Retraction apparatus and methods for endoscopic surgery
First Claim
1. Apparatus for retracting an organ inside the body to gain access to an adjacent tissue, the apparatus comprising:
- a first inflatable means for retracting the organ when the first inflatable means is inflated to an expanded condition, the first inflatable means having a first envelope;
means for selectively inflating the first inflatable means into an expanded condition while in place in the body;
a non-pressurized chamber inside the first inflatable means, the non-pressurized chamber having a second envelope attached to part of the first envelope;
a second inflatable means, operably associated with the non-pressurized chamber, for expanding the non-pressurized chamber into an expanded condition when the second inflatable means is inflated;
means for selectably inflating the second inflatable means; and
port means for providing a substantially gas-tight passage through which an object can pass into the non-pressurized chamber from the first inflatable means.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A first inflatable retraction device has a first inflatable chamber and a non-pressurized chamber inside the main chamber. The non-pressurized chamber is expanded by inflating a second inflatable chamber. The non-pressurized chamber enables the main chamber to remain inflated when an aperture is cut in the envelope of the main chamber, through which treatment is carried out. A second inflatable retraction device has an inflatable retractor and a maintainer. The inflatable retractor retracts the organ and the maintainer maintains the organ in its retracted condition after the inflatable retractor is deflated. The maintainer can be inflatable, and can be inside or outside the inflatable retractor. A self-retracting endoscope has an optical assembly with an expandable retractor fitted to its distal end. The distal end of the endoscope is inserted into the body with the retractor in a collapsed condition. The retractor is then expanded to retract organs that would otherwise obstruct the view from the distal end of the optical assembly. After observations are complete, the retractor is returned to its collapsed condition. An insertion tube enables cylindrical objects, such as packaged inflatable retraction devices, to be pulled, instead of pushed, into the body. The additional chamber of an inflatable retraction device having two inflatable chambers is filled with a slurry of a particulate solid in a liquid. The liquid is removed and the additional chamber evacuated to consolidate the particulate solid. This increases the retracting strength of the additional chamber.
424 Citations
23 Claims
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1. Apparatus for retracting an organ inside the body to gain access to an adjacent tissue, the apparatus comprising:
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a first inflatable means for retracting the organ when the first inflatable means is inflated to an expanded condition, the first inflatable means having a first envelope; means for selectively inflating the first inflatable means into an expanded condition while in place in the body; a non-pressurized chamber inside the first inflatable means, the non-pressurized chamber having a second envelope attached to part of the first envelope; a second inflatable means, operably associated with the non-pressurized chamber, for expanding the non-pressurized chamber into an expanded condition when the second inflatable means is inflated; means for selectably inflating the second inflatable means; and port means for providing a substantially gas-tight passage through which an object can pass into the non-pressurized chamber from the first inflatable means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12)
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9. A method of retracting an organ inside the body to gain access to an adjacent tissue, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing an inflatable retractor, comprising; (1) a first inflatable chamber having a first envelope, (2) a non-pressurized chamber inside the first inflatable chamber, the non-pressurized chamber having a second envelope attached to part of the first envelope, and (3) a second inflatable chamber operably associated with the non-pressurized chamber; (b) placing the inflatable retractor in a collapsed condition adjacent to the tissue; (c) inflating the first inflatable chamber to retract the organ; and (d) inflating the second inflatable chamber to expand the non-pressurized chamber into an expanded condition by the steps of; (1) inflating the non-pressurized chamber into an expanded condition; (2) inflating the second inflatable chamber into an expanded condition; and (3) deflating the non-pressurized chamber. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A method of retracting an organ inside the body ..to gain access to an adjacent tissue, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing an inflatable retractor, comprising; (1) a first inflatable chamber having a first envelope, (2) a non-pressurized chamber inside the first inflatable chamber, the non-pressurized chamber having a second envelope attached to pan of the first envelope, and (3) a second inflatable chamber operably associated with the non-pressurized chamber; (b) placing the inflatable retractor in a collapsed condition adjacent to the tissue; (c) inflating the first inflatable chamber to retract the organ; and (d) inflating the second inflatable chamber to expand the non-pressurized chamber into an expanded condition; and (e) pulling the tissue through an aperture in the first envelope into the non-pressurized chamber. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A method of retracting an organ inside the body to gain access to an adjacent tissue, the method comprising:
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(a) providing an inflatable retractor, comprising; (1) a first inflatable chamber having a first envelope, (2) a non-pressurized chamber inside the first inflatable chamber, the non-pressurized chamber having a second envelope attached to part of the first envelope, and (3) a second inflatable chamber operably associated with the non-pressurized chamber; (b) placing the inflatable retractor in a collapsed condition adjacent to the tissue; (c) inflating the first inflatable chamber to retract the organ; (d) inflating the second inflatable chamber to expand the non-pressurized chamber into an expanded condition; (e) providing a surgical instrument; (f) passing the surgical instrument into the non-pressurized chamber; and (g) treating the tissue by passing the surgical instrument from the non-pressurized chamber through an aperture in the first envelope. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of retracting an organ inside the body to gain access to an adjacent tissue, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing an inflatable retractor, comprising; (1) a first inflatable chamber having a first envelope, (2) a non-pressurized chamber inside the first inflatable chamber, the non-pressurized chamber having a second envelope attached to part of the first envelope, and (3) a second inflatable chamber operably associated with the non-pressurized chamber, (4) a duct passing through the first inflatable chamber; (b) placing the inflatable retractor in a collapsed condition adjacent to the tissue; (c) inflating the first inflatable chamber to retract the organ; (d) inflating the second inflatable chamber to expand the non-pressurized chamber into an expanded condition; (e) providing a cutting instrument; (f) passing the cutting instrument through the duct into the non-pressurized chamber; and (g) piercing by means of the cutting instrument an aperture in the first envelope to gain access to the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification