing system is configured to produce a three-dimensional type picture based on the acquired video images. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one camera is a CMOS or CCD camera. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one camera is a detachable camera. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one camera is attached to the retractor by way of a flexible sleeve. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one camera comprises a wireless transmitter providing the communication between the image processing system and the at least one camera. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one camera is encircled by one or more LED illumination devices. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the three dimensional-type picture is free of field-flattening effects. 
     
     
         11 . A method of presenting a three-dimensional type picture to a surgeon, the method comprising:
 providing a surgical visualization system comprising:
 a surgical retractor configured to hold open an incision and thereby provide a pathway for access of surgical tools to a surgical site, said retractor comprising portions configured to be disposed about an open region located between said retractor portions so as to permit access of surgical tools to the surgical site through said open region; 
 one or more cameras configured to acquire video images of the surgical site, the one or more cameras disposed on the retractor and directed into the surgical site; 
 one or more illumination devices configured to illuminate the surgical site; and 
 an image processing system that receives the video images of the surgical site; 
   broadcasting the video images to the image processing system; and   presenting a three-dimensional type picture based on the video images to a surgeon.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the broadcasting the video images step is performed by a wireless transmitter associated with the one or more cameras. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the three dimensional-type picture is free of field-flattening effects. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more cameras is encircled by one or more LED illumination devices. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more illumination devices is attached to the retractor by way of a flexible sleeve. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more cameras is attached to the retractor by way of a flexible sleeve. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more illumination devices are comprised of fiber optic strands or bundles for transmitting light into the surgical site, the one or more illumination devices disposed within a wall thickness of the surgical retractor. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more illumination devices comprise LEDs. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more cameras is a CMOS or CCD camera. 
     
     
         20 . A surgical visualization system comprising:
 a surgical retractor configured to hold open an incision and thereby provide a pathway for access of surgical tools to a surgical site, said retractor comprising portions configured to be disposed about an open region located between said retractor portions so as to permit access of surgical tools to the surgical site through said open region;   one or more cameras configured to acquire and transmit video images of the surgical site, the one or more cameras disposed on the retractor and directed into the surgical site, the one or more cameras comprising at least one of CCD and CMOS cameras;   one or more illumination devices configured to illuminate the surgical site, the one or more illumination devices encircling the one or more cameras; and   an image processing system that receives the video images of the surgical site;   wherein:   said retractor has proximal and distal ends, said distal end closer to said surgical site than said proximal end;   the one or more cameras is disposed at the distal end of the retractor by way of a flexible sleeve; and   the image processing system presents a three-dimensional type picture based on the video images to a surgeon, the three dimensional-type picture free of field-flattening effects.