Frank K. Sewell
Medical Practice at Elm St, Henderson, KY

5383859, Jan 24, 1995

Oct 4, 1993

8/131300

Frank Sewell - Henderson KY

A61M 5178

604164

An insufflation needle having a viewing system at its distal end and a trocar, both of which can be inserted through rotation of the puncturing element of the instrument, and a method of using these instruments. Both the insufflation needle and the trocar include a rotatable puncturing mechanism and a safety shield which allow the instruments to be safely inserted into body tissue through the use of a drill thereby requiring less force and reducing the possibility of trauma to the patient. The insufflation needle also includes a viewing system which allows the surgeon to view the distal end of the needle while it is being inserted into body tissue as well as to view the distal end of the trocar once it reaches a destination within the abdominal cavity proximate the distal end of the needle. The system reduces the risk of improper placement of both the needle and the trocar to thereby result in a safe laparoscopic surgical procedure.

5290276, Mar 1, 1994

Feb 6, 1992

7/832058

Frank Sewell - Henderson KY

A61B 1722

606 15

An insufflation needle having a viewing system at its distal end and a trocar, both of which can be inserted through rotation of the puncturing element of the instrument, and a method of using these instruments. Both the insufflation needle and the trocar include a rotatable puncturing mechanism and a safety shield which allow the instruments to be safely inserted into body tissue through the use of a drill thereby requiring less force and reducing the possibility of trauma to the patient. The insufflation needle also includes a viewing system which allows the surgeon to view the distal end of the needle while it is being inserted into body tissue as well as to view the distal end of the trocar once it reaches a destination within the abdominal cavity proximate the distal end of the needle. The system reduces the risk of improper placement of both the needle and the trocar to thereby result in a safe laparoscopic surgical procedure.

5379759, Jan 10, 1995

Jul 21, 1993

8/095818

Frank K. Sewell - Henderson KY

A61C 300

128 20

A surgical retractor for endoscopic surgery is provided which includes an elastic skin enclosing a variable volume cavity which is movable through a narrow tube into a body cavity when it is deflated and may be inflated within the body cavity. The elastic skin has projections for fastening the skin to body tissues and other similar retractors. A method and system using such retractors is also provided.

5364406, Nov 15, 1994

Aug 16, 1993

8/107271

Frank Sewell - Henderson KY

A61B 1704

606138

A laparoscopic surgical staple system comprises a staple, a staple extractor, and methods of applying and extracting such staples. The staples of the present invention are visible through a limited viewport, such as a trocar, and include an extraction member which forms a substantially closed hole through which a hook can be inserted. The staple extractor of the present invention includes a mechanism for grasping and pulling to remove the staple from body tissue, and a hook which can receive and hold multiple staples. The staples are applied by a device which is capable of inserting the staple's legs into a patient's body tissue. Staples are extracted using methods which allow multiple staples to be removed in a single, quick laparoscopic procedure and which reduce the risk of infection to the patient.

5152772, Oct 6, 1992

Jul 10, 1991

7/728178

Frank Sewell - Henderson KY

A61B 1732

606159

Method for performing a laparoscopic sphincterotomy involving the steps of positioning a catheter within the duodenum by inserting the distal end of the catheter into the common bile duct and threading the distal end of the catheter into the duodenum, positioning the cutting mechanism of the catheter against the sphincter of Oddi, cutting the sphincter of Oddi with the cutting mechanism, and removing the catheter. The invention also includes a surgical catheter to be used to perform such a sphincterotomy. The catheter includes an elongated longitudinal channel, two separate balloons located at the distal end of the catheter, and a cutting mechanism extendable from the catheter between the two balloons. The catheter also includes a radial mark at the operative end of the catheter that lies in the same radial position with respect to the longitudinal channel of the catheter as the cutting mechanism. The catheter and method disclosed allow a surgeon to perform a laparoscopic sphincterotomy that is safe and efficient, and allows a patient's gall stones, gall bladder disease, common duct stone, and inflammation of the ampulla to be treated during a single procedure.

5122147, Jun 16, 1992

Apr 5, 1991

7/681091

Frank K. Sewell - Henderson KY

A61D 100

606110

Surgical method and instrument such as a snare or forceps clamps, which can be moved to a position to firmly grasp a polyp. A tissue marking agent is disposed on the surface of the instrument that contacts a polyp, and the marking agent is crushed against the polyp. The marking agent is absorbed by the polyp and stains the tissue from which the polyp projects, the assist in visualizing the polyp site if conventional surgery is later required. The method and device may optionally provide for cutting and removing of the polyp and for application of a hemostatic agent to the polyp base to minimize bleeding.

5141503, Aug 25, 1992

Jan 29, 1991

7/647548

Frank K. Sewell - Henderson KY

A61M 100

604317

Wound drainage system having a wound drainage catheter with an apertured distal end and a closed reservoir system. A plug in the lumen of the distal end substantially engages the lumen. A thread connects the plug to a pulling mechanism external the closed reservoir system for pulling the thread to move the plug toward the suction end of the catheter to sterilely clear the lumen. The plug may have an aperture so that multiple plugs may be positioned in the lumen, with each plug thread passing through the aperture of each upstream plug. Each plug may be separately pulled through the lumen to clear catheter of occluded material.

5131379, Jul 21, 1992

Jan 29, 1991

7/647042

Frank K. Sewell - Henderson KY

A61B 100

128 4

Device for inserting a cannula into a duct. The device includes a housing having a handle and a distal end, the distal end being insertable through a laparoscopic trocar. Attached to the distal end is a duct alignment mechanism and a pivotable endoscope. The endoscope has a visualization capability and a cannula introduction channel and is pivotable between a retracted position in which the terminal end is generally parallel to the distal end of the housing and an extended position in which the terminal end is positioned such that a cannula extended from the cannula introduction channel is generally coaxial with a duct aligned by the duct alignment mechanism.