Surgical visualization and treatment system

Abstract

A device for visualizing and providing suction for a surgical procedure in an ear includes a handle, a main shaft extending from the handle, an imaging sensor at a distal end of the main shaft, a light source at the distal end of the main shaft, a first suction tube extending along a proximal portion of a first side of the main shaft, a second suction tube extending along a proximal portion of a second side of the main shaft, and a first suction component. The first suction component includes a first suction shaft, a first thumb depress member coupled with a proximal end of the first suction shaft, a first spring disposed over a proximal portion of the first suction shaft, and a first suction tubing for connecting the first suction shaft or the first thumb depress member with the handle.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A device for visualizing and providing suction during a surgical procedure, the device comprising:
 a handle comprising:
 at least one suction shaft insertion port on a top surface of the handle; and 
 a suction connection port; 
   a visualization shaft extending from the handle at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the handle;   at least one tool coupling shaft extending from the handle along a first side of the visualization shaft and in fluid communication with the at least one suction shaft insertion port;   an imaging sensor at a distal end of the visualization shaft;   a light source; and   a suction shaft removably coupled with the handle and comprising a distal end sized to slide through the at least one suction shaft insertion port and the at least one tool coupling shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a spring disposed over a proximal portion of the suction shaft to automatically retract the suction shaft when force applied to a proximal end of the suction shaft is released. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising a thumb depress member coupled with the proximal end of the suction shaft, wherein the spring is disposed over the proximal portion of the suction shaft, between the top surface of the handle and the thumb depress member. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 at least one side suction tube port on a side of the handle; and   a side suction tube removably attached at a first end to the at least one side suction tube port and at a second end to the suction shaft at or near the proximal end.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a console coupled with the handle via a cable, wherein the console comprises:
 a monitor; and   a processing unit.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one suction shaft insertion port comprises two suction shaft insertion ports, and wherein the at least one tool coupling shaft comprises two tool coupling shafts on opposite sides of the visualization shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a surgical tool configured to be advanced through the at least one suction shaft insertion port and the at least one tool coupling shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the surgical tool is selected from the group consisting of a cutting device, a piercing device, a seeker, tweezers, forceps, a speculum, a grasper, and a curette. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the suction shaft has an outer diameter of no more than 1.1 millimeters, and wherein the visualization shaft has an outer diameter of no more than 2.5 millimeters. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a finger loop on the handle configured to allow the handle to be held with a single finger. 
     
     
         11 . A method for facilitating a surgical procedure in a patient, the method comprising:
 holding a handle of a visualization and suction device with one hand;   using only the one hand, advancing a distal end of a rigid visualization shaft and a distal end of a rigid suction shaft of the visualization and suction device into the patient to a target treatment area, wherein the rigid suction shaft passes through a first suction shaft guide tube located parallel with the rigid visualization shaft;   viewing an anatomical structure in the target treatment area with a camera in the rigid visualization shaft;   applying suction in the target treatment area via the distal end of the rigid suction shaft;   advancing the rigid suction shaft through the first suction shaft guide tube to position the distal end of the rigid suction shaft beyond the distal end of the rigid visualization shaft;   performing the surgical procedure in the target treatment area, while continuing to view and apply suction in the target treatment area with the visualization and suction device; and   removing the visualization and suction device from the target treatment area.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises, before advancing the visualization and suction device into the patient:
 advancing the proximal end of the rigid suction shaft into a distal end of the first suction shaft guide tube and then through an opening in the handle;   placing a spring over the proximal end of the rigid suction shaft; and   attaching the proximal end of the rigid suction shaft to a thumb depress member, wherein advancing the rigid suction shaft through the first suction shaft guide tube comprises depressing the thumb depress member.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the visualization and suction device further comprises a second suction shaft guide tube on an opposite side of the rigid visualization shaft from the first suction shaft guide tube, and wherein the method further comprises selecting either the first suction shaft guide tube or the second suction shaft guide tube in which to place the rigid suction shaft. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising advancing a surgical tool through the second suction shaft guide tube, wherein the surgical tool is selected from the group consisting of a cutting device, a piercing device, a seeker, tweezers, forceps, a speculum, a grasper, and a curette. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising releasing the thumb depress member to allow the spring to automatically retract, thus retracting the rigid suction shaft relative to the rigid visualization shaft. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the visualization and suction device further comprises a second suction shaft guide tube on an opposite side of the rigid visualization shaft from the first suction shaft guide tube, the method further comprising:
 removing the thumb depress member from the proximal end of the rigid suction shaft;   removing the rigid suction shaft from the first suction shaft guide tube;   inserting the rigid suction shaft into the second suction shaft guide tube; and   reattaching the proximal end of the rigid suction shaft to the thumb depress member.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the distal end of the rigid suction shaft comprises a curved distal tip, and wherein the method further comprises spinning the thumb depress member with a thumb to spin the curved distal tip inside the patient and thus provide suction in a different direction. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 advancing the distal end of the rigid visualization shaft and the distal end of the rigid suction shaft to a different target treatment area in the patient; and   using the visualization and suction device during the surgical procedure on the different target treatment area.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 removing the rigid suction shaft from the visualization and suction device; and   advancing a surgical tool through the first suction shaft guide tube, wherein the surgical tool is selected from the group consisting of a cutting device, a piercing device, a seeker, tweezers, forceps, a speculum, a grasper, and a curette.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein viewing the anatomical structure comprises:
 illuminating the anatomical structure using an illumination member located at the distal end of the rigid visualization shaft; and   visualizing with a camera located at the distal end of the rigid visualization shaft.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising resting the one hand holding the handle of the visualization and suction device on the patient to steady the visualization and suction device during at least part of the surgical procedure. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein holding the handle comprises holding the handle with one finger of the one hand via a finger loop on the handle so that all other fingers of the one hand are free.