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Expansible tunneling apparatus for creating an anatomic working space

  • US 5,496,345 A
  • Filed: 10/17/1994
  • Issued: 03/05/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An expansible tunneling apparatus for creating an anatomic working space in a body comprising:

  • a substantially rigid tubular member having a bore therein and an open distal end;

    a rigid tunneling shaft having a blunt distal end for tunneling bluntly through tissue in the body, said rigid shaft slidably receivable in said bore of said tubular member wherein said blunt distal end of said tunneling shaft extends through and beyond said open distal end to form, together with said tubular member, a blunt tipped obturator for tunneling through tissue in the body;

    a balloon, said balloon being deflated and formed into a roll surrounding said tunneling shaft during tunneling through tissue;

    a sheath surrounding at least a portion of said deflated balloon and said tunneling shaft, said sheath being provided with a weakened region to permit said sheath to separate from said deflated balloon thereby releasing said balloon; and

    means for inflating said deflated balloon after tunneling to a desired location to create the anatomic working space.

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