Surgical procedures using endoscopic inflatable retraction devices
First Claim
1. A method for retracting the bowel to provide anterior access to organs lying outside the peritoneum for a surgical instrument, the organs including the spinal column, the aorta and the kidneys, the method comprising steps of:
- providing an inflatable retractor including a main envelope enclosing a main chamber, the main envelope being in a collapsed state;
placing the main envelope of the retractor adjacent the bowel;
inflating the main chamber to an expanded state to retract the bowel;
piercing an aperture in the main envelope to provide access for the surgical instrument passed into the main chamber to contact the peritoneum overlying the organ to be treated; and
maintaining the main chamber in the expanded state notwithstanding the aperture pierced in the main envelope.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Retraction of an organ or tissue plane to be retracted is performed to gain access for a surgical instrument to treat an organ or tissue plane to be treated. An inflatable retractor, including a main envelope enclosing a main chamber, is provided with the main envelope in a collapsed state. The main envelope of the retractor is placed adjacent the organ or tissue plane to be retracted. The main chamber is inflated to an expanded state to retract the organ or tissue plane to be retracted. An aperture is pierced in the main envelope to provide access for the surgical instrument passed into the main chamber to contact an organ or tissue plane to be treated while the main chamber is maintained in the expanded state, notwithstanding the aperture pierced in the main envelope. The organ or tissue plane to be retracted and the organ or tissue plane to be treated may be different parts of the same organ or tissue plane. The method may be used in procedures including retracting the bowel to provide anterior access to organs, including the spinal column, the aorta and the kidneys, lying outside the peritoneum; retracting one part of the lung to provide access to another part of the lung; retracting the pericardium from the heart to provide access to the outer surface of the heart; retracting the liver to provide access to the gastro-esophagal junction; and retracting the brain from the dura mater to provide access to the brain.
138 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for retracting the bowel to provide anterior access to organs lying outside the peritoneum for a surgical instrument, the organs including the spinal column, the aorta and the kidneys, the method comprising steps of:
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providing an inflatable retractor including a main envelope enclosing a main chamber, the main envelope being in a collapsed state; placing the main envelope of the retractor adjacent the bowel; inflating the main chamber to an expanded state to retract the bowel; piercing an aperture in the main envelope to provide access for the surgical instrument passed into the main chamber to contact the peritoneum overlying the organ to be treated; and maintaining the main chamber in the expanded state notwithstanding the aperture pierced in the main envelope. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method of performing retraction to provide access to a portion of the lung for a surgical instrument, the method comprising steps of:
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providing an inflatable retractor including a main envelope enclosing a main chamber, the main envelope being in a collapsed state; placing the main envelope of the retractor adjacent the portion of the lung; inflating the main chamber to an expanded state to retract the portion of the lung; piercing an aperture in the main envelope to provide access for the surgical instrument to contact the portion of the lung to be treated; and maintaining the main chamber in the expanded state notwithstanding the aperture pierced in the main envelope. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of retracting the pericardium from the heart to provide access to the outer surface of the heart for a surgical instrument, the method comprising steps of:
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providing an inflatable retractor including a main envelope enclosing a main chamber, the main envelope being in a collapsed state; placing the main envelope of the retractor between the pericardium and the surface of the heart; inflating the main chamber to an expanded state to retract the pericardium away from the heart; piercing an aperture in the main envelope to provide access for the surgical instrument passed into the main chamber to contact the surface of the heart; and maintaining the main chamber in the expanded state notwithstanding the aperture pierced in the main envelope. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A method for retracting the liver to provide access to the gastro-esophagal junction for a surgical instrument, the method comprising steps of:
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providing an inflatable retractor including a main envelope enclosing a main chamber, the main envelope being in a collapsed state; placing the main envelope of the retractor between the liver and the gastro-esophagal junction; inflating the main chamber to an expanded state to retract the liver away from the gastro-esophagal junction; piercing an aperture in the main envelope to provide access for the surgical instrument passed into the main chamber to contact the gastro-esophagal junction; and maintaining the main chamber in the expanded state notwithstanding the aperture pierced in the main envelope. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method for retracting the brain from the dura mater to provide access to the brain for a surgical instrument, the method comprising steps of:
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providing an inflatable retractor including a main envelope enclosing a main chamber, the main envelope being in a collapsed state; placing the main envelope of the retractor between the dura mater and the brain; inflating the main chamber to an expanded state to retract the brain away from the dura mater; piercing an aperture in the main envelope to provide access for the surgical instrument passed into the main chamber to contact the brain; and maintaining the main chamber in the expanded state notwithstanding the aperture pierced in the main envelope. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification