Inflatable retractor
First Claim
1. An inflatable retractor for retracting tissues in an incision for a surgical site, comprising:
- an inflatable body defining a cavity, wherein the body is flaccid in a non-inflated state and increasingly rigid in an inflated state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an inflatable retractor for providing access to a surgical site, such as a patient'"'"'s spine, during a surgical process. When used in spinal surgery, the inflatable retractor allows a surgeon to operate on one or more spinal levels. The inflatable retractor includes an inflatable body defining a central cavity, wherein the body is flaccid in a non-inflated state and increasingly rigid in an inflated state. The inflatable retractor is inserted into an incision in a deflated, or partially inflated, state and then inflated once the retractor is in position. The inflation of the retractor retracts skin and muscle from the surgical site, allowing adequate visualization of the surgical site and forms a passage providing access for implants and surgical instruments to pass through the retractor and into the surgical site.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. An inflatable retractor for retracting tissues in an incision for a surgical site, comprising:
an inflatable body defining a cavity, wherein the body is flaccid in a non-inflated state and increasingly rigid in an inflated state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of accessing a surgical site in a patient comprising the steps of:
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creating an incision in the patient, inserting an inflatable retractor into the incision in the patient, the inflatable retractor comprising an inflatable body defining a central cavity, wherein the body is flaccid in a non-inflated state and increasingly rigid in an inflated state; and inflating the inflatable retractor to retract tissue surrounding the incision. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A system for retracting tissues in an incision for a surgical site, the system comprising:
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an insertion tool for insertion into the incision at a surgical site; and inflatable retractor configured to be guided to a surgical site by the insertion tool, the inflatable retractor comprising an inflatable body defining a central cavity, wherein the body is flaccid in a non-inflated state and increasingly rigid in an inflated state - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification