Method and apparatus for combined dissection and retraction

• US 20050245961A1
• Filed: 07/08/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Surgical Innovations Incorporated (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: General Surgical Innovations Incorporated (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Mollenauer, Kenneth H., Jervis, James E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,862,505 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/192
• 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 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320044 Blunt dissectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/02 Dilators made of swellable material balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104

Abstract

A method and apparatus for dissecting a first layer of tissue from a second layer of tissue and thereafter holding open an anatomic space for the performance of a surgical procedure. The method includes steps of making an incision in a body, introducing a deflated balloon dissector into the incision, inflating the balloon dissector to effect dissection of the first layer of tissue from the second layer of tissue, deploying a retractor within the anatomic space in order to hold open the anatomic space, and optionally deflating or evacuating the balloon dissector to open a cavity for surgical manipulations. The apparatus includes a combined dissector-retractor having a balloon retractor disposed upon the surface of the balloon dissector and integrated therewith.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. An apparatus comprising:

an elongate retractor;

an inflatable balloon member having a first flexible wall and a second flexible wall defining a chamber therebetween, the inflatable balloon member further including an inflation port;

a pocket incorporated into one of the first or second flexible walls of the inflatable balloon member wherein edges of the pocket are spaced from edges of the inflatable balloon member, the pocket configured to receive and retain the retractor.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the inflatable balloon member has an inflated state and a deflated state, the inflatable balloon member being tightly rolled about itself when in the deflated state.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, further including a tunneling member, wherein the inflatable balloon member is disposed about portion of the tunneling member.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the tunneling member includes an endoscope channel adapted to receive an endoscope.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the inflatable balloon member is disposed about the tunneling member such that a portion of the tunneling member is disposed within the chamber of the inflatable balloon member.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the elongate retractor is partially rigid.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the elongate retractor is an inflatable member.

9. An apparatus comprising:

an elongate inflatable retractor;

an inflatable balloon member having a first flexible wall and a second flexible wall defining a chamber therebetween, the inflatable balloon member further including an inflation port;

a retractor retaining element incorporated into one of the first or second flexible walls of the inflatable balloon member, the retractor retaining element configured to receive and retain the retractor.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the inflatable retractor and the inflatable balloon member are independently inflatable.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the inflatable balloon member has an inflated state and a deflated state, the inflatable balloon member being tightly rolled about itself when in the deflated state.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, further including a tunneling member, wherein the inflatable balloon member is disposed about portion of the tunneling member.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the tunneling member includes an endoscope channel adapted to receive an endoscope.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the inflatable balloon member is disposed about the tunneling member such that a portion of the tunneling member is disposed within the chamber of the inflatable balloon member.