Importance

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Abstract

The present invention provides a surgical instrument allowing a surgeon to identify a location of a blood vessel in tissue by hearing a blood flow sound in a thoracoscopic or laparoscopic surgery. One end of a tubular member is introduced into a body of a patient and is allowed to contact the tissue in such a manner as to block a first opening of the tubular member. Accordingly, a sound within the tissue and a sound of the tissue being in contact with the one end of the tubular member are collected by a cone member which is disposed to the first opening of the tubular member and includes a microphone disposed to the tip portion thereof. Accordingly, the surgeon can use the sense of hearing to hear the collected sound instead of the sense of touch in the thoracoscopic or laparoscopic surgery. That is, in a case where the location of the blood vessel within the tissue is to be identified, the one end of the tubular member is allowed to contact the tissue. Accordingly, the blood flow sound of the blood vessel within the tissue can be collected where the blood vessel is present in the vicinity of the contact portion. The surgeon can auscultate the collected blood flow sound, thereby identifying the location of the blood vessel. That is, even in a case where fat is embedded in the blood vessel, the location of the blood vessel can be precisely identified.

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First Claim