Radially expansive surgical instruments for tissue retraction and methods for using the same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A tissue retracting surgical instrument that comprises:
- a radially expansive tubular element, wherein the radially expansive tubular element is inserted in an incision in a patient'"'"'s skin in an unexpanded state, and upon radial expansion of the tubular element, the tubular element retracts the patient'"'"'s tissue.
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to a radially expansive device for providing access into a patient'"'"'s body, kits that contain the radially expansive device, as well as methods for providing minimally invasive access into a patient'"'"'s body. The radially expansive device may be used in conjunction with a balloon, bladder, or other expansive device, which can be used to expand the radially expansive device and allow access to the surgical site.
135 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A tissue retracting surgical instrument that comprises:
a radially expansive tubular element, wherein the radially expansive tubular element is inserted in an incision in a patient'"'"'s skin in an unexpanded state, and upon radial expansion of the tubular element, the tubular element retracts the patient'"'"'s tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A surgical instrument comprising a radially expansive tubular element made of a material that allows expansion of the radially expansive tubular element from an unexpanded state by a balloon, bladder, or expansive device to an expanded state;
- wherein when the radially expansive tubular element is in the expanded state and the balloon, bladder or expansive device is removed, the radially expansive tubular element maintains its shape allowing surgical instruments to pass from outside a patient to inside the patient through the expanded radially expansive tubular element.
- View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of providing access to a surgical site in a patient comprising:
- inserting a radially expansive tubular element into an incision in the skin of said patient;
expanding said radially expansive tubular element to provide access to the surgical site wherein expanding the radially expansive tubular element is by way of a balloon, bladder, or expansive device. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
- inserting a radially expansive tubular element into an incision in the skin of said patient;
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27. A surgical kit comprising:
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a radially expansive tubular element; and
a balloon, bladder, or expansive device, wherein the balloon, bladder, or expansive device is configured to be inserted into the radially expansive tubular element to expand the radially expansive tubular element, and the radially expansive tubular element when in an expanded state has an outer diameter of between about 0.5 to about 5 cm. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification