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 by inflation of the first inflatable means 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 enclosed within the first inflatable means, the non-pressurized chamber having a second envelope anchored to part of the first envelope at a fixed location;
a second inflatable means, operably associated with the non-pressurized chamber, and enclosed within the first envelope, for expanding the non-pressurized chamber into an expanded condition when the second inflatable means is inflated; and
means for selectably inflating the second inflatable means.
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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.
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Citations
22 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 by inflation of the first inflatable means 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 enclosed within the first inflatable means, the non-pressurized chamber having a second envelope anchored to part of the first envelope at a fixed location; a second inflatable means, operably associated with the non-pressurized chamber, and enclosed within the first envelope, for expanding the non-pressurized chamber into an expanded condition when the second inflatable means is inflated; and means for selectably inflating the second inflatable means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. 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 enclosed within the first inflatable chamber, the non-pressurized chamber having a second envelope anchored to part of the first envelope at a fixed location, and (3) a second inflatable chamber operably associated with the non-pressurized chamber, and enclosed within the first envelope; (b) placing the inflatable retractor in a collapsed condition adjacent to the tissue; (c) inflating the first inflatable chamber to an expanded condition, inflation of the first inflatable chamber retracting the organ; and (d) inflating the second inflatable chamber to expand the non-pressurized chamber into an expanded condition. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 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:
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(a) providing an inflatable retractor, comprising; (1) a first inflatable chamber having a first envelope, (2) a non-pressurized chamber enclosed within the first inflatable chamber, the non-pressurized chamber having a second envelope anchored to part of the first envelope at a fixed location, and (3) a second inflatable chamber, operably associated with the non-pressurized chamber, and enclosed within the first envelope; (b) providing an endoscope having a proximal end and a distal end; (c) securing the inflatable retractor in a collapsed condition to the endoscope adjacent to the distal end of the endoscope; (d) inserting the distal end of the endoscope together with the inflatable retractor into the body; (e) inflating the second inflatable chamber to expand the non-pressurized chamber into an at least partially expanded condition; (f) manipulating the endoscope while observing through the endoscope to locate the non-pressurized chamber adjacent to the tissue; and (g) inflating the first inflatable chamber into a fully-expanded condition, inflation of the first inflatable chamber to the fully-expanded condition retracting the organ. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification