Method and inflatable chamber apparatus for separating layers of tissue
First Claim
1. A device for dissecting tissue layers, comprising:
- a substantially rigid member having a proximal region and a distal region; and
a dissection balloon, the dissection balloon being coupled with the substantially rigid member at substantially the distal region thereof, the balloon having at least two different portions which have different elasticities when heated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for tissue dissection and instrument anchoring, including a dissection balloon having a viewing window (preferably a rigid, transparent window) at its distal end, or including an anchoring or dissection balloon having nonuniform elasticity selected to achieve desired inflated shape and pressure characteristics, and methods for using such apparatus. The window, which can be a lens (such as a wide angle lens), is transparent and either rigid or non-rigid but sufficiently strong to retain a desired optical shape while (and after) being pushed against tissue layers by a rigid instrument deployed within the balloon. In preferred embodiments, the balloon is a long-necked dissection balloon deployed through a cannula. In other embodiments, the invention is a dissection balloon having a viewing window at its distal end, or an anchoring or dissection balloon having nonuniform elasticity selected to achieve desired inflated shape and pressure characteristics, for use in an apparatus for tissue dissection, tissue retraction, and instrument anchoring. In other embodiments, the invention is a dissection balloon assembly including a long-necked dissection balloon having a viewing window at its distal end, and a housing to which the dissection balloon'"'"'s mouth is attached. In accordance with the method of the invention, the distal end of a long-necked dissection balloon (deployed through a cannula) is inserted between tissue layers and inflated to dissect the tissue layers. The dissection balloon has a window at its distal end, or nonuniform elasticity selected to achieve desired inflated shape and pressure characteristics, or both such a window and such nonuniform elasticity.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for dissecting tissue layers, comprising:
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a substantially rigid member having a proximal region and a distal region; and
a dissection balloon, the dissection balloon being coupled with the substantially rigid member at substantially the distal region thereof, the balloon having at least two different portions which have different elasticities when heated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising the steps of:
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deploying an inflatable balloon to a preselected location within a body, the inflatable balloon comprising at least two different portions which comprise materials with different heat deflection temperatures such that the at least two different portions have different elasticities when heated;
causing the at least two different portions of the inflatable balloon to stretch in different amounts with a heated inflating medium, the inflating medium being heated to a temperature at which the at least two different portions of the inflatable balloon have different elasticities. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of dissecting tissue, comprising the steps of:
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deploying an inflatable balloon to a preselected location within a body, the inflatable balloon having at least two different portions and comprising at least two materials whose elasticity varies with temperature, the at least two different portions of the inflatable balloon comprising different materials with different heat deflection temperatures so that the at least two different portions have different elasticities when heated;
causing at least two different portions of the inflatable balloon to stretch in different amounts with a heated inflating medium;
the inflating medium being heated to a temperature at which the at least two different portions have different elasticities;
forming a space in the preselected location with the inflatable balloon;
deflating the inflatable balloon;
removing the inflatable balloon from the preselected location; and
performing a medical procedure in the space formed by the inflatable balloon.
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Specification