Fluid operated retractors

• US 20040127930A1
• Filed: 12/05/2003
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1990
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Peter M. Bonutti
• Original Assignee: Peter M. Bonutti
• Inventors: Bonutti, Peter M.
• Application Number:
  US10/729,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20040127930A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/192
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/02 for holding wounds open; Tractors specula A61B1/32 ; drainage appliances for wounds A61M27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0218 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320036 adapted for use within the carpal tunnel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320725 with radially expandable cutting or abrading elements A61B17/32075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00535 pneumatically or hydraulically operated A61B2017/22051, A61B2090/401 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320048 Balloon dissectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/062 penetration depth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/006 having a special surface topography or special surface properties, e.g. roughened or knurled surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1002 characterised by balloon shape A61M25/1006, A61M25/1009 take precedence

Abstract

A fluid operated retractor for use in surgery. The retractor has a portion that is expandable upon the introduction of fluid under pressure. The expandable portion is made of a material strong enough, and is inflated to enough pressure, to spread adjoining tissues within the body. The retractor is especially useful in fiber optic surgery because it can be inserted percutaneously through a small opening then expanded to a much larger dimension when in the desired location, to retract tissue from within. The retractor may be used to spread a joint such as a knee joint or shoulder joint, or may be used to separate tissue planes generally, to improve visualization and create a working space for the surgeon.

Claims

1. A retractor comprising:

a shaft; and

an inflatable bladder disposed at an end of the shaft, wherein a portion of the bladder comprises a rigid surface.

2. The retractor of claim 1, wherein the bladder comprises at least two rigid surfaces which are connected by regions having differing degrees of resistance to straightening and flexing.

3. The retractor of claim 2, wherein the bladder has as an accordion structure.

4. The retractor of claim 1, wherein the inflatable bladder does not stretch when fully inflated.

5. The retractor of claim 1, wherein the inflatable bladder operates at inflation pressures from 10 mmHg to 1000 mmHg.

6. The retractor of claim 5, wherein the inflatable bladder operates at inflation pressures from 100 mmHg to 1000 mmHg.

7. The retractor of claim 1, wherein the shaft is rigid.

8. The retractor of claim 1, wherein the shaft is flexible.

9. The retractor of claim 1, further comprising a cannula having a passage which receives the shaft to deploy the bladder at a target site in tissue.

10. The retractor of claim 1, wherein the inflatable bladder has a non-uniform shape.

11. The retractor of claim 1, wherein the inflatable shape has a shape selected from the group consisting of circular, oval, eccentric, oblong, conical, wedge-shaped, V-shaped, and multiple lobes.

12. The retractor of claim 1, wherein the rigid surface comprises a plate or filament.

13. The retractor of claim 12, wherein the plates or filaments are disposed about the periphery of the bladder.

14. The retractor of claim 1, further comprising additional inflatable bladders on the shaft.

15. The retractor of claim 14, wherein the additional inflatable bladders are separately inflatable.