SURGICAL METHOD

• US 20090082634A1
• Filed: 09/25/2007
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: KATHRANI, BITEN KISHORE, GADGIL, UIHAS SADASHIV
• Application Number:
  US11/860,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20090082634A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/207
• 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 17/3474 Insufflating needles, e.g. Veress needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/40 Apparatus fixed or close to patients specially adapted for providing an aseptic surgical environment

Abstract

A surgical method for providing or enlarging an operative space is described. The surgical method can employ a shell having inflatable ribs and generally planar non-inflatable segments spaced apart by the ribs. When inflated, the ribs support the planar segments of the shell to provide an expansion space above a tissue layer. Once the shell is in the inflated configuration, a vacuum can be provided through the shell to lift the tissue layer toward the shell.

Claims

1. A surgical method comprising the steps of:

providing a shell having a first un-inflated configuration and a second inflated configuration;

positioning the shell in the un-inflated configuration adjacent a tissue layer of a body; and

inflating a portion of the shell to provide an expansion space between the tissue layer and the inflated shell.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing a vacuum to the expansion space to lift the tissue layer toward the shell.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of inflating comprises supporting a plurality of generally planar, non-inflatable segments of the shell to provide the expansion space.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a conduit extending through the shell and the tissue layer to an operative space within the body.

5. A surgical method for lifting a tissue layer, the surgical method comprising the steps of:

providing a shell having at least one inflatable component;

inflating the at least one inflatable component to provide an expansion space between the tissue layer and the shell; and

providing a vacuum to the expansion space to lift the tissue layer toward the shell.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising providing a conduit extending through the shell and the tissue layer to an operative space within the body.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising providing fluid through the conduit into the operative space.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising providing a plurality of entry ports extending through non-inflated portions of the shell for providing surgical access to the operative space.

9. A surgical method for accessing a body cavity of a patient, the surgical method comprising the steps of:

providing a shell;

positioning the shell over a tissue layer of the patient;

lifting the tissue layer toward the shell; and

providing a gas to the body cavity through a naturally occurring body orifice in association with the step of lifting.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of providing the gas comprises providing gas trans-gastrically to the abdominal cavity.