Surgical expansion device

• US 20050245960A1
• Filed: 04/29/2004
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UMC Utrecht Holding B.V.
• Original Assignee: UMC Utrecht Holding B.V.
• Inventors: Grundeman, Paul Frederik
• Granted Patent: US 8,764,646 B2
• 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 17/0281 Abdominal wall lifters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/02 Devices for expanding tissue, e.g. skin tissue implements for holding wounds open, surgical tractors A61B17/02; implantable mammary prosthesis A61F2/12; dilators A61M29/00

Abstract

A surgical device for application in a treatment performed on the human or animal body with the aim of providing access to a surgical site in the body includes expansion element (1) suitable for exerting a force on the organs and/or tissues at the surgical site, e.g. for mobilising and/or supporting the organs and/or tissues, upon expansion of the device at the location of the surgical site, at least one fluid reservoir (2) as well as element (3) for conveying fluid from the reservoir (2) to the expansion element (1) with the aim of expanding the expansion element (1). The expansion element includes a sheet type material (11) having a relatively low bending stiffness and a relatively high in-plane stiffness.

Claims

1. Surgical device for application in a treatment performed on the human or animal body with the aim of providing access to a surgical site in said body, comprising expansion means (1) suitable for exerting a force on the organs and/or tissues at said surgical site, e.g. for mobilising and/or supporting said organs and/or tissues, upon expansion of said device at the location of the surgical site, at least one fluid reservoir (2) as well as means (3) for conveying fluid from said reservoir (2) to the expansion means (1) with the aim of expanding said expansion means (1), characterised in that_the expansion means comprises a sheet type material (11) having a relatively low bending stiffness and a relatively high in-plane stiffness.

2. Surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the expansion means (1) comprises at least one connection port (7) for feeding the fluid into the internal space of said expansion means (1).

3. Surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the expansion means (1) comprises at least one elongate expansion member (8) which has a longitudinal shape in the expanded state.

4. Surgical device according to claim 3, wherein the expansion means (1) has at least two elongate expansion members (8) which are angled with respect to each other'"'"'s longitudinal direction in the expanded state.

5. Surgical device according to claim 4, wherein the expansion means (1) comprises at least one tension member (8) the length of which is smaller than the sum of the lengths of the elongate expansion members (8).

6. Surgical device according to claim 5, wherein at least three elongate expansion members (8) are provided which together constitute a triangle.

7. Surgical device according to claim 4, wherein multiple elongate expansion members (8) are provided which constitute a spatial structure.

8. Surgical device according to claim 7, wherein the spatial structure constitutes a tetrahedron.

9. Surgical device according to claim 4, wherein a flexible web (12) is provided which extends between at least two elongate expansion members (8).

10. Surgical device according to claim 9, wherein the flexible web (12) has a fenestration (13).

11. Surgical device according to claim 3, wherein each expansion member (8) comprises a fluid chamber (10).

12. Surgical device according to claim 11, wherein at least two expansion members (18) are provided and the fluid chambers (10) of said expansion members are in fluid communication with each other.

13. Surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid is a liquid.

14. Surgical device according to claim 1, comprising at least one restrictor (14) for restricting the expansion of the expansion means.

15. Surgical device according to claim 14, wherein the restrictor comprises a pull member (14).

16. Surgical device according to claim 2, wherein the expansion means (1) comprises at least one elongate expansion member (8) which has a longitudinal shape in the expanded state.

17. Surgical device according to claim 5, wherein multiple elongate expansion members (8) are provided which constitute a spatial structure.

18. Surgical device according to claim 6, wherein multiple elongate expansion members (8) are provided which constitute a spatial structure.