Method for lifting abdominal wall during laparoscopic surgery

• US 5,353,785 A
• Filed: 09/23/1993
• Issued: 10/11/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peter J. Wilk
• Original Assignee: Peter J. Wilk
• Inventors: Wilk, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jalbert, Karen A.
• Application Number:
  US08/125,652
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 128/20, 128/8, 128/898, 606/191, 606/192, 606/198, 606/1, 606/108, 604/96, 604/105, 604/106, 604/174, 604/178
• US Class Current: 600/207
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0281 Abdominal wall lifters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for use in laparascopic surgery comprises the steps of (a) piercing an abdominal skin surface of a patient to form a hole in the skin surface, (b) inserting through the hole a tensile member, (c) lifting the abdominal wall of the patient away from a backside of the patient by exerting tension on the tensile member, and (d) drawing air into the abdominal cavity of the patient during the step of lifting.

Claims

1. A method for use in laparascopic surgery to expand an abdominal cavity without positively pressurizing that cavity, comprising the steps of:

piercing an abdominal skin surface of a patient to form a plurality of spaced holes in said skin surface;

inserting through said holes respective tensile members;

lifting the abdominal wall of said patient away from a backside of said patient by exerting tension on said tensile members;

drawing air into the abdominal cavity of said patient during said step of lifting;

inserting a laparoscopic instrument through at least one of said holes so that a distal end of said instrument projects into the patient'"'"'s abdomen;

maintaining tension on said tensile members, and thereby a predetermined elevation of the abdominal wall of said patient, during the insertion of said instrument through said one of said holes and during a subsequent surgical operation by said laparoscopic instrument; and

maintaining the patient'"'"'s abdomen at essentially atmospheric pressure during said surgical operation.

2. The method recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said tensile members is a rigid member.

3. The method recited in claim 2 wherein said rigid member is provided with means expandable from a closed configuration to an opened configuration for engaging, in said opened configuration, an enlarged area of the abdominal wall of said patient.

4. The method recited in claim 3 wherein said means for engaging includes an inflatable balloon member.

5. The method recited in claim 3 wherein said means for engaging includes a folding linkage.